SHS Charisma Blues Dance team at Heart of Gold comp

The SHS Charisma Blues Dance Team competed at the Heart of Gold Dance and Cheer Competition at Los Lunas High School on Jan. 17. It was their first competition of the season, which runs through March.

The team took home the first place trophy for the senior pom event. Eighth grader Nayeli Pavia competed in the middle school solos and finished in fourth place. In the senior solos, Serenity Montoya got fifth place while Sienna Bunning tied for sixth place.

“Great start to the season,” Serenity Montoya, a senior and team captain, said.

Teammate Sienna Bunning agreed with that comment, and Head Coach Stefanie Bunning called it an “amazing start.” 

Stefanie Bunning has been coaching dance for three years, and this is her second year as head coach of the Charisma Blues dance team.

“What I enjoy most is seeing the athletes grow in their confidence and skills throughout the season,” Stefanie Bunning said.

The Charisma Blues dance team has already put on many performances throughout the school year. They performed at halftime for many of the home football games in the fall, and they have performed at a home basketball game already with a couple more scheduled for February. 

“One of our strengths is our willingness to work hard and continue improving. We focus on growing together as a team and learning from each experience,” Stefanie Bunning said. “As we enter our competition season, our goals are to keep improving every week, perform and compete to the best of our ability, and continue growing together as a team throughout our season.”

The dancers are all members of the Rising Stars Dance Studio in Socorro as well. They performed in a team dance and a few solos in the dance recital at Macey Center on Oct. 25, 2025, and they will also have a recital after the end of the school year.

While their competition season has just begun, they’ve been hard at work all school year already. 

“Maintaining consistency over a longer season can be a challenge, but the team remains focused and motivated,” Stefanie Bunning said.

The girls and their coach were cheerful and full of smiles throughout the day at Los Lunas as they enjoyed their first taste of competition this season. They’re enthusiastic and motivated for their upcoming events.

“It’s fun,” Nayomi Montaño said.

The Socorro dancers at the Los Lunas Heart of Gold competition were Nayomi Montaño, Nayeli Pavia, Serenity Montoya, Sienna Bunning and Macayla Amaro. Jasleen Rodriguez 

Their next competition will be the NMSU Spirit Championships on Jan. 31.