Seen At The Stagg Comp…
Posted 12/28/24 8:53 pm
SADDLE UP, DANCE TEAMS!
+ After last weekend’s whole-lotta-marley, it was back to normal gym floors for Comp Weekend 6. Stagg’s gym and basketball court have been staples of the dance scene ever since I started keeping weekly tabs on the sport in the early 2000s. Back then it was a mid-February comp with heavyweights like Lake Zurich and St Charles North as the faves on the schedule. And this statue on the way to the commons has always been a fan fave:
+ It’s kind of cool that we had a new college football playoff format happening on the same day as the Stagg comp. Amos Alonzo Stagg coached the University of Chicago football program back when it was a national powerhouse (like, 100+ years ago). As recently as the 2010s, you’d see “A.A. Stagg” on comp schedules whenever the Chargerettes competed.
+ Even with its name’s roots in college football, Stagg’s most famous alum is currently an NBA star. This guy went from small suburban college star to NBA playoffs difference-maker:
+ Comp Weekend 6 is always interesting because it’s winter break, and somehow these teams have managed to juggle finals (for most schools, anyhow), basketball games, getting ready for the holidays, and comp prep.
+ Only the newest 8CA followers don’t know that I’m not a big fan of the IHSA dance schedule, which creates a logjam of comps clustered into a few December weekends. That schedule arrived about the time that school districts in Northern Illinois shifted to having finals just before winter break…so, perfect storm…in an era when we’re supposedly focused more than ever on kids’ mental well-being.
+ But Stagg is a big comp with such an interesting mix of teams every year. This time it was a little shorter and more manageable, and once again I was graciously allowed to do dance-by-dance commentary from floor level.
+ In fact over the past couple years, I’ve had generous help from three Stagg coaches! Last year, Coach Swanson had me stationed next to the trophy table. This year, Coach Latorre set me up, and former Coach Brown helped me achieve wi-fi connectivity! It takes a village.
+ But seriously, the Stagg coaching line is a cool one to trace. In the ‘90s through the ‘10s, it was Coach Danielle Latorre’s thriving program. One of her dancers took over through the mid- and late-2010s (Coach Brown). Coach Swanson took over for a couple seasons, and now it’s the legendary Coach Latorre back at the helm after a few seasons assisting at nearby Sandburg. No exaggeration: she ranks as one of the deans of high school dance team coaching.
+ Here’s the classic gym and its very Illinois colors (this shot is from last year’s comp, featuring Lincoln-Way West JV ready to start their routine):
+ Our old friend, Mark the DJ, ran the music (we last saw him back on comp weekend 1 at Wheaton North), and I ended up at his table for the day. For sure, lots of nerdy DJing and music production topics…we probably bored anyone who overheard the chatter.
+ Announcing was handled by the lady who’s been emceeing the event for a few years—and who famously called out a lazy floor sweeper BY NAME, on the mic, at last year’s contest. That moment put her in the 8CA announcing hall of fame. Full credit also goes to the backup / relief announcer, who also added a unique style to the second set of awards at the end of the day. To their right were the trophies up for grabs:
NOTES, NUGGETS, IMPRESSIONS
1A Tests and Big Reveals
+ We got the long-awaited Montini debut! Their pom routines (often routine #1) are like your fave pair of jeans — comfy, worn-in but in a cool way, and ever-stylish. Their jazz or lyrical dances pack a punch every year: you’ll see advanced skills that you had no idea about, based on their pom routine.
+ And with this year’s lyrical, I’m reminded of why Celine ballads are like choreographer candy. I’m still in awe of how these dancers precisely stuck with the many dramatic tempo change moments in this song. This one could definitely scramble everyone’s 1A expectations.
+ I finally got to see Sycamore! And this might be the best Spartanettes team in several years. It’s got all those modern jazz goodies that work so well in this rubric. This piece is already nicely synchro’d, along with the bold visuals of a big roster (I counted 18) in a dance that doesn’t over-layer things. Major dark-horse status.
+ TREND: As a whole, these top-tier 1A teams are puttin’ up some scary-good scores. Not just here, but at many of the comps so far this winter. Count it as part of a years-long trend dating back to the late 2010s. Foreshadowing: a couple more huge scores would reverberate across 1A in about 24 hours.
+ Not sure the floor needed it, but why not — they ran the Zamboni during the lunch break after 3A awards! By sheer coincidence, the DJ happened to play a song that just worked really well with the visuals of a Zamboni…probably better than anything we’re seeing on the ice at the United Center this winter.
