The sixth annual IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals return to Grossinger Motors Arena on Friday and Saturday, January 26-27.



Friday’s prelims will feature 90 total teams (30 per class) and the Top 12 teams in each class based on Friday’s results will move on to perform again in Saturday’s finals.



Every performance this weekend will be streamed live on the NFHS Network via www.IHSA.tv with a 30-day subscription.



For more info on the rules and regulations of the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals, check out our dance primer from the inaugural event in 2013.



Qualifier information and previews for each class are posted below:





CLASS 1A

First-Time Qualifiers: 6 (Guerin, IMSA, Jacksonville, Joliet Catholic Academy, Payton, Somonauk)

Six-Time Qualifiers: 6 (Aurora Central Catholic, IC Catholic, Johnsburg, Mascoutah, Mattoon, Morris)

Sectional Champions: Highland (92.70); Morris (89.07); Joliet Catholic Academy (88.93); Jacksonville (87.17); IC Catholic (85.33)

Highland repeated as state champions in 2017, which was also the school’s third overall dance state title (2014) in Class 1A. The Bulldogs appear to be formidable once again, as they clinched their sixth consecutive Sectional crown last week and are now primed to try to extend their streak of placing in the Top 3 every season since the IHSA began competition in 2013. Morris now owns back-to-back runner-up trophies after finishing second in 2017. The Morris program matched Highland’s feat of six straight Sectionals last week, and has placed in the Top 10 every season. Montini just missed a trophy a year ago when the school placed fourth, while Villa Grove (5th in 2017) owns three straight Top 6 finishes, including third in 2015. Jacksonville and Joliet Catholic Academy will both compete in the state finals for the first time in school history this weekend and do so with the momentum of Sectional titles. IC Catholic missed the prelim cut a year ago, but should be dancing in Saturday’s finals if it can repeat its Sectional winning performance from last weekend. Centralia placed one spot outside the Top 5 in its inaugural state appearance last year, while fellow Top 10 teams from 2017 Tolono Unity and Sycamore both return as well. Aurora Central Catholic (8th in 2017) has been in the Top 10 every season and will vie for its first trophy at Grossinger Motors Arena this weekend, while Civic Memorial (10th) hopes to capture its second trophy in program history (2nd in 2013).





CLASS 2A

First-Time Qualifiers: None

Six-Time Qualifiers: 7 (Crystal Lake South, Fenton, Highland, Hinsdale South, Libertyville, Oak Forest, Vernon Hills)

Sectional Champions: Geneva (94.00); Lake Zurich (92.63); Antioch (92.57); Batavia (91.33); Normal West (85.10)

Geneva prevailed for its fourth consecutive IHSA Class 2A state championship a year ago in Bloomington. Last year’s margin was the smallest in Vikings’ amazing run, as they edged runner-up Eisenhower by .22 points (94.74 to 94.52). Geneva has won state every season that it has won its Sectional, which it did for a fifth straight season last week. Eisenhower and a host of other perennial powers won’t make it easy on Geneva. After winning trophies in 2015 and 2016, Lake Zurich didn’t make it past prelims last season, but looks poised for a run at the medal stand after winning its Sectional. Speaking of the medal stand, that’s a place that Top 10 returnees Lake Forest (3rd in 2017), Lincoln-Way West (4th) and Libertyville (5th) and Fenton (6th) have combined to appear seven times previously. While there are plenty of established programs in the 2A field, Antioch, Batavia and Normal West are a trio that will all be looking to establish themselves at the state final level. The three programs have just one Top 10 finish combined in their histories, but all claimed Sectional crowns last week. Meanwhile, state final mainstays Oak Forest Wauconda hope to be building toward their first trophies. Oak Forest has three consecutive Top 10 finishes, while the Bullldogs previous best finish was fourth in 2016. Freeport hopes to reach Saturday’s finals for the first time since 2014, but regardless, Pretzel dancer Davida Sander’s #MyReasonWhy video has already epitomized what an amazing accomplishment it is for all the dancers and teams who have qualified.





CLASS 3A

First-Time Qualifiers: 3 (Bradley- Bourbonnais, Lyons, Plainfield South)

Six-Time Qualifiers: 8 (Lake Park, Maine South, Mundelein, Neuqua Valley, Sandburg, South Elgin, Stevenson, York)

Sectional Champions: Maine South (93.80); Stevenson (93.10); Neuqua Valley (92.93); Minooka (90.73); Bartlett (90.70)

Stevenson became the fourth different school in five seasons to hoist the IHSA Class 3A State Championship trophy a year ago. The Patriots bested runner-up Huntley by less than a point (93.86) to claim the crown and the 2018 Sectional champs have finished fourth or better every season. Huntley’s ascent was made even more impressive by the fact that the program had never had a Top 10 finish before 2017 and did not qualify for the state field in 2015 or 2016. Six-time Sectional winner Neuqua Valley was Class 3A’s first ever two-time state champ, wearing the crown in 2015 and 2016, before missing the cut in prelims a year ago. Maine South won the inaugural state title in 2013 and landed its second trophy last year (3rd). The Hawks claimed their fourth overall, and third consecutive, Sectional championship last week. Minooka has four consecutive Top 10 finishes, and has now added its first Sectional crown, which they hope is a precursor to lifting a state final trophy for the first time. Fellow Sectional champ Bartlett posted its best state final finish a year ago (7th). 2014 state champ Lake Park, and South Elgin (3rd in 2016) were both Top 10 teams in 2017, who add even more depth to the loaded field. York (6th in 2017), Andrew (9th) and Glenbrook South (10th) round out a group of teams vying for even bigger things in 2018 after last year’s Top 10 finishes.