Pleasant Valley Platinum dancers celebrate alongside their coaches, families, and supporters following the 2025 State Dance Competition.
At the 2025 State Dance Competition, Pleasant Valley Platinum delivered routines that reflected the steady, intentional work this team puts in all season. With top-three finishes in Class VII Jazz and Class XIV Pom, and taking six of the top 10 solo placements, our PVP dancers showed just how committed they are to giving it their all.
A Moment Years in the Making
Sophomore Mara Quam became only the second dancer in PV history to earn a state solo championship, joining Assistant Coach Josie Kaffenberger, who earned the school’s first title. What unfolded in Des Moines felt like a milestone that spoke to the heart of PV Platinum’s culture. 
When Mara’s name was announced as the champion, she could hardly process what she was hearing. “I was in complete shock… the feeling is truly indescribable,” she said. “This moment is something every dancer dreams of.”
For Coach Josie, the announcement brought a rush of emotion she still struggles to put into words. “The moment her name was called I felt overwhelmed with pride. It brought me back to that feeling I had years ago and made me think about how far our program has come.”
Coach Seavey described Mara’s win as one of those rare coaching moments that stays with you. “Mara wasn’t chasing a title. She was dancing because she loves to dance,” Seavey said. “Watching that joy meet that outcome was incredibly meaningful.”
The Influence of a Mentor
Mara has looked up to Coach Josie for years, so sharing this accomplishment with her felt significant.
“She paved an incredible pathway for generations after her and showed me what could be possible,”
Mara said. “Honoring the culture she has built before me makes me so proud.”
Josie sees the moment differently. In her eyes, Mara’s title reflects the program’s values more than her own history. “It was never about her repeating anything from my journey but about watching her create her own,” Josie said. “Seeing her earn that moment with so much joy and humility meant more to me than I can put into words.”
Across their reflections, one shared theme emerges: a commitment to steady growth, thoughtful effort, and genuine love for the work.
A Team That Lifts Each Other
Throughout the season, the Platinum dancers supported one another in ways that shaped both
their performances and their experience together.
Mara describes the team as a “second family,” a group that celebrates progress and stands together when challenges arise. “Without them, I would not be the dancer or the human I am today,” she said. Coach Josie echoed that sentiment. “They handled challenges with maturity and stayed connected even when things got tough. Their growth and their bond showed who they are far more than any trophy ever could.”
Coach Seavey has spent years building a culture shaped by daily habits: showing up early, taking feedback, and honoring the dancers who came before them. “Excellence is something you grow into, not something you assume,” she said. “Our history doesn’t entitle us to anything. It gives us responsibility.”
A Legacy That Keeps Growing
Mara’s win offers a message to younger dancers who watch Platinum closely. 
“Great things grow from steady work and believing in yourself,” Coach Josie said. “Mara stayed humble and committed through the entire process. That is what led her to this moment.”
Coach Seavey hopes the moment inspires dancers who will one day stand where Mara stood. “Little kids are always watching,” she said. “Seeing Mara follow a path she once admired, and now dance alongside Josie as her coach, is the most real-life version of that lesson.”
She added that Mara’s response to the win—quiet shock, then pure joy—reflected exactly what the program hopes dancers carry with them. “That’s the kind of joy I hope future dancers chase.”
A Season Worth Celebrating
PV Platinum’s 2025 state story is one of determination, connection, and a deep appreciation for the work that happens long before the lights come up. It is the story of a team that supports one another and a soloist who stepped into a defining moment surrounded by people who helped shape it. It is also the story of a coach watching a former dancer become a mentor, and a program that continues to grow leaders who are grounded, coachable, and committed to excellence.
As Coach Seavey shared, “Josie modeled it. Mara lived it. And someone else is watching them right now, learning what’s possible.”
This season leaves a legacy that will guide dancers for years to come.
