Suburban poms teams dance, kick their way to the top

Lake Park High School’s poms team, the Lancettes, have earned high marks all season for their lyrical and dance routines. On Sunday, they earned some hardware to match.

The Lancettes were named the grand champion of the AAA division at the TeamDance Illinois state championships in Peoria. After winning the state title in AAA lyrical and placing third in AAA open dance, their combined scores turned out to be the highest of the day among large schools.

Coach Stephanie Hagemen credited the leadership provided by the upperclassmen on her team as well as their innovative programs.

“I am so fortunate to have such a talented team of dancers,” Hagemen said. “As a team, the girls took ballet classes together to not only improve their technique as individuals but to elevate the technical standard of the whole team.

“It paid off,” she said. “It really helped them, as dancers, reach new heights.”

Their state winning lyrical program, “Calm Under the Waves,” used motifs of water, waves and breeze to tell a story about love and saying goodbye, while their open dance routine celebrated cultural dances in an upbeat and exciting routine.

The championship took place at the Peoria Civic Center and stretched from morning until night, featuring six dance categories — hip hop, kick, lyrical, open dance, open pom, and pom — in class sizes A, AA and AAA. Other multiple winners included Schaumburg High School, whose poms team, the Sizzlers, won the AAA pom title, while its flag team, the Starlites, won the lyrical flag title and overall grand championship among flag teams, for the second year in a row.

Vernon Hills High School’s poms team earned two state titles, in AA open poms, and AA open dance, while Lakes Community High School in Lake Villa won titles in AA hip hop and the open flag division.

Montini High School’s poms team won the Class A pom title and placing second in the Class A open pom division. Among hip hop routines — the most hotly contested of the day — Warren Township claimed the state championship among large schools in AAA, followed by Jacobs and Lake Zurich, respectively. Maine South High School won the AAA kick title, while Fremd High School’s Vikettes placed second with their routine, which combined lyrical moves with the traditional kick formations, to the sounds of “Somebody to Love” by Queen.

“We’re just happy to be there and happy to place,” said Fremd Coach Jane Richards. “The competition was really tight, so we’re thrilled with how we finished.”

Fremd’s flag team, wearing tuxedo costumes, won the tall flags title with their innovative routine set to music from the movie, “The Thomas Crown Affair.”