Next wave of Colettes already standing out
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Special to Wesson News
Copiah-Lincoln Community College (Co-Lin) has announced its 2026-27 Colettes dance team, and the squad is already turning heads. After a standout showing at Universal Dance Association (UDA) summer camp on the campus of the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, the team proves to be off to a great start.
For the first time in program history, every member of the Co-Lin Colettes earned a superior blue ribbon for her individual performance routine at camp, a sweep that team members and coaches say reflects the depth of talent on this year's roster.
“UDA camp was truly such an amazing way to start sophomore season! Forever thankful for this team and this wonderful opportunity! I am so excited to begin this year with such wonderful teammates,” said second-year Colette Abbey Berch of Wesson.
Leading the squad this season is newly named team captain Kaden Belcher of Brookhaven High. Belcher was awarded the prestigious Taylor Presidential Scholarship during her freshman year at Co-Lin. She has danced for sixteen years and was a member of her home studio's competitive company, where she also worked as a student teacher. Belcher recently was accepted into Co-Lin's nursing program.
Asked about her favorite memory from her freshman season with the Colettes, Belcher pointed to performing at halftime of football and basketball games. As she steps into the captain's role, she said she is looking forward to building a close bond with her teammates and leading them to the best of her ability.
"We are so lucky to call you our captain. I am forever grateful for you and this wonderful team," said Berch.
Joining Belcher on the 2026-27 roster are:
Addie Carver, Lawrence County High School
Allie Beeson, Wesson Attendance Center
Kaden Belcher, Brookhaven High School
Abbey Berch, Wesson Attendance Center
Kayla Bourg, Parklane Academy
Maranda Bowman, Enterprise High School
Caroline Strong, Copiah Academy
Kimora Peyton, Lawrence County High School
Celeen Brice, Wesson Attendance Center
Riley Floyd, homeschool
Anna Kate Goree, Pisgah High School
The team is coached by Kennedy Moore of Brookhaven, who also teaches at Showstoppers Dance Studio in Brookhaven. She’s been teaching at Showstoppers since her high school years and took over as hip hop coach for ten years.
“I like to tell people I took my first steps in that studio and never left,” said Moore. Moore’s mom opened and directed that studio all of Kenney’s life.
Moore has coached the Colettes for six years and was on the team while she was a student at Co-Lin. Moore also works part-time in the campus bookstore. She went on to dance with the Southern Misses at the University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.
“I will say that being the coach at Co-Lin is one the biggest blessings in my life. I absolutely love what I do and love to be able to play a special part in my girls’ first years of college,” said Moore.
The new team has a star-studded cast. Former Miss Teen USA 2024, Addie Carver, joined the Colettes. Carver, who is majoring in communications, will be a full-time student at Co-Lin and a full-time online student at Mississippi State University. Carver is the daughter of Kristi Carver, marketing director of Copiah County Medical Center and occasional pageant judge.
The Colettes will begin appearing at Co-Lin athletic events this fall, with the team set to perform at football and basketball games throughout the season. To stay current on Colettes, follow them on Instagram and on the official Facebook page for the Copiah Lincoln Community College Colettes Dance Team.
Kayla Bourg
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