The dance teams reaction after finding out their jazz dance received 1st place in the 2A category (Dan Tennett)

The Lake Forest Dance Team competed for the first time last Saturday with their finalized competition team at Lake Zurich High School. The dance team competed in two dances at this competition in the 2A division.

Their pom dance placed second  with their jazz dance placing first  leaving them undefeated since their summer season when they placed first  on July 2nd at UDA Camp.

The Lake Zurich Bear Invite Dance Competition is usually the first competition the dance team competes at each year with the competition team. It is  the starting point of a very competitive season ahead for this team.

“Everyone is so locked in during competition season and has the same goals. You go into every practice knowing you have a title to uphold,” junior Haddie Deegan said. 

The dance team finished learning their pom dance on October 29th after nearly  18 hours of choreography from April Gallagher with the help of Marina LoRe, captain of the world champion Hofstra Dance Team. 

The team also finished learning their jazz dance on November 7th after multiple practices with choreographer Ricky Ruiz -the same choreographer as the 2022-2023 season -who played a significant role in helping the team place  first at state.

After four days of intense tryouts, the competition team was announced on October 26th with the addition of freshman Madeleine Axus and sophomore Josie Irvin. 

Considering the team learned the choreography for their dances  and prepared compete in just over a month, the team is proud of the work they have put in. 

“I was really excited when finishing the dance because I know I accomplished something greater than myself and I did it with my 17 sisters,” sophomore Camille Brincat said.

The dance team had a very successful season last year.  They placed first at state and fourth at Nationals at the end of the season. Last weekend’s  Lake Zurich Bear Invite was the team’s  first IHSA competition as State Champions. 

When the team performed at this competition exactly a year ago, their jazz dance placed second  and their pom dance placed fifth. 

“Last year’s achievements give us so much motivation to have a good season and further cement our legacy,” senior Maddie Van Nuys said.

With long hours during winter break practices quickly approaching, the team is going to continue to push their hardest in order to make progress with both dances and prepare for their next competition, UDA Chicagoland, on January 6th