Lake Zurich contest: Varsity 3A
For the varsity 3A teams at the LZ contest on December 8th, it was a story of double-routine dominance along with the spotlight belonging to a category other than lyrical and jazz / open dance. Hip hop made a huge…
Norm Ramil
Lake Zurich contest: Varsity 2A
Just 2 days after a Friday night 2A showdown at the Vernon Hills contest, 13 more 2A routines faced-off at Lake Zurich on December 8th. Scores ranged from a high of 84.50 (a stellar pom debut by Rolling Meadows) down…
Varsity 3A scores increase from Fremd to Lake Zurich
The 3A teams as a group look like they did more than stuff themselves full of Thanksgiving fixins and holiday treats during the 2 week interval between the Fremd contest (11/23/13) and Lake Zurich (12/8/13). 16 3A routines appeared at…
Fremd competition 11/23/13: Varsity 3A
Most Chicago-area dance teams kicked off their competition season at Fremd on November 23rd, and the 21 3A teams brought 30 routines. Scores ranged from 94.67 to 63.07 with an average of 78.2. Judges spent more time watching pom…
Introducing: Dance Hub IL
Yup, this is really happening! Ever wonder if a competition is going on somewhere else in the state? Ever been caught off guard as you find out on Facebook that your rival competed last weekend only 20 miles away? The…
Technique: Fouettes
Figuring Out Fouettés Haley Mathiot, 8 Count Audio Dance Technique Guest Writer Fouetté: the word inspired fear into the hearts of ballet students everywhere. The uncontrollable nightmare that whirls you off your feet and sends you flying across the room…
Technique: Turns
Turns: A Controllable Nightmare Haley Mathiot, 8 Count Audio Guest Dance Technique Writer Turns can be a dancer’s worst nightmare. Some people turn naturally, but even they have to work at pirouettes and fouettés. We’ve talked about visualization—which is a…
Flashback: TDI Champions 8 Years Ago
A Look Back At Who Was On Top Of The Dance World In The Summer of 2005 Before IHSA and TDI, IDTA was the primary competitive dance sanctioning body in Illinois (although teams also sometimes competed in state and national…
Championship Season: An Insider’s Perspective
8 Questions with Caroline Christensen (Part 1) Ready to get into the mind of a habitual champion? We couldn’t think of a better way to kick off our “8 Questions…” series. Here’s former Crystal Lake Central Dance Team coach Caroline…
Rookie Coaches, Have No Fear
Rookie Coach? Veteran Tips For Setting Up A Successful Season by Allison Preston 8CA Special Guest Contributor Congratulations! You’ve been selected as the new Dance Team Coach! You now have 20 (or maybe 47) children. Let’s talk about how you’re…
Summer Dance Camp Tips
Summer Dance Camp Tips for Coaches by Norm Ramil, 8CA Creative Director and Nancy Prentiss, St. Charles North Drill Team (SCNDT) Varsity Coach Pop quiz! What did your girls learn at camp? A) how to make hilarious videos B) the real…