Stepping up at state

Local dance teams put their best food forward lsat week during the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Championships, with the Creston Peppers and Spartan dance teams taking home a total of three trophies.

The tournament welcomes more than 250 high schools and 25 colleges to compete in Des Moines. Creston High School sent a team of 24 to compete in three events: pom, mix and lights. For the second year in a row, the Peppers took first in the lights class. The team also took ninth in pom and seventh in mix.

The lights category features dances performed in the dark with lighted elements like flashlights and LEDs, creating a visually striking effect

“It was a very successful state dance competition and we are so proud of our kiddos,” CHS dance coach Addison Downing said.

The Peppers will perform next at Jam the Gym, scheduled for Feb. 27 at 5:30 in the Southwestern Community College gym.

SWCC’s Spartan dance team had what is described as a historic year, placing in all three categories.

“We took second place in poms, third place in jazz and third place in hip hop, so trophying in everything, which was incredible to see,” Spartan dance coach Paige Russo said. “We really set our goals and expectations high. These girls continue to push the boundaries and push each other to put their best foot out there and do the best that they can.”

The Spartans team of 14 has five sophomores but finishing the state tournament doesn’t mean the end of their dance careers. The group has two more tournaments scheduled for this season: The Dance Challenge’s Nationals in Grinnell on Jan. 10 and the College Classic National Championships in Orlando, Florida, in April.

“I think this team has yet to slow down, and they’ve kind of taken that second place at regionals and that lit a fire,” Russo said. “We met up on Tuesday and listened to judges’ feedback and we’re ready to take that feedback to help us to grow for the spring semester.”