With a revamped approach to both training and choreography, the dance team made it back to the IHSA state competition for the third year in a row, and seventh time in program history. They scored 87.02 points and took the sixth and final state tournament berth from the Class 3A Mahomet-Seymour Sectional Jan. 25.
The Tigers will compete in the preliminary rounds of the state competition in Bloomington Friday, Jan. 31, with the top 12 scores advancing to the finals on Saturday.
For this season, the team focused on making changes in their routine and technique.
“This year was a big shift in the program as a whole,” sophomore Claire Johnson said. “Last year, after our season was over, we sat down with the coaches, and we had a really great discussion about what we could do to up our game for this year.”
Senior captain Addison Keller credits the increased confidence in their routine as one reason that sets this year’s team apart from past years.
“Our determination and commitment has grown a lot this year,” she said. “I can see how hard everyone is working and pushing to be the best we all can be.”
In the past, the team had brought a slower dance to state. This year, they’re doing a “powerful and aggressive” jazz routine, according to Keller.
The routine, which is set to “Black Mascara,” brings a more dramatic and emotional energy to the floor, compared to traditional lyrical pieces common in dance competitions. The theme of the routine is tied to the song’s lyrics and explores pain, resilience and transformation.
“We all try to connect to the story of the music, which is about a woman who was treated poorly by someone who only cares about themselves,” Johnson said. “Now, she is embracing the hurt that he has caused her, and that hurt is what motivates her to come out stronger in spite of him.”
One of the team’s biggest achievements was incorporating a team aerial, an advanced move that requires precision and trust among dancers, into their jazz routine. By performing more complex moves during their routine, the team can demonstrate the performance’s quality to the judges.
“We’ve added more intricate skills and continued to further our cleanliness, showing how much we’ve grown as a team,” junior Kennedy Baugh said. “The energy and excitement we bring to each routine have only gotten stronger, and it’s clear that all our hard work and dedication are paying off.”
As the team prepares for the state competition, many members have two years of state experience, which allows them to know what to expect.
“We know what we’re walking into,” Baugh said. “My first time at state was super nerve-racking, and I wasn’t sure what to expect. Now that we’ve been multiple times, we know the arena, floor and audience size, which helps our confidence and overall performance quality.”
Since qualifying for state, the team has worked on ensuring the theme of their piece will be understandable to the competition judges, who will be seeing the piece for the first time.
“Sometimes we get so drilled into our own counts that we don’t realize that judges might not read as clear to judges at competition,” Johnson said. “[We’ve] had to portray all the different parts of the musicality while also maintaining a cohesive routine.”
Before this three-year streak of state appearances, the Tigers went three years without qualifying, making their recent success even more meaningful. Their rebuild has solidified them as a consistent contender on the state stage.
“It’s a huge accomplishment to make it to state now three years in a row,” Keller said. “I am so proud of our team and our growth over the last couple years.”