Well I hope you’re all recovering from this exciting state weekend – this one will be one for the record books! The major headline must be that we now have 2 double blue winners in class A and AA, leaving us with only 4 teams as state champions this year. Aitkin, Chaska, Wayzata, and Eastview all took home the championships, but there were many more highlights from the big dance. Lets take a look at some of the best moments:
Friday, February 17th - Jazz:
Class A: The big story here was if 5 time defending state champion Duluth Marshall would pull it off again, but the glory this time went to the Aitkin All-Starz. The Aitkin girls really needed a solid performance in finals to get the win, and they managed to clean up their turns and pull it all off in the end. Duluth brought in a great performance with such a young group as I’m hearing they’re fielding, while YME was a solid group for 3rd with their touching dance to “Footsteps in the Sand” which was well executed but easier than the top 2. Lac Qui Parle Valley was exciting to watch make their debut, which was good enough to land them in finals first time out of the gate. Their jazz program has only been in existence for 2 years, so that’s not a small feat.
Class AA: The big names were back in the finals this year with teams from Benilde, Totino, St. Cloud Cathedral and Sartell making appearances again. Benilde looked the best of that pack with a small but refreshing change in style from the previous year that put them in 2nd place. Newcomer to AA Chaska made a splash by claiming the title with their routine “I am lost”. They just don’t look like anyone else and seem to be setting the trends these days for music, style, and costume. I imagine we’ll see them inspire more dances for next year. The team from Marshall managed to make a first ever appearance in finals, a big step forward for that program. Totino Grace rounded out the medalists claiming 3rd.
Class AAA: Wayzata claimed the top spot back again from Maple Grove this year who settled for second. Wayzata always manages to bring something to the state floor that I just don’t see them do all year long that really stepped up their game and sold their dance to the whole audience. It really felt like the whole stadium was behind them this year. It also seemed that the whole pack of finalists were really top notch this year and worthy of medals. Squads from St. Cloud Tech, Eden Prairie, and Spring Lake Park were all in the hunt along with Maple Grove and Eastview who took 2nd and 3rd respectively.
Saturday, February 18th – Kick:
Class A: Aitkin claimed its second title of the weekend in kick, sending Cannon Falls into 2nd and YME moved up from last year into 3rd. YME was much improved in their kick height and technique from the past and was looking more like they were when they won the A division in 2008. Even so, Cannon Falls and Aitkin had stepped it up again with big teams bringing the visuals and kicks to a new level, keeping the fight for the top 2 between themselves for a 4th consecutive year. Lake City was another team to watch for as they moved from 6th to 4th in the final round, a team best for the Tigers.
Class AA: Chaska also repeated their previous night’s performance, claiming their first kick title since 1999. Sartell was not going away quietly though and gave the biggest fight from a second place team of the entire tournament. The Sabers do everything big and certainly showed that they are here to stay on the top of the AA pack. St. Cloud Cathedral also brought a little something extra to the finals round; enough to push them solidly into the 3rd place spot after all was said and done. This division had the most depth this year, with many teams worthy of finals not getting into that top 6.
Class AAA: This division was fought tooth and nail, requiring a tie breaker to get Eastview out on top. Eden Prairie had to settle for 2nd, while Brainerd made a splash with the most difficult kicks in the state taking them into the #3. Apple Valley was surging at the end of the year, but there just wasn’t room for them on the podium and they took an honorable 4th. This class was full of memorable dances this year, with over the top themes and use of costumes to complete the look. Eastview’s lightup skirts will likely be a topic of state conversations for years to come.
Overall this year was exciting, memorable, and hard fought all the way to the end with the AA/AAA kick finals being an especially intense showcase of all that Minnesota dance team is about. It was an honor to be a part of your state experience. Congratulations to all the teams, I hope you met your goals and built memories to last a lifetime. We’ll see you next season for more dance team action, excitement, drama, and passion!