3A Star-Power, All Before Lunch
+ With the comp starting at 8:30 and 3A awards a lunch, you were going to get some headliners taking the floor well before 10am. 3A tends to be the division where nothing’s subtle — everyone’s out to go big or go home, right from the jump-off in November. So each of these teams has gone 2, maybe 3 times already this season.
+ So then the question is — are we learning anything new? With such an aggressive mindset in the division, did these dances have enough room to grow through the winter, or were all the cards on the table by Thanksgiving, with January being reduced to who can do their dance the most cleanly?
+ Case study: Huntley. At the time of this writing, I haven’t looked at the whole scoresheet…but it looks like this was the best run for their hip hop so far. And there’s still room to grow and clean (and it’s the type of choreo that’s quite cleanable). Don’t be shocked if this evolves into one of the more visually-pleasing, synch’d 3A dances next month.
+ Case study: Bartlett. They’ve gone from “nice start to the season” to serious 2-routine contender. We saw sparks out of the Bartlett program last season, so whatever’s been cooking over the spring, summer, and fall is now at a rolling boil and about to be plated. Get the napkins and forks ready.
+ Then there’s a group of teams that I’ll dub, “Could go either way in a month, but I definitely like what I see right now.” Downers Grove North, South Elgin, Jacobs, Naperville Central all live in this box at the moment…with each run looking sharper than the last.
+ Here’s the team we should all be rooting for if we love the concept of dance teams: Glenbard North’s lyrical. No doubt they’ve got a roster of girls with studio resumés; it’s the right song and concept for a team that wants to highlight poise and class; the dance smartly showcases their skills while leaving lots of room for expressiveness. We’re all running over each other trying to be some kind of G.O.A.T. or bust through the doors of some kind of hall of fame. But for me, I’m thrilled for teams that work hard to thrive in the hall of really good. I’m excited to see this one keep evolving.
+ More good vibes, this time from the venerable Whitney Young program. I was a little star struck when the legendary Coach Tucker came up to meet me after awards (I didn’t have the guts to introduce myself at the City Championship last February!). The more intricate / compact your choreo is, the harder it is to nail down synch — but even with a lot of micro-details in the dance, the WY Poms are trending strongly toward synch’d and clean. I could see this sliding into a postseason spot if the next few weeks go a certain way. I’m not saying hot sauce quite yet, but the cap is unscrewed…
+ The Lake Park Lancettes just keep coming. When they’re on the floor, it feels like no one in the gym is thinking about points or scores—we just wanna see their routines! Then, put them on the same floor as Andrew and Bartlett, and you’re pretty much gotten the value of your admission ticket. Dance 2 is probably the dazzler of the pair, but their first routine has the look of a winner, too.
+ Week-to-week glow-up: Plainfield South. Looked sharp on Comp Weekend 5, and even better this time. The one moment that grabs me is a non-standard arms exit to their pirouettes when in a vertical line — quirky and visually effective (and looks tough).
+ THE headsprings moment of the day: Rich Township, arrayed in a front row arc. These dancers know how to become one with a drum machine, too. Like if you’re a music producer and you’re curious about what it would look like to bring even a single count or beat of your song to life, these are the dancers to call.
+ In about 24 hours, the Reavis dancers would have plenty to celebrate at Glenbard South. But here at Stagg, they were the one 3A team who could legit start the party before 10am — based on visuals, crowd appeal, and irresistible concept.
+ Honestly, each peak at the Yorkville Foxettes is tantalizing. Zesty choreo and non-stop athleticism for a lyrical piece with just a singer and a basic piano part. These mid-pack teams are pouring so much soul into each run of their dances. Definitely a recommended watch if you’re a classic lyrical fan.
+ Some of the best flexibility and musicality timing in 3A at Stagg belonged to Plainfield Central’s lyrical. I know everyone’s supposed to nail the ending, but their front group NAILS it. The whole dance oozes with brightness and their confident delivery.
+ You’re in good shape if you hook the audience early on, especially if you’ve got a lyrical piece with a song that’s no stranger to the comp floor. And Oswego gives you that eye-pleasing look in the intro. And this is cool: they nail the syncopation that’s such a big part of a big moment in this particular song. I’m talking about the 1:50-1:58 section of this song:
+ Here’s a quick explainer on syncopation, as used in this song. The top line is the actual piano part written out. You can hear that the accents fall neatly onto the start of each beat (each beat gets four notes in this piano part).
+ The second line of notes is what Adele sings at around the 1:49 mark. Each “>” is a note or syllable of her vocal line. You can hear that her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th notes are “displaced” — they don’t fall neatly onto the start of each beat, or neatly onto the “and” count (which is halfway through each count). In other words, her 2nd, 3rd, and 4th syllables fall on off-beats, and aren’t aligned neatly with the strong beats (whether a numbered beat or the “and” count). That’s syncopation. It sounds displaced, but then by the end of the phrase it straightens itself out (her 5th and 6th syllables).
