The Marshfield Upbeats dance team performs to a song from the movie “Mary Poppins” during Meet the Pirates night on Tuesday. World Photo by Lou Sennick.

Marshfield’s dance team took a page from a classic Disney movie to capture first place in a division at the West Albany novelty dance competition last weekend.

The competition is a unique event in which teams can enter several different categories.

The Upbeats entered two categories, finishing third in the lyrical event with a routine to the tune “Stop and Stare,” and winning the novelty category with their rendition of the rooftop chimney sweep dance from “Mary Poppins.”

“The crowd response during the dance was amazing,” said Marshfield coach Debbie Brown. “The audience cheered, laughed and yelled throughout the dance. The Upbeats were clearly the crowd favorite.”

Marshfield won the event with a score of 75.3 points, judged on visual repertoire, audio repertoire and presentation. Wilsonville was second with 72.2 points, followed by Thurston with 63.9, North Eugene with 63.8 and Santiam with 62.

In the lyrical category, South Albany won with 76.1 points, followed by Silverton with 74.3, Marshfield with 70.4, Santiam with 67.9 and Lebanon with 66.7. That event was scored on technique, choreography and projection, with Marshfield scoring highest in choreography.

In all, 17 different teams took part in the competition, with a combined 54 routines.

In the advanced drill down, Marshfield’s Paige Molzahn placed third and Chloe Danielson was fifth.

Kids dance clinic

Marshfield will hold a dance clinic for students in second through sixth grades on Saturday, Dec. 6.

Registration for the event starts at 8:45 a.m. in the main gym. The cost is $20, which covers the clinic, a T-shirt and a free student admission to a varsity basketball game.

The students at the clinic will learn a dance and then perform it with the upbeats during halftime of Marshfield’s Dec. 9 basketball game.

“This is always a highlight of the year for the Upbeats and we are looking forward to this event,” Brown said.

Hossley all-state

North Bend junior Kristina Hossley placed fourth in the 2008-2009 Oregon Cheerleading Coaches Association’s All-State Cheerleading Individual Competition.

Cheerleaders from across the state competed in the event, with the winners earning scholarship money.

Hossley placed for the second straight year, and won a $300 scholarship for placing fourth. Last year, she placed fifth and earned a $200 scholarship.

The event at Springfield High School was hosted by the Oregon Cheerleading Coaches Association. The all-state team members will be recognized during the Oregon School Activities Association state championships in February.