Dance teams caught in full color

Dancers of all ages dressed in vibrant, coordinated outfits tossed colorful batons and flags and floated across Naperville North High School's gymnasium floor Sunday.

More than 200 middle and high school teens from Illinois and Indiana participated in the Midwest Color Guard Circuit competition hosted by Naperville-area parents throughout the day.

Everyone strutted their best moves with pride, and the cheers just kept coming and coming.

Howie Mogil, Midwest Color Guard Circuit president, said by participating in color guard groups, students learn confidence about their bodies and their passions.

"I think every kid out there in every group is a champion," he said. "This provides an opportunity for all kids to feel like a champion."

Laurie DeKruiff of Naperville, president of The Naperville Steperette Guard & Parent Organization said Sunday's eight-hour event was the fourth annual show the group has hosted.

But this year was bigger than ever.

"There's more guards coming into the circuit now, and there's more high school groups," DeKruiff said.

She said every year's always a success.

"Once you experience it, you kind of fine tune things and it runs smoother every year," DeKruiff said.

Jane Liddy, 13, of Naperville performed Sunday morning with the Steperette's and had a blast.

"It's fun to see the guards show," she said. "It's the start of the season and all of them are different."

This is Liddy's second season on the team, and she likes that she can feel an advancement in her dancing. This also means more solo's for her.

"I like seeing all the new shows," she said. "And seeing how we all improve."