+ Oswego clearly expresses this syncopation at that one moment of the song in their dance. I’ve seen a lot of good teams just choose to not go there with this song, but the Pantherettes are all-in on the musicality.
+ For host team Stagg, the biggest year-to-year change could be in how they execute an entire skill. From prep to “doing it” to the exit / cleaning count, it’s all very certain and defined. I can also see a fuller confidence with each skill and hit. This one’s on-track to be a strong 3A routine for January.
+ 2A: new floor, same battle
+ TREND: 2A once again attracted a big share of the attention and intrigue…a common theme this winter, and for the last, like, 12 or 13 winters. Hell, you can say that about the 2A era in TDI, and the AA era in old IDTA and current IDTA.
+ This is a cool moment—the emerging (and non-salty) rivalry between upstart Bradley-Bourbonnais and a revitalized Lincoln-Way Central. Week after week, it’s a battle for the top spot between these two teams. Beneficiaries: everyone in the bleachers. Bradley-B suddenly showed sparks 2 or 3 seasons ago, leveled off just a bit, and are now on fire. In the late 2010s, LWC also made a huge comeback to relevance after, like, 12 low-key seasons…then also leveled off a little, and now are fierce division faves. Two GREAT stories, intertwined.
+ Making their debut was the Danceline from Hinsdale South. For dance 1, they’re the latest team to dip their toes in the classic rock swimming pool, and it pays off with a healthy serving of full-ensemble synchro and crisp jazz work. Their second dance nicely complements their first routine, and it’s already got that sharp showmanship we always expect from the Hornet Danceline. For the on-floor look, I bet this was the start that they were looking for.
+ This was my first look at hip hop favorites Grant! I like the hints of jazzy personas in this one. It’s really cool that they’re good with the multiple song tempos in this mix, without even a hint of mushy timing. Also popping out is their approach to feature moments — often highlighting a pair of dancers at a time. I’m definitely curious about how this one trends throughout the rest of the winter.
+ It’s a trade-off watching from the side, but one benefit is getting to fully appreciate turn preps — especially in pom. On second watch back here at the studio, the good ole’ video-freeze check shows me that a lot of nice things are happening with this Bremen program these days: level arms, matched knee angles on a prep count into a big turn sequence. The ready-for-NYE costumes don’t hurt, either.
+ Not just any ordinary quad — but Lemont brings that pretty “slow down on the last rotation and stay extremely glued in passé” kind of quad. Even if you just watch this stunning lyrical from the shoulders-up, you’ll know that they’re tightly bonded with every bar of their song. Underrated.
+ They’re in bold mode: Shepard. A super-clear step up from previous winters, and so willing to take on some tough choreo. From costumes to visual stunts, this one is meant to entertain!
+ I felt like I was cheating: sitting on the endline where the teams line up to take the floor, I could sneak a peak at how Argo gets that pom trickery accomplished. But just ‘cause you know how it’s done doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the magic show! The big team and knife-like sharpness creates outstanding visuals for the crowd to feast on. It’s very easy to believe that each Sailorette loves his or her time on the comp floor.
+ Oak Lawn’s piece is way, way more lovable than any one-size-fits-all rubric can handle. You’ll see some hip hop influences, faces staying in character, eye-catching high / low split staging, and sassiness that keeps the audience engaged.
+ Marist has made an impact with each outing starting with Comp Weekend 1, and they continue to rep a new height for this old program. We’ve literally witnessed the team blossom throughout the season. No matter what happens from here on out, this is already a seriously successful winter for Marist. I wish I could take a vid of their 2nd dance and show it to the Illinois Dance Community of, like, 2019. “You guys wanna see Marist in 2024? Sit down…”
+ THIS Eishenhower is definitely not the Ike of the old days, but the entertainment factor of both eras is hard to deny. Kind of odd to put it like this, but even with a theme that’s on the “standard” side of things, this is way outside the box for them. On-floor result: delicious. They’re committed to the routine and I can’t wait to see more of this one.
+ I’m gonna assume Burlington Central’s second dance is “the one,” so let me heap some praise onto their first routine. It takes a talented team to execute hard stuff with a casual air…almost like the dance’s expressive aspects are the top priority. I love how the full ensemble has one thing on their minds throughout this dance’s non-layered sections: to dance with one mind.
+ So the Stagg comp was all that & then some! Next up: the final comp of 2024, and a comp hosting debut by the team I’ll always call the Raiderettes.