High school dancers ask for a little respect

Bartlett High School parent Kelly Giardino wants people to appreciate the efforts of the dance and flag teams, even though the IHSA doesn't sanction them as sports.

"They don't get the statewide support that other sports receive," she said. "We need to celebrate them whenever possible."

Today is a good day to do that, as Giardino's daughter, Ellen Lose, joined other young women Sunday in Peoria for the 2009 Team Dance Illinois championship. Lose and her Bartlett teammates finished in third in the AAA Lyrical competition.

Of Northwest suburban schools, though, Palatine High continued to dominate. For the third straight year, the Pirates captured the flag state grand championship. First-year head coach Amy Vinyard said victory tasted sweeter this year as the squad was comprised of mostly underclassmen.

The team faced burnout after one meet and took a week off to regain composure, she said. But like any proud high school coach, she praised her seniors for keeping the team encouraged.

"They really came together and constantly supported the girls and challenged them to work harder," Vinyard said.

While dance isn't an Illinois High School Association sanctioned sport, TDI follows the guidelines set forth by the IHSA, including dividing schools by size. TDI hosts more than 30 events statewide during the school year to allow schools to qualify for the championship meet.

There were 12 dance and flag events Sunday. Some include props like pompons, others, like hip-hop, incorporate street-style dance forms.

Giardino has seen her daughter compete in four TDI state championships and said the event gets better each year. Scoring is one area she expects to see tweaks in the future.

Though dancers will tell you their sport is a full-year activity, as they perform in support of their football and basketball teams, senior dancers face the same emotions as other seniors who compete in spring sports.

Palatine High senior captain Brianna Mikel said she's already thinking about how the team will continue without her next year.

"They've already asked me to come back and visit," she said.

Performances by area schools ranking in the top three included:

• Barrington: second in AAA Open Pom, third in AAA Open Dance.

• Bartlett: place in AAA Lyrical.

• Fremd: first in AAA Pom, third in Kick, second in Tall Flag and Lyrical Flag.

• Hoffman Estates: second in Short Flag.

• Maine South: First in AAA Kick, second in AAA Open Dance.

• Palatine: Flag State Grand Champion, first in Tall Flag and Lyrical Flag.

• Rolling Meadows: third in Short Flag and Lyrical Flag.

• Stevenson: first in AAA Lyrical and Short Flag, second in AAA Kick.

For a complete list of results, teamdanceillinois.org.