Dance team will wrap up a successful season with their annual showcase

By Katie Dusza, News Editor

The Canisius dance team, which made its competitive debut during the 2025-26 season, will have its annual showcase at 11 a.m. in Montante Cultural Center on Sunday, April 19.

The Griffs attended the SUNY Brockport Collegiate Dance Competition, which took place on Sunday, Feb. 15. The Dance Griffs took home an Outstanding Choreography Award for their routine, “Another Love,” as well as securing first place for large group contemporary, as well as being named the highest scoring group of the competition. Faith Knauf secured second place soloist, as well as second-overall solo/duet/trio. 

The dance team’s second and final competition of the year was held at Nazareth University. Senior Faith Knauf earned first overall in the entire competition, first place in hip hop solos, first in hip hop solos as well as the special judges award. Freshman Briana DeGlopper placed fourth in contemporary solos. Duo Kelsie Conti and Faith Knauf placed third for a hip hop duet. The Dance Griffs clenched fourth in the large group contemporary category.  

Competition season positively impacted the Dance Griffs season as it required them to spend more time together helping the chemistry of the team, as well as perfecting technique, according to Captain Ava Wohlleber. According to Wohlleber, the team grew closer by “spending the whole day together and having a shared goal in mind.” 

At their showcase on Sunday, the Dance Griffs will perform all of their game day dances, their award winning competition routine and solos, duets and trios. The dance showcase serves as a recital as well as a senior send off. “We get our senior night at the last basketball game, but it's also cool to have this special moment just for them.
 They get a slideshow with all of the other dancers on the team just saying how much we appreciated having them on the team,” Wohlleber commented, continuing that this is a really nice way to conclude the seniors’ dancing careers because for most of those girls, the dance team has been a big part of their college career. So it's cool to just celebrate that for them. The showcase is a great opportunity to experience the dance team’s tremendous talent off the basketball court.