UPDATES
MONDAY 11/25/19:
Highlights and notes added below!
WEDNESDAY 11/20/19:
We’re keeping it casual with a quick-hitting, fun-size Libertyville competition this Saturday. “The Wildcat Welcome” runs from 9 to around noon, so you’ll have time to grab a bite and then slide over to Deerfield for their afternoon comp. Look for debuts by Vernon Hills, Carmel, Wheeling, Buffalo Grove, Hersey, Hampshire, Jones College Prep, alongside of Libertyville. On my list of teams to keep an eye on is Grayslake North, who hits the floor for a second week in a row. Guilford looked good last year, their strongest team in over a decade. And St. Ignatius made a ton of noise at their conference comp where they took home 2nd. It’ll be fun to compare the morning run by Vernon Hills before they dance again at the Deerfield comp in the afternoon!
THE LOWDOWN
LOCATION:
Libertyville HS. 708 W. Park Ave., Libertyville, IL 60048
TIME:
Saturday, November 23. Starts at 9, last routine scheduled for 11:15
TEAM DIVISIONS:
V and JV
FAN TIPS:
from Varsity Coach Casey Dugan:
The competition begins at 9:00am and will fly by. With 19 2A JV and Varsity performances, stop by to get to see many teams’ first competitive performance. Spectators may enter through the main entrance beginning at 8:00am. Spectators may also use the pool entrance doors located closer to the performance gym. $7 adults, $5 students without LHS ID. Anyone showing a military ID will be admitted for FREE. Athletic Directors are admitted FREE with their badge.
HIGHLIGHTS
This program has a long history of competition experience but I’m feeling a new level from Jones College Prep. Fans get a fun twist for the final third of this fun hip hop routine, but way before that point I could sense that this year’s team is sharper than ever and completely committed to the performance aspect of their routine. And you could hear it in the way their fans and fams cheer them on–they know something’s up. Got a good feeling about this one…
There’s always an allure around Vernon Hills–I frequently get asked how they look. The reason? That extra-large trophy case in the hall outside their gym filled with dance accolades from the 2000s through last season. They were probably looking for a top 3 at neighboring Libertyville’s first-ever comp, but VH and their JV both impressed me.
I was talking with a coach before awards and we said the same thing: “Hampshire looked good!!” Over the years we’ve seen them in 1A and 2A, with the constant being a very strong lyrical program. This performance told me that 2A’s going to have to factor these dancers into the equation throughout the winter.
Before this season, Carmel’s been known for their strong hip hop work and solid pom and jazz performances. I saw them definitely up their lyrical-contemporary game on Saturday morning. That kind of musicality gets you noticed! It’s tricky, though, to nail the execution when the choreography is so carefully detailed, but I think the Carmel dancers are off to a great start. It’s another one of the those routines that I personally am going to enjoy watching no matter what the rankings or scores say!
Props to these Belvidere dancers! Every season they bring their craft to comps across the northern suburbs (which is a lot of traveling for them) and soak in the spotlight, get feedback, and come back the next week just a little bit stronger. That’s growth, and it’s awesome to follow.
It feels like every late January, Libertyville finds themselves in a block of Bloomington hotel rooms getting set to battle on Day 2 of IHSA state. Their pair of routines looked great for mid-November, and not just because they were pumped to perform on their home floor! You gotta love teams that pack a 1-2 punch with both of their dances…and it keeps the rest of 2A guessing, too.
Hands in the air for the Libertyville dance program for hosting their first comp! They got a big assist from the LHS cheer program and friendly volunteers helping us navigate to the gym. Speaking of…lots of credit goes to LHS for coming up with this second-option gym while their primary gym gets some first aid. Older buildings can be kind of a maze but they put up plenty of signs that easily got us to the right gym in time. We sat near some dedicated Libertyville alums who stopped in to check out their 2A stars and threw some legit support their way. A few glitches and delays but no biggie since it was the first time and in a backup gym. If you’re looking for a mid-November comp next season, take a look at Libertyville!
ILLINOIS DANCERS
Up Next: IDTA comp 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
(coming soon)
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