UPDATES
FRIDAY 1/17/2020:
Time for another huge dance day in Metro East (the Illinois ‘burbs of the St, Louis area)! Not exaggerating: dances run from 8:30 until awards at 5. It’s an exciting lineup and a fun blend of teams that danced a couple weeks back at Belleville East and last weekend at Marion.
By the time lyrical wraps up (around 10 AM), heavy hitters like Highland, Edwardsville and Jacksonville will have taken the floor. Meanwhile, some of the state’s most talented soloists dance on side B of the schedule. From there it’s a jazz-fest with more big name headliners like AAA Normal West (known more for hip hop but creditably taking on the jazz genre) and Collinsville, AA Murphysboro, Triad, Highland, and Civic Memorial, and a terrific single-A group led by DuQuoin, Pinckneyville, and St, Anthony.
No doubt you’ll see some of these dances returning pretty quickly on the opposite side of the gym where many of these teams will again do it for the IHSA category. Throw in Quincy Notre Dame, Marion, O’Fallon, Jacksonville, and Herrin, and this turns into a pretty epic IHSA showdown.
It’s a short hip hop section but it packs a lot of star power: Normal West, Benton, DuQuoin, and a breakout Herrin team. And it’s pretty cool that Jersey not only brings a kick routine but also a hip hop to the floor!
That classic sizzle sound of poms cutting through the air will dominate the rest of the afternoon. On the pom side are teams that haven’t had a ton of on-floor time this winter–A Pittsfield (pom specialists) and AAA Granite City. A hefty 13 teams compete in the pom dance category! Single-A is pretty intriguing with category leaders DuQuoin and Althoff Catholic joined by a surging Benton team (normally a hip hop-oriented program). AA has this year’s breakout story Murphysboro going against programs more known for their jazz and lyrical work…Highland, Jacksonville, and Civic Memorial, plus the pom experts from Marion. Fans are gonna love the AAA pom dance talents of O’Fallon and Collinsville, who’ve both already qualified for IDTA state and are out to sharpen and refine their performances.
THE LOWDOWN
LOCATION:
Edwardsville High School. 6161 Center Grove Rd., Edwardsville, IL 62025
TIME:
Saturday, January 18. Dancing begins at 8:30 and 5:00 is the scheduled awards time
TEAM DIVISIONS:
Dance Solos; Flag Solos; Lyrical/Contemporary (AAA, AA, A, JV, JH); Jazz (AAA, AA, A, JV, JH); Hip Hop (AAA, AA, A, JH); Pom Dance (AAA, AA, A, JV, JH); Pom (AAA, AA, A, JH); Kick (AA, JV); IHSA category; Lyrical Flag (AA)
ILLINOIS DANCERS
STL-area teams go beast mode with IHSA sectional, IDTA qualification implications
1.17.20
Polished, January-level dances face the two rubrics at a huge southwestern IL comp [more]
IDTA state qualification spots up for grabs for central IL teams
1.17.20
Another 2-rubric Saturday for top-tier teams from around the middle of the state [more]
Start time pushed back to NOON!
1.17.20
Snow kidding, this comp is a key to a lot of teams heading into sectionals [more]
Up Next: a rare IHSA-only event outside of the Chi area
1.10.20
One of 1A’s most prestigious programs hosts a fiery selection of teams from around the state [more]
Up Next: it’s Chicagoland’s classic January comp!
1.10.20
North and NW suburban teams…plus a huge name from the western ‘burbs…are ready to heat things up on a wintry Saturday [more]
Up Next: 2nd consecutive weekend of dance for eastern and central IL
1.10.20
It’s almost an IHSA sectional preview–2 of them–at this weekend’s IDTA/IHSA clash at Charleston [more]
Up Next: Major teams set to clash at the southern tip of the state
1.10.20
Those IHSA and IDTA rubrics are ready for ya, southern IL teams! [more]
Up Next: Porterettes play host on a wintry Saturday
1.10.20
What was once a shorter comp years ago now boasts a full day of state-worthy teams [more]
Up Next: Sailorettes welcome teams to their end-of-break battle
1.3.20
A couple 3A and a fun assortment of 1A and 2A teams converge on Argo’s unique gym [more]
Up Next: Chi-area teams prep for two state contests
1.3.20
Maine East’s beautiful, old building hosts Chicago area teams dancing under both rubrics [more]
Up Next: east siiiddee!!!! gets the spotlight
1.3.20
Time for Central and East Central IL to shine at VG as winter break wraps up [more]
Up Next: southern IL and STL-area wrap up break
1.3.20
Big day at Belleville East is a major test for both IDTA and IHSA routines [more]
Up Next: day-to-night action in the ‘shire
12.13.19
Mid-December tradition continues at SHS with elite lineup [more]
Up Next: big-name teams meet up at the edge of the Chicago metro
12.13.19
Tasty blend of IHSA / IDTA-focused teams make up the field at Seneca [more]
Up Next: Central IL teams converge on the Peoria area
12.13.19
IDTA / IHSA action heats up in the middle of the state [more]
Up Next: STL’s ready to rumble
12.13.19
Illinois’ southern and St. Louis area teams go at it at the Althoff IDTA comp [more]
Up Next: 3A doin’ work at Dub V
12.13.19
Roll up your sleeves, 3A, ’cause it just got serious [more]
Up Next: Saturday morning showdown at DeKalb
12.13.19
With sectional assignments posted, 1A and 2A teams start the match-up game at DeKalb [more]
Up Next: cozy gym and amazing 2A teams at CL Central’s comp
12.04.19
The floor, the fieldhouse, and the school have tons of vintage character for an amazing group of teams at CLC [more]
Up Next: category awards back for 1 day at an IHSA comp
12.04.19
Amazing gym, category awards, and one of IL’s most popular teams at the GBS comp [more]
Up Next: 3A champs host on Sunday
12.04.19
GW vs LWC, new stuff from LP, and probable excellence from so many others at Naperville North [more]
Up Next: IDTA season launches at GSW
12.04.19
Some prominent IHSA teams join in on the fun at Gardner-South Wilmington [more]
Up Next: a crazy talented split schedule at Minooka
12.04.19
Who needs an IHSA state crystal ball to look into the future when you can just come to the Minooka comp? [more]
Up Next: modern dance, vintage gym, great hosts at Batavia
12.04.19
Chi-area teams from the central and far west suburbs meet up [more]
Up Next: the 2A champs host a huge showdown
12.04.19
Big name teams battle for 2A prestige at Lake Zurich [more]
Up Next: 2A in the morning, 3A and 1A in the pm
11.28.19
Props to these teams for dancing at the end of Thanksgiving weekend [more]
Up Next: an afternoon-only sesh at Deerfield
11.20.19
After your morning at Libertyville, head 11 miles south for part 2 at Deerfield! [more]
Up Next: a morning-only sesh at Libertyville
11.20.19
Preview and fan tips from the host team! [more]
DANCERS EVERYWHERE
Iowa’s state contest: from an IL point of view
1.4.20
Part 1 of our look at Iowa’s dance scene viewed from Illinois [more]
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