From practices with choreographers to hitting the weight room, the dance team has been practicing even more than usual in preparation for competition season. At Regionals tomorrow at Lake Central, they will perform their jazz and pom routines along with State the following Sunday at the Indiana Fairgrounds Coliseum.
“I feel extremely confident that our routines will do well because we just came off of a first place win in both routines,” Emma Jez, senior, said. “Our team has been working harder than ever to make sure that after Nationals we have no regrets. Regionals is the beginning of the championship series in our season and I think we’re prepared to give it our all.”
In preparation for the three consecutive weekends of competitions, the dance team has been practicing Monday, Wednesday and Friday in addition to private strength and stamina sessions. The biggest struggle has been balancing focusing on routines and also performing at basketball games. This year, Coach Elyse Skalka hired Karl Mundt, a famous choreographer known for working with many college dance teams along with the 2011 Super Bowl halftime show, to help choreograph their jazz routine. Jillian Zagorski, who also works with many college dance teams, assisted in choreographing their pom and game day routines.
“Our coach has done everything possible to make sure we get the best of the best and that is why we work so hard to be successful, because we have someone who believes in our team enough to bring expensive and famous choreographers all the way to Munster,” Gaby Kajmakoski, senior, said.
Leaving March 6 for Orlando, Florida, the dancers will perform their game day routine in addition to jazz and pom at Nationals.
“I am so excited to just perform on the Nationals stage for the first time because I know it will be such a surreal moment,” Gwyneth Cox, freshman, said. “I’m most excited to show everyone how much work and effort we have put into all of our dances this season, as well it being a great time to bond with my teammates on another level before our season is over.”
