Dance teams vie for state bids in Wheaton competition

They’re all smiles and pep during football and basketball game halftimes.

But during competition season, dance teams throughout the area, including at Wheaton North, put on a game face to advance to the next level: a state competition in Peoria on March 6.

“You see a halftime performance and you think that’s what they’ll be doing,” Wheaton North Falconette Dance Team Head Coach Melissa Pierceall said. “It’s so much more intense. You can see how much these kids work all year round for this.”

The road to state will begin for some at a 57-team competition at Wheaton North on Sunday, Jan. 23.

The ninth annual competition will include 110 performances that begin at 8:45 a.m. Sunday and end with the final performance at 4:55 p.m.

Dance teams may choose to perform in six divisions: pom, open pom, kick, hip hop, lyrical and open dance. A particular team may qualify in up to two divisions for the state tournament.

Sunday’s key to success is a connection to the music, Pierceall said.

“You can tell a team that’s energetic, that knows what they want, that is really portraying a story — there’s that connection,” she said. “When you have that, you have team unison. All the girls are performing at the same level and you can see their energy, their athleticism, their creativity.”

The Wheaton North Falconettes Dance Team practices about 20 hours a week, 10 months each year. They perform at football and basketball games as well as pep assemblies. During the competition season, from November to March, they’ll perform in seven competitions throughout the state in an effort to make the state tournament.

After the final performance Sunday, judges from Team Dance Illinois will determine who will head to the state finals and who will need to try again another day.

Because team dance isn’t considered a sport by the Illinois State High School Association, Team Dance Illinois is considered the state series. The organization is in charge of assigning judges to each competition.

“It’s very stressful,” Pierceall said. “It’s also very competitive because you’re trying to get that bid to state. It’s kind of a mind game.”

Most people don’t see the behind-the-scenes work, the perfection, the stress that goes into the sport.

Pierceall’s team focuses on athleticism and includes a lot of conditioning.

“They are ruthless. They will try any new trick that is legal, and they’ll learn how to do it,” she said. “Anybody can do a dance. My girls want to be the ones to take ownership to their own dance. They’ll try anything they can to be the team that’s a little bit different.”

The competition takes place in Neibch Gymnasium at Wheaton North.

Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for students and seniors. Proceeds benefit the Wheaton North Dance Team.

For information, e-mail Pierceall at mpiercea@cusd200.org.

If you go

What: Wheaton North dance team competition

When: 8:30 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 23

Where: Wheaton North High School, Neibch Gymnasium, 701 W. Thomas Road, Wheaton

Cost: $8 adults, $5 students and seniors

Info: mpiercea@cusd200.org