ANTELOPE VALLEY TEENS DANCE WAY TO AWARDS.

Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer

Rave parties don't interest them. Hip-hop isn't their thing. Instead, the dozen teen-agers who belong to the Chuck Wagon Express do the country-western thing.

Calling itself Antelope Valley's only teen-age country-western dance troupe, the group brought back two first places and a fifth place last month from the United Country Western Dance Council World Championships at the Disneyland Hotel.

``It's ballroom dancing done to country music,'' said Quartz Hill High School senior Michael Eads, 17, of Palmdale. ``It's a lot of fun.''

The Express took first place as the only junior team in short-program performance. The Antelope Valley performers also won first place in line dancing and fifth in multipartner dancing.

In line dancing, the Express beat out teams from the Netherlands and Texas.

``All of us have a lot of talent,'' an unabashed Eads said. ``It makes it more enjoyable because it's something we all enjoy doing.''

Members of the group were among the 30 dancers picked in February 1995 for a video with a country-singing duo, Brother Phelps, of ``Anywhere the Wind Blows.''

The video was choreographed by local square-dance champions Pat and Lou Arnold.

In recent months, the Express has performed in Tucson, Ariz., San Diego, San Jose and Buena Park.

``At first my friends thought I was a hick,'' Eads said. ``Then I showed them the video and they were surprised. They didn't see me as that type of person.''

Jeralynn Brooks, a student at Antelope Valley College, is another member of the group who performed for the video.

``This gives you an opportunity to meet new people,'' Brooks said. ``It's the greatest thing.''

Brooks, 18, says clogging lessons as a youngster helped her pick up dance steps easily.

``I can pick up things pretty fast. I want to stay with this as long as I can,'' said Brooks, adding that she wants to become a doctor but thinks dancing - good exercise - can always fit into life.

She especially enjoys an audience, she said.

``I'm a people person,'' Brooks said. ``To go get out on the floor and hear all the people start clapping is really neat.''

While Brooks aims for medical school, Eads hopes to become a professional dancer and is looking for a permanent partner for dance contests.

``I want to became a master's couple dancer,'' he said, and challenge the dancers, Robert Royston and Laureen Baldovi, who have held the master's couple title for four years.

The Express originally focused on line dancing, then added couples dancing.

The troupe's routines include moves inspired by the polka, cha-cha, two-step, waltz, West Coast swing and East Coast swing. Eads does the choreography.

``We keep changing our steps and moves all the time,'' Eads said. ``We're always trying new things.''

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2 Photos

Photo: (1--color) Dancers in the Chuck Wagon Express practice on a sunny day. From left are Kyle Burleson, Kristy Berger, Matt Harris, Marcy Virgil, Jeralynn Brooks and Michael Eads.

(2) Dancing in line are, from left, Tiffany-Hope Martin, Robin Mooers, Jennel Harris, Chad Mooers, Kimberly Plush and Shannon Harris.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News