Naperville Park District Dance Team Wins Division at Feb. 4 Dance Idol Event

Naperville Park District's competition dance team won first place in their age group (ages 9-11) in the small group division at the Feb. 4, 2017 Des Plaines Dance Idol competition.

"The girls had a fantastic time at Des Plaines Dance Idol," said Stacey Fontechia, dance instructor and choreographer. "For some of the dancers, this was their very first competition and they handled it like pros. There were some nerves as they waited backstage, but as soon as they hit the stage they were electric and I could not have been more proud."

The Naperville team performed a jazz routine called "Grown," choreographed by Fontechia. The nine dancers on the team are Daija Cohen, Claire Curran, Mia Gordon, Libby Grant, Lilyrose Grant, Sophia Fairley, Reilly Fitzgerald, Breanna Miller, and Victoria O'Neill.

The next competition on the dance team's schedule is the Cathy Roe Ultimate Dance Challenge at Oswego East High School on March 3-5.

The competition dance class is in its third year as part of the Naperville Park District's Dance Academy recital dance track. Several dancers have participated since the beginning, while others just joined the class for the first time. The Park District plans to add another class next fall for dancers in the 12-14 age range.

"One of the benefits of our competition dance program is that it gives dancers the opportunity to enter into the competition circuit gradually, with time to work on their technique," explained Fontechia. "Then, when they get in front of the judges they get really great feedback, which helps them become stronger dancers who are more comfortable on the stage."