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The eighth annual IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals return to Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington on Friday and Saturday, January 31-February 1. Fans should be aware of the arena's clear bag policy.
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.
In partnership with Special Olympics Illinois, the IHSA will also once again have Unified performances during Saturday’s Finals. Three teams will take part in the 2020 event, with Harlem, Maine South and Metea Valley all scheduled to perform.
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: 2 (Back of the Yards, Northside)
Eight-Time Qualifiers: 3 (Aurora Central Catholic, Highland, Morris)
Sectional Champions: Morris (94.27), Joliet Catholic Academy (93.78), Centralia (90.53), Jacksonville (89.83), Burlington Central (89.33)
After just missing its first state trophy in 2018 with a fourth-place finish, Joliet Catholic Academy responded in 2019 by capturing the Class 1A state championship by a slim margin (95.68 to 95.08) over runner-up Morris. Both programs return in 2020 with the momentum of Sectional titles, and Morris will have its sights set on its first state championship after placing second in the state the past four seasons. Centralia recorded its best finish in program history last season when the team placed fourth, and the Sectional winning squad will now look to bring their first trophy home on Saturday. Highland is no stranger to trophy contention and will be looking to start a new streak in 2020, as last year’s fifth place finish marked the first time the team did not bring home a trophy from the IHSA State Finals. That amazing run included four state titles (2014, 2016, 2017, 2018) and two third-place trophies (2013, 2015). Burlington Central appears to be a program on the rise, as the school posted its first Top 10 state finish in 2019 when they were eighth, and followed with another first last week, winning a Sectional title. Fellow Sectional champ Jacksonville (7th in 2019) has recent history on its side, as the squad also won a Sectional in 2018 and went on to post its only Top 5 finish in school history, finishing fifth. Eight-time state qualifier Aurora Central Catholic hopes to return to the Top 10 after finishing their four straight times from 2015-2018. Two other teams with Top 10 streaks looking to make the next step include Tolono Unity (3 straight Top 10 finishes) and Clinton (2 straight).
CLASS 2A
First-Time Qualifiers: 2 (Hersey, Romeoville)
Eight-Time Qualifiers: 6 (Crystal Lake Central, Fenton, Hinsdale South, Libertyville, Lincoln-Way West, Mundelein)
Sectional Champions: Geneva (95.10), Sycamore (92.80), Deerfield (91.77), Lincoln-Way West (88.00), Hinsdale South (86.47)
After Lake Zurich ended Geneva’s run of four consecutive state titles in 2018, the Bears showed last year that they are ready to start a run of their own, as the they repeated as state champs with the highest score (97.42) ever by a Class 2A winner. Deerfield had just two Top 10 finishes in school history entering last year’s state meet, but pushed Lake Zurich (97.42 to 97.08) en route to a second place finish and the first trophy in school history. 2020 Sectional champion Geneva placed third a year ago, continuing its remarkable run of earning a state final trophy in six consecutive seasons. Antioch is beginning to establish itself as a perennial contender, as the Sequoits are in search of their third straight Top 5 state finish. Lincoln-Way West captured its fourth Sectional championship last Saturday, and will now try to win its first state trophy since placing third in 2015. Last season, Sycamore finished outside the Top 10 for the first time since 2015, but looks poised for a potential return this weekend after winning their first Sectional crown ever last Saturday. Hinsdale South has never missed qualifying for state, but is also in search of its first Top 10 state finish. The Hornets appear to be ready to take that step after winning their first-ever Sectional title last week. Montini moves up from Class 1A to Class 2A this season and hopes to keep its streak of four straight Top 5 finishes, including placing third a year ago, intact. Mundelein (8th in 2019) has an impressive resume that includes eight state qualifications and six Top 10 finishes, while fan favorite Fenton has also never missed the state finals and owns four Top 10 finishes after placing sixth last year.
CLASS 3A
First-Time Qualifiers: 1 (Oswego East)
Eight-Time Qualifiers: 5 (Lake Park, Sandburg, South Elgin, Stevenson, York)
Sectional Champions: Minooka (97.67), Stevenson (96.65), Barrington (94.73), Andrew (94.50), Stagg (87.67)
Naperville North had a slow build to its first IHSA Dance State Championship in 2019, as the squad placed 12th in 2017 and 10th in 2018 before making the jump to a first place finish last year. That ascent should be an eyeopener for a program like Stagg, who has just one Top 10 finish in school history (8th in 2014), but enters the weekend with trophy aspirations after winning its Sectional on Saturday. Ever the model of consistency, Stevenson has never finished higher than fourth in the finals, as the squad walked away with the sixth trophy in school history last year after placing second. Equally efficient Lake Park was third in 2019, as the Lancers have now won three state trophies, including a championship in 2014, and also have six straight Top 10 finishes. 2020 Sectional champion Minooka has matched that mark with six straight Top 10 finishes of its own, but the school’s first trophy has been elusive. Barrington had a two-year absence from the Top 10 prior to last year’s seventh-place finish, and now the Fillies ride the momentum of a Sectional title into Friday’s prelims. Andrew could be another program to watch in the Naperville North mold, as the Sectional champion Thunderbolts enter in search of their first trophy on the heels of three straight Top 10 state finishes. Bartlett is also seeking its first trophy despite recent success that includes placing in the Top 10 in four of the past five seasons, while fellow returnee Loyola captured its first-ever Top 10 finish last year when the Ramblers were sixth. You can’t ever count out York either, as the Duchesses are just a year removed from winning Class 3A in 2018, and have three straight Top 10 finishes at state.
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TOURNAMENT HISTORY
8th annual State Series
8th year at Grossinger Motors Arena
SITE
Grossinger Motors Arena
Bloomington
Directions
HOST
Bloomington-Normal CVB
BN Sports Commission
SCHEDULE
Prelim Team Order
Finals Team Order
Friday, January 31
Session 1
10:15 AM - 1A/2A Prelims (rotate between 1A/2A)
2:40 PM - 1A/2A Finalists announced
Session 2
4:15 PM - 3A Prelims
7:40 PM - 3A Finalists announced
Saturday, February 1
Session 3
11:00 AM - 1A/2A Finals (rotate between 1A/2A)
12:45 PM - 1A/2A Awards
2:00 PM - 3A Finals
3:20 PM - 3A Awards
TICKETS
$10 per day
WATCH
All performances available LIVE on the NFHS Network via www.IHSA.tv
RESULTS
Friday Prelim Results
Saturday Final Results
SOCIAL MEDIA
#IHSA on Twitter
Twitter - @IHSAstate
Instagram - @IHSA_IL
Facebook.com/IHSA.IL
Classic IHSA YouTube Video
OFFICIAL STATE FINAL
Gear from Minerva
Photos from VIP
IHSA Program
STATE SUPPORTERS
Country Financial
Wilson Sporting Goods
Biaggi's Ristorante Italiano
Gatorade
MaxPreps
HISTORY & RECORDS
2020 Sectional Results
Record Book & Past Champions
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