Chester High School honored its senior dance members at the annual Senior Night for Dance on February 17, 2025. These seniors are Hayden Cartwright, Megan Zimmer, Annah Helvey Ahring, and Southern LaChance.
Our first dance senior is Hayden Cartwright. Cartwright has been on the dance team for four years. She joined the team because she was inspired by her sister, who also danced in high school. Her favorite dance memory is the 2025 competition season, when the team qualified for state with not just one routine but both, a first for the program. Her advice is to practice and stretch; improvement comes from practicing outside of school. After high school, Cartwright plans to pursue a degree in nursing.
Our second dance senior is Megan Zimmer. Zimmer has been on the dance team for one year. She joined the team because it seemed like a fun experience and she wanted to be part of a team again. Her favorite memory is the team-bonding Thanksgiving party. Her advice is to try your best even if you’re scared of messing up. After high school, Zimmer plans to attend college to study music education.
Our third senior is Annah Helvey Ahring. Ahring has been on the dance team for four years. She joined the team because she has loved dancing since she was little. She and her sister would often make up routines just to show their mom. Ahring’s favorite memory is making the dance team her freshman year; that was when she felt the most love and passion for the sport, so it truly meant a lot to her. Her advice is to have fun no matter what — you always have an audience, so make the best of it and enjoy yourself. After high school, Ahring plans to attend college to pursue a career in education.
Our fourth dance senior is Southern LaChance. She has been on the dance team for three years. She joined the team because the environment seemed appealing and it was something new she wanted to try. LaChance’s favorite memory is all of them — the bond with the girls is very special. There’s nothing she would change about her experience with dance. State weeks also always stood out as a great time. Her advice is to practice a lot, but have fun while doing it. After high school, LaChance plans to attend SEMO to pursue a career in elementary education and to continue dancing as a Sundancer at SEMO.
