When Molly Carlson started coaching dance at Mound Westonka High School 21 years ago, she inherited a small team of girls that worked hard and did everything right but struggled to find success.

Fast forward to 2021, and Carlson’s team is one of the most successful athletic teams at Mound Westonka and one of the top dance teams in the state of Minnesota. 

After qualifying for the Minnesota State High School League State Dance Team tournament for the first time in 2004, Carlson’s Mound Westonka team has qualified for state in Jazz and High Kick 24 times – including 15 straight years in Jazz. The program has made the state finals in Jazz seven times, and took fourth at the state tournament each of the last four seasons. In 2020-21, Mound Westonka took fourth in both Jazz and High Kick – its highest placement at state ever. In addition to the appearances at state, Carlson’s teams have won 12 conference championships since 2007. She was named the Minnesota Dance Team Coach of the Year in 2018 by the Minnesota Association of Dance Teams (MADT).

It’s because of Carlson that dance teams around the state had a 2020-21 season during the COVID-19 pandemic. Carlson, who danced collegiately at Iowa State, served as President of the MADT last year and is currently the Past President, and worked with coaches from around Minnesota and the MSHSL to work through COVID-19 protocols and ensure that teams could safely compete.

While her teams have been very successful in competitions during her tenure, one of the things Carlson is most proud of is the growth of her teams. She has taken her small roster and grown it into a program that includes varsity and not one but two junior varsity teams to ensure that any and every dancer who wants to compete and shows potential has that opportunity.

Carlson is aware that dance is a sport of privilege, and that studio time and fees can be a barrier for some families and dancers. She makes it a point to include dancers who have not had studio training, but show the potential and desire to compete.  Carlson makes every effort to reduce barriers for those who love the sport as much as she does.