Local dance teams to compete in annual competition

Junior high and high school and dance teams from throughout southern Illinois will compete in the 13th annual Illinois Dance Team Association Competition Saturday at Marion High School.

Teams from Marion, Dunlap, West Frankfort, Johnston City, Carterville, Nashville, Vienna, Du Quoin, Murphysboro, Herrin, Mt. Vernon, Benton, Trimpe, Carrier Mills, Pinckneyville and Akin will dance at the event, which will begin at 7 a.m. Saturday in Cuss Wilson Gymansium.

Doors will open at 7 a.m., before a music check at 7:30 a.m. There will then be a pre-contest meeting at 8:30 a.m. and an official welcome at 9:20 a.m.

Johnston City Middle School's dance team will start off the day with a lyrical routine at 9:35 a.m. Teams and individuals will then take the floor for competition every five minutes throughout the day.

Marion High School's junior varsity dance team will dance at 9:45 a.m., with the Marion varsity squad following with a lyrical routine at 9:50 a.m.

Katie Kovic of Pinckneyville will dance a solo routine at 9:55 a.m. and West Frankfort will follow with a tall flag routine at 10 a.m. Deanna Brand of Pinckneyville will dance at 10:05 a.m. and Johnston City's flag team will take the floor at 10:10 a.m. At 10:15 a.m., Maggie Hartwell of Dunlap will compete in a solo routine, prior to Carterville's flag team at 10:20 a.m. Hartwell's classmate Katelyn Gossmeyer will dance at 10:25 a.m. and Nashville's pom team will perform at 10:30 a.m.

Another Dunlap dancer - Ashley Capecci - will compete individually at 10:35 a.m., just before Vienna's pom team takes the floor at 10:40 a.m.

Marion senior Sydney Mayer will then compete in a solo act at 10:45 a.m., before Du Quoin's dance team entertains at 10:50 a.m.

Marion's Milana Manfredo, Chloe Isbell and Demi Combs will dance solo routines at 10:55 a.m., 11:05 a.m. and 11:15 a.m., with performances from the Murphysboro dance team and the Marion Junior High dance team in between.

Herrin High School's pom team will compete at 11:20 a.m., Kate Toler of Du Quoin will dance at 11:25 a.m. and the Mt. Vernon pom team at 11:30 a.m.

Jamie Parris of Herrin will continue the day with a routine at 11:35 a.m., with Akin's junior high team following at 11:40 a.m., Alex McVicker of Herrin going at 11:45 a.m. and the Herrin Middle School pom team dancing at 11:50 a.m..

Dakota Jeralds of Johnston City will wrap up the morning session with a solo routine at 11:50 a.m.

There will then be a break from 12:15 p.m. to 1 p.m. There will be food available all day in the Marion High School cafeteria.

Local vendors such as Mr. Koolz, Forever Dancewear, Eccentrics by Lauren and 31 designer bags will also be on hand.

"We have such fantastic support from our sponsors," Marion coach Laura Sanders said. "We couldn't offer this type of contest in this part of the state without their help. We appreciate their generosity."

The afternoon session will begin at 1:05 p.m. when Johnston City's flag team takes the floor. Benton will then dance a jazz routine at 1:10 p.m. and Marion's flag team will perform at 1:15 p.m.

Nashville will follow with its jazz routine at 1:20 p.m. Herrin will dance its hip hop routine at 1:25 p.m.

Pinckneyville's jazz routine will be on display 1:30 p.m. and Johnston City Middle School's hip hop dance will follow.

Vienna's jazz show will be at 1:40 p.m., Trimpe's junior high hip hop show will be at 1:45 p.m., Murphysboro's jazz routine will be at 1:50 p.m., Herrin Middle School's hip hop dance will then be at 1:55 p.m.

At 2 p.m., Marion's junior varsity team will dance its jazz routine. Du Quoin will dance its hip routine after, just before Marion's varsity team dances its jazz number at 2:10 p.m..

Carrier Mills will take the floor for the first time at 2:15 p.m. and will be followed by Mt. Vernon and Benton. Dunlap will return at 2:30 p.m., with Johnston City Middle School and Herrin High School scheduled after.

Marion's Junior High dance team will do its kick routine at 2:45 p.m., with Trimpe's junior high team and Nashville's varsity team after.

Marion's flag team will take the floor at 3 p.m. and Pinckneyville's kick routine will follow at 3:05 p.m. Herrin's flag team will perform next at 3:10 p.m., with Marion's junior varsity kick routine set for 3:15 p.m.

The day will wrap up with a flag routine from Johnston City and Marion's varsity kick routine rounding out the action at 3:25 p.m.

"The girls work very hard year round to be able to compete at this level," Sanders said. "We hope to make our community and school district proud."