IDTA State ’21: A Watch Guide For Chicago Area IHSA Dance Fans
by Norm Ramil, 8CA main person and dance team fan
3/12/21 9:25pm
The season keeps rolling, and I don’t mean spring football sidelines and halftime!
IDTA’s state finals hit wi-fi routers everywhere around the state on Saturday. Like IHSA, this year’s season calendar ended up being a throwback to the days when state was in March.
If your program is IHSA-only, like a lot of the dance teams in the Chicago area, watching IDTA’s state event is a golden opportunity to take in a wider view of what Illinois’ dance scene is all about. Our sister dance teams from the other end of the state have something to say now that their IHSA sectional and state obligations are out of the way.
Chicagoland teams and teams from the rest of the state have way more in common than we tend to think. The sweat, sore muscles, intense dedication, and relentless hope applies to dancers across Illinois.
IDTA judges are often IHSA judges, and they might have even scored your team at some point. Most IDTA teams go to IHSA sectionals, and many appear on the IHSA state floor. In the few short years that IHSA’s had dance as a sport, IDTA teams have taken home 12 out of the 27 top-3 trophies handed out in Bloomington. And all season long, each IDTA comp has an IHSA category using IHSA’s rubric. It’s how teams like Highland, Murphysboro, and Dunlap picked up the judge feedback to propel them towards a runner-up, an 8th, and a 9th at IHSA state, respectively.
Then there’s respect, tradition, and unity. IDTA is an essential thread throughout Illinois dance team history. Without IDTA launching 40+ years ago, we don’t have a sport. The programs that rule IHSA dance today have dusty but meaningful IDTA trophies in their cases and vaults.
What You’ll See
The biggest differences that will pop out at you as you watch any IDTA comp, including their State, are 1) categories (including a JV level in each one) and 2) many of these teams are from outside the Chicago area. They’ve all qualified for IDTA state by hitting a qualifying score at least once during the IDTA season. And IDTA’s class system (AAA, AA, A) doesn’t exactly match IHSA’s 3A, 2A, and 1A.
You’ll also notice names of teams that you possibly battled against at IHSA state. It’s fascinating to look at how some of these IDTA entries tweaked the same routine to work better for either the IDTA or IHSA rubric. So if you watched IHSA state carefully, you’ll want to check out how these IDTA dances might shift ever so slightly to fit the IDTA rubric.
It’s a fantastic chance to explore other ways of assessing a performance you’re familiar with! And if that makes your mind wander toward, “How would our routine have done in IDTA?” then you’ve succeeded in stepping outside the box!
You’ll also see a sweet set of Chicago-area teams to root for (now that you’re done competing against them in IHSA for the season). It’s always cool to see what other teams are up to! Plus you’ll have stuff to talk about when you hang out with them at UDA or 8CA summer events!
Chicagoland teams you’ll see at IDTA state
Bishop McNamara, Bolingbrook, Gardner-South Wilmington, Hinsdale South, Lyons Township, Maine East, Metea Valley, Oak Forest, Seneca, Thornton Fractional South, Waukegan, West Aurora. And we’ll include our Rockford-area buddies Hononegah (because they’re probably Bears/Bulls/Hawks/Cubs fans, like deep dish AND thin pub-style pizza (cut into squares), and would never put ketchup on a hot dog).
IHSA state teams you’ll see at IDTA state:
Bishop McNamara, Collinsville, Dunlap, DuQuoin, Elmwood, Eureka, Gardner-South Wilmington, Hinsdale South, Jacksonville, Jersey, Lyons Township, Marion, Mascoutah, Mattoon, Murphysboro, Oak Forest, Ottawa, Quincy Notre Dame, Seneca, Triad, Washington
Matchmaking: jazz fans + IDTA jazz routines
YOU LIKE?
Mundelein, Minooka, Lake Park, Glenbrook South
YOU’LL LIKE:
Triad, Murphysboro, Hinsdale South, Dunlap
Matchmaking: pom fans + IDTA pom and pom-dance routines
YOU LIKE?
Montini, Argo, Reavis
YOU’LL LIKE:
Elmwood, Quincy, Gardner-South Wilmington
YOU LIKE?
Vernon Hills, Lake Zurich, Batavia, Downers Grove South
YOU’LL LIKE:
Highland, Collinsville, Gardner-South Wilmington, Murphysboro, Jacksonville
Matchmaking: lyrical fans + IDTA lyrical/contemporary routines
YOU LIKE?
South Elgin, Geneva, Waubonsie Valley, Prospect
YOU’LL LIKE:
Belleville East, Highland, Clinton, Mascoutah, Eureka
Matchmaking: hip hop fans + IDTA hip hop routines
YOU LIKE?
Lincoln-Way West, Deerfield, Grant, Huntley
YOU’LL LIKE:
Waukegan, St Joseph-Ogden, Normal West, TF South
And: stuff you should check out because we don’t see it in IHSA very much, if at all
Kick:
Marion, Charleston
Production:
Eureka
Bonus:
Junior high teams, JV teams, soloists (Friday night), and 3 categories for flag teams
How to watch
Livestream ($15) runs from 10 to 4 on Saturday with awards right after.