Team Feature: Grayslake North Dance Team
by Kaitlyn Winters, 8CA Staff Writer
[Former Grayslake North dancer Kaitlyn takes an inside look at her former team in her first article for the 8 Count Audio blog!]
The Grayslake North Varsity Dance Team is comprised of eighteen girls who come from many different dance backgrounds. The Knights are a part of the Fox Valley Conference, and compete in the 2A division for IHSA. Tryouts are held in early April, and the girls begin working as a team soon after.
Keeley Thode, the varsity coach, has been with the program for three years. Previously, she was a member of the Antioch Varsity Dance Team for all four years of high school, and spent time training at Waterford Dance Academy, American Stars, and Dancenter North. She continued her dance education at the University of Iowa by participating in a performance program and teaching dance at Nolte Academy of Dance.
In the summer and fall, Keeley works with the team captains to lead conditioning and technical training that will help them when competition season arrives, along with performing routines at football games and attending UDA camp. This year, some of the girls also led a red ribbon assembly at Avon elementary school.
The team has a technique coach, Erica Latakas, who comes in once a week year round to help the girls train throughout the season. Erica was a former member of the Antioch Dance Team and now continues her dance education at DePaul. Technical requirements for the team that are strongly focused on include double and triple pirouettes, basic to advanced jumps and leaps, strong kicks and flexibility, and sharp pom motions. In order to continuously improve these skills, girls attend nearby studios including Steps Performing Arts Center in Lindenhurst, Shine Bright Dance Studio in Antioch, and The Dance Connection in Grayslake.
Grayslake North DT running through pom work during practice
When competition season rolls around, the GNHS Dance Team puts a strong focus on their routines during practice. The team is known for their strong and creative pom routines, but always brings two routines to competition, this year bringing an additional kick routine. An outside choreographer, Elena Mularski, was brought in to come up with and teach their “Girls” themed pom routine. They self-choreographed their rock n’ roll themed kick routine with the help of Erica Latakas.
Grayslake North’s on track for another successful season
The Grayslake North dancers consistently challenge themselves with new styles and forms of choreography for competition, within the past four years having competed in hip hop, pom, jazz, and kick styles. With constant changes in the dance world, the team keeps their dance knowledge diverse in all aspects, and learning many styles also always encourages the team to stay dedicated, even through different obstacles. This work ethic is very clear during their practices. The team has practice two hours a day after and sometimes before school, paying attention to intricate details and constantly trying to improve their skills and visuals. As a team, a variety of challenges and inconsistencies have made them stronger year after year, bringing a certain spark and unity to all of their performances.
2A team Grayslake North at practice with poms in hand
Fun Facts
School Info:
Their mascot is the Knights and their school colors are black and Vegas gold.
Team Composition:
The team consists of two freshman, seven juniors, and nine seniors. Only four members are new to varsity this year.
Teams they admire:
They greatly admire the dance program at Geneva for their strong performances and consistent technical skills. There is also a lot of support for other nearby teams such as Libertyville.
Special skills/ trademarks:
Grayslake North is known for their strong pom work and unique visual choreography.
Captains:
GNHS has three senior captains: Teagan Bosshart, Paulina Lopez, and Taylor Knight.