The Suffolk Steelers cheerleading and dance team practices three nights a week in a half-lit, rocky parking lot at Peanut Park.

Within the next few weeks, the Steelers will be performing on big stages and under bright lights in Charlotte and Orlando.

The Steelers, in the midget age group (age 13-15), won the Southeastern Virginia Pop Warner dance championship to qualify for the Pop Warner Regionals and Nationals.

The regional competition is during Thanksgiving weekend in Charlotte. The national championship is Dec. 5-11 at Disney World.

“This is the team’s first season together,” said head coach Trina Arrington during a practice earlier this week. “Some of the girls have been to Florida before, when they were on younger teams, but a majority of them are new.”

Throughout the season, the team’s practices are more about quality than quantity. Practices usually run about an hour-and-a-half.

“The big thing for us is education,” Arrington said. All Steeler, or Inner City Athletic Association, cheerleaders and football players must get good grades and stay in good standing in school to remain on the stage or field.

“We make sure we’re giving them the time they need for school work. That comes first,” Arrington said.

“We’ve been changing our routine since the local competition, to make it more difficult for the next levels,” she said.

The Steeler dance team is Kanisha Colbert, Alexis Arrington, Kawnejah Johnson, Alexis Norman, Kaleesha Baker, Jada Jones, Kashala Jones and Donisha Bailey.

The Steelers are holding a fundraiser event Saturday from noon-2 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Middle School. Donations will go to the team’s trips.