Team Feature: Wauconda Dance Team

by Mallory Peters, 8CA Staff Writer

[What better way to debut on the 8 Count Audio blog than by catching up with your old team? Here’s what Mallory learned about a new era for the famous 2A dance program.]

Wauconda High School has always had the junior varsity and varsity dance teams full of aspiring students that are very dedicated and want to grow as dancers. All of the teammates have come from different dance studios and dance backgrounds that help the program be diverse, versatile and strong. Just like any other high school sport though, Wauconda Dance has had its ups and downs. The 2015-16 season, however, has only been filled with highs for these young ladies under the leadership of their two new coaches, Kerry Leveque and Blythe Mesura.

Wauconda Dance has had a season like no other. The tryouts did not take place until after the school year started. That means none of the girls had any chance for dance camps, practices to start competition choreography or team bonding. One would have to give props to any team that would only have a week or two to throw a halftime routine together for the first football game. This year was special though, because not only did the coaches make this all possible, but JV and Varsity also danced as one team for these games. It gave a feeling of unity that the girls had missed out on before.

As soon as November 1st came along, it was time for these two teams to crack down on those competition routines and catch up. JV got the opportunity to do an open jazz routine for the first time in at least three years and Varsity focused on what they do best, a passionate lyrical to a cover song. Both teams have heavy focus on strong musicality, emotional connection and original movement that create a dance the judges and audience are moved by and that scores high, hopefully. Competition season has been nothing short of hard work for these dancers, who only had dreams to do better than seasons in the past.

JV and Varsity share a gym for the practices they have, either before school or after. Even though the teams work separately during this time, the practice format is the same and helps them set up for success. On each team, the girls will stretch together and the coaches will set a game plan for that day’s practice. When they have a competition the weekend ahead, the teams really focus on cleaning movement and clarifying combinations. The best way they find to clean is to have the team run the routine and find specific pieces to fix. They then have the coach and/or captains clarify what the movement is, make sure everyone is doing it the same way and has the same counts. Practice ends with the teams watching each other’s dances which emphasizes their unity as one team.

Coach Leveque and Coach Mesura do a marvelous job encouraging and supporting the dancers during the stressful times at each practice. After each run through, the teams receive feedback from the coaches. The feedback always includes something positive, something done better, and then what could use some more clarification. If it were not for these two coaches coming into play this season, there would not have been a season. How crazy is that? JV and Varsity are blessed with the two that were able to swoop in and pick these dancers up when they were so far down.

While stopping in to see how practices were going for this team, I had the incredible opportunity to talk to both of them and get to know all of the teammates better. Compared to last season, the girls feel much more confident in who they are as dancers and feel more prepared coming into practice, football and basketball games, and competitions. There is a stronger team bond than ever before and they would not wish for this season to be any different (except for some judges’ scores here and there, but who doesn’t wish that). One special memory JV and Varsity shared from the season was when both teams were awarded first place at their competition at Vernon Hills. It was the first time in a very long time that both teams were awarded anything at the same place. How sweet!

I also found out some fun facts about these teams that make them unique and keep that special bond. For example, JV loves practicing their competition routine, “Cosmic Love” by Florence and the Machine, to “Hotline Bling” by Drake for fun. They love their bonding, team dinners, and getting the highest scores they have ever gotten. Before they take the floor, they make sure to meditate, watch sad YouTube videos to get in the mood and “shake it off.” Their rivals are Vernon Hills and Grant, and they are inspired by the teams at Geneva and Libertyville. The team that inspires them the most is their own Varsity team. They are lucky to be able to look up to others that are so close.

Varsity prefers to stick to the cover they have of “Pretty Hurts,” originally done by Beyonce. During their free time, they like to put on the ever-so-classic Twerk Radio on Pandora and also 2000s Pop. They feel they have been more up-and-coming this year so their goal has been just to place well against all the schools in their conference. The teams that inspire them the most are York and Neuqua Valley. They, of course, do the “shake if off” before they step on the floor as well, but Coach Leveque also makes sure to give them one last pinky promise for that extra ounce of good luck.

The veterans on this team have been so grateful for the season they have been given. They already feel more prepared for sectionals than years in the past. The captains’ and other vets’ favorite memory from any year was last year’s sectionals. The team made an executive decision to change their whole entire routine and music a week beforehand. Risky move, but it worked out in their favor when they placed in the top 6 and headed to state. They were only .4 away to making it to day two as well! Hopefully they are just as lucky at sectionals this weekend at Huntley High School and can take it to that second day at state for their first time in IHSA history.