Six local high school dance teams qualify for state championships

Six area high school dance teams qualified Sunday for the Team Dance Illinois championships next month in Peoria.

The regional competition, held at Lake Zurich High School, hosted 25 teams from Lake and Cook counties and was one of about a dozen contests held every Sunday statewide leading up to the March 2 championships.

"The girls get very nervous beforehand because all of their hard work is judged," said Peggy Walding, whose daughter, Sarah, is on the Lake Zurich team. "But they seem to really step up their dancing when it comes time."

Qualifiers Sunday in the categories of pom, hip hop and open dance were: Cary-Grove, Lemont, Harry D. Jacobs, Barrington, Grayslake Central and Lake Zurich high schools.

Artistic excellence was awarded to the Jacobs High School dancers for open pom. An award for technical excellence was given to the Energizer Dance Team, the only group from Wisconsin.

Schools that did not qualify Sunday have a chance to enter other regional competitions up to the state championship. The next regional event will be held Sunday at Stevenson High School.

Barrington High School dancer Allison Mallon, 15, said she thinks her team showed a lot of confidence.

"We were strong and we changed our dance a little after getting some tips from the judges last time," Mallon said.

Confidence was apparent on the Woodstock High School team as well, at least as far as Whitney Wilson could see. Wilson, 18, had back surgery last year and was forced to cheer from the sidelines.

"I think they did amazing," she said. "We had a game last night, and they really enjoyed themselves. I think that gave them the confidence they needed, and they kept it going today."