Final Results:
JAZZ
Class A:
1. Aitkin
2. Duluth Marshall
3. Yellow Medicine East
4. Frazee
5. Cannon Falls
6. Lac Qui Parle Valley/D-B
7. Mayer Lutheran
8. Crosby-Ironton
9. Zumbrota-Mazeppa
10. St. Charles
11. Pelican Rapids
12. Renville County West
Class AA:
1. Chaska
2. Benilde-St. Margaret's
3. Totino-Grace
4. St. Cloud Cathedral
5. Sartell-St. Stephen
6. Marshall
7. Mound-Westonka
8. Simley
9. Holy Family Catholic
10. Sauk Rapids-Rice
11. Fridley
12. Duluth Denfeld
Class AAA:
1. Wayzata
2. Maple Grove
3. Eastview
4. Eden Prairie
5. St. Cloud Tech
6. Spring Lake Park
7. Blaine
8. Brainerd
9. Lakeville North
10. Burnsville
11. Eagan
12. Centennial
HIGH KICK
Class A:
1. Aitkin
2. Cannon Falls
3. Yellow Medicine East
4. Lake City
5. Lac Qui Parle Valley/D-B
6. Duluth Marshall
7. Pelican Rapids
8. Crosby-Ironton
9. Bagley
10. Mayer Lutheran
11. Dover-Eyota
12. BOLD
Class AA:
1. Chaska
2. Sartell-St. Stephen
3. St. Cloud Cathedral
4. Totino-Grace
5. Faribault
6. Austin
7. Marshall
8. Sauk Rapids-Rice
9. Hutchinson
10. Fridley
11. Waconia
12. Hill-Murray
Class AAA:
1. Eastview
2. Eden Prairie
3. Brainerd
4. Apple Valley
5. Wayzata
6. St. Cloud Tech
7. Blaine
8. Burnsville
9. Spring Lake Park
10. Hopkins
11. Eagan
12. Centennial
Being a dancer from Aitkin, we proudly wore our state championship medals to school Tuesday. All day long we were getting criticisms from other sports (wrestling in particular) saying how they don't matter and we are cocky and don't work hard. Facebook statuses were even posted about this, parents had to comment to make it stop. It dissapoints me that no one supports each other in my school, and when you do so well in the state tournament, you get no congratulations just rude remarks. This has gone on for so long. I was just wondering if any other girls from other schools out there get rude things said to them about their team or if their students love dance and get support? It's sad...
ReplyDeleteAitkin wear your medals proudly!! you totally deserved them and worked hard for them. Medals at state are not just handed to teams
DeleteSadly, it happens in other schools also. For some reason people can't be happy for each other and they get jealous of success. Unfortunately it seems to be worse in dance team due to that whole "not a sport" crap. Shake it off and don't let it detract from a great State weekend for you guys.
DeleteI'm from the Mayer Lutheran dance team and this was our first time in school history going in both kick and jazz. When we wore our section medals to school the following Monday after sections we were all made fun of as if if wasn't a big deal at all. Our basketball coach didn't even let the basketball team (who is half our school) come watch us dance at 1 pm because they had a game that night at 7. It was just hard to enjoy the success we had this year when not man people recognize the hard work it takes to get that far. Unfortunately it seems that's how it is with all dance teams, even ones as successful as Aitkin.
DeleteI am from Alexandria and do not participate on the dance team because of health reasons but I did as a sophomore. I attend the state tournament every year because I enjoy the excitement of the entire event. You girls in Dance team work just as hard, if not harder than any other sport out there. Especially in kick. That is like strait cardio aerobics for 4 minutes strait without break. My school as well doesn't support the dance team as much as they, or myself, would like. I have great respect for everything you girls do. Next time you get crap from kids in your school invite them to come to practice with you and they will never bother you again. My brother was a male dancer at our hometown studio and when he was a 3rd grader he got made fun of for being a dancer. Our studio director suggested he invite this guy to come to dance class and see just how hard and physical it really is. Let's just say... Aaron never got bothered for dancing again! Stay tough and never stop dAncig because you are admired by many. Including myself. Btw I really enjoyed watching Aitkin again this year! Congratulations on your victory!
ReplyDeleteThis happened quite a bit when I was in high school. From what I hear, it was not as bad as previous years, but I medaled 3 out of 4 years in high school...soo students came around and supported us when my dance team came back to the spotlight at state. But there were still some that said "ooh you guys make it to state every year, if our section took more than just 1 team...we'd be at state every year" Its hard because Dance sections don't come down to ONE winner that goes to state. I think its hard for some "non-danceteam" athletes to see that, they view it as unfair and "easy" to go to state. They also thought we didn't "do much" in dance anyways. But there was a TEACHER...who was an atheltic coach that made comments to her ball team saying "oh come one girls...this isn't danceline you guys don't get to sit around and have an hour break" and that really bugged my team. We weren't, i guess, "allowed" to say anything because of her authority...but since ive graduated and if I heard her say anything...I would let her have it. So I think students/adults alike tend to not "understand" the sport because they have never once experienced it. Bottom line...all sports are different. And as far as I'm concerned...as a dancer...our jobs are to make what we do look "flawless" Basketball players don't have to smile while going up and down the court...we are judged on that. So, until they've walked in our jazz shoes...they have no room to talk. and its very sad that peers can't be happy for eachother...they have to beat them up about it. When some of our DANCE TEAMS are the best athletic team the school has. (at least my dance team was)
ReplyDeleteI agree, wear your medals proudly. I think some of this might just be simple envy or jealousy. Sometime when a school is strong in a certain sport it might seem like not as big of a deal when they win as when another sport does. Everyone in the dance world recognizes your school's accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteThis year, when my team made is to state, the school said NOTHING about it over the announcements and never said when state was. We also have teachers/coaches that make rude comments about the dance team members. Also, students commented on how "we must suck now" because we didn't do as well as we usually do at state. It is annoying that we don't get recognition that we deserve. We work just as hard as everybody else in our school, so just because we do not place top three at state does not mean we are "horrible" now. We were thankful to make it to state.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see that this is happenening all around the state and not just to my team.. That's the same case at my school. We were state champions and it wasn't even in the announcements.... They're just jealous and you should be proud!
DeleteYou were state champions and the school made no announcement? That is honestly disgusting. I know maybe someone did not tell them, but honestly you probably have a state champion plaque hanging in the school somewhere, so you think they would notice that and say something. Look on the bright side, probably 90%, if not higher, of the kids in your school have no idea what it feels like to have a blue ribbon around their neck and to get to hoist a state championship. It is honestly the BEST feeling in the world!
DeleteAnd just noticed I said "honestly" like twenty times in that last comment. Sorry ;)
DeleteThey say it's up to the coach to make the announcement, but our coach isn't a teacher there so it is hard for her. They should know anyways to put it in the announcements... I mean it's not that hard to realize we were state champions...
DeleteWe always assigned a parent to contact the secretary in charge of announcements to make sure they weren't missed. Shouldn't have to but it stopped the missing announcement problem. Other sports did the same thing so we are not alone.
DeleteI have been an avid dance fan for years. A couple of years ago, the team that I am a fan of decided to host an invitational. The athletic director was "amazed" by the amount of people that showed up and that some people came to watch them even though they were not dancing in the competition. Apparently our athletic director had no idea that the dance team was a state power and people from surrounding cities would come to the invite just to watch them perform. I mean, this team has won 10 state titles and you had no idea they were this big in the dance community? It it just funny that other schools have the same problem.
ReplyDeleteThis will undoubtedly turn into a long winded post so please bear with me. First, I am appalled by the by the humiliation suffered by these hard working and talented athletes at the hands of the insensitive words and bully like actions of the troglodytes described in the earlier posts. These girls earned their accolades through intense dedication to the art and craft of Dance Team and deserve much better.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'll go ahead and tackle the 800 pound gorilla in this issue. I am going to make a wild assumption here that the majority of these disparaging remarks and crass actions came from men and boys. Until men can grow up enough to cease being threatened by female athletic success this type of behavior will undoubtedly continue. I strongly feel that this can be overcome over time as more and more girls participate in Dance Team and more fathers, brothers and boyfriends discover just how much hard work, dedication, talent and skill are involved. Eventually they will learn to appreciate the sport and respect the girls. I don't think I am exaggerating when I say that when and only when men can suck it up and admit that the sport is worthy of support will this type of rejection and disrespect stop. But it does take time.
It is encouraging, however, to know that there are places where Dance Team is important and popular. In our town it took many years of appearances at state and lots of medals and many years of daughters, sisters and girlfriends passing through the program, influencing the men who love them, but eventually the school and community developed pride in the team and it's accomplishments and the sport was embraced enthusiastically if not fanatically. The surrounding schools and communities developed their programs to compete and now Dance Team is a big deal in this entire area, drawing big crowds of rabid fans and substantial coverage by regional media. It can be done.
Unlike the previously mentioned unfortunate teams my daughter's team has reaped the benefits of this popularity. Instead of not even receiving an announcement the girls were given a rousing send off the Thursday before state, at an all school assembly complete with speeches by the captains and group cheers. Their lockers have hand painted signs of support and encouragement. A local radio station had live updates from the Target Center, including interviews with the coaches and captains of all the regional teams that went to state. Sadly they were the only radio station to broadcast live from the tournament. But I believe acceptance and respect will grow and media coverage will eventually make the front page. The girls who suffered the slings and arrows will eventually be looked upon as heroes.
I firmly believe that as the sport continues to grow and competition becomes more intense that old prejudices will give way to acceptance and, yes, even popularity with the gender of which I am currently ashamed to be a member. Besides, if we can look into the future, long after the medals have been handed out and the slurs forgotten, these girls will be reaping the numerous life benefits they learned from their participation in Dance team while the bullies will still be dragging their knuckles and wondering why their lives seem so meaningless.
Thank you so much for your kind words and understanding. The adults and community members absolutely love dance, it's the students that we have troubles getting to. I hope that in the future this can change and more men will understand like you do. Knowing someone who participates in dance really can change your thinking. I'm so glad that so many people do understand and support us, but there are just a few who just don't get it. I hope for every team who has to go through the rude comments and remarks will understand that they work extremely hard and are truly amazing at what they do. Dance is an amazing sport that has taken time for people to take a liking to but still is not respected by many. I just believe that they are jealous and they don't understand how truly awesome the dance teams are. As a school we should report everyone. But for your daughter I'm glad to hear that she gets the support she deserves from her school and that's so awesome that they respect them. It makes me hope that my school will one day get the same. It makes me believe that it can maybe be the same for us and all the other teams one day too. :)
DeleteI mean support not report :)
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