Unity to host dance competition Saturday

On Feb. 18, Unity High School will host an Illinois Drill Team Association (IDTA) regional dance competition starting at 10 a.m. at the Rocket Center.
The public is invited to attend the event, which will feature about 65 performances in categories like hip hop and jazz. Over 200 dancers on 21 teams from throughout the state will compete.
Three members of the 10-member Rockette dance squad will perform solos: Madelyn Witruk at 10 a.m.; Lexxus Callaway at 10:10 a.m.; and Amanda Wolfe at 10:20 a.m.
The Unity pom team will perform at 11:30 a.m. Their routine has a Disney princess theme featuring pictures evocative of various films.
“One of the girls transforms into a mermaid at the end,” coach Stephanie Labayen said.
The Unity hip hop team will dance at 2:15 p.m. They will be dancing to a mix inspired by The Black Eyed Peas’ “The Time (Dirty Bit)” song.
“Basically it’s an entire day filled with dancers of all ages from junior high kids to junior varsity and varsity dancing at all levels for eight hours, leaving it all out on the floor,” Labayen said. “It will be one of the last competitions of the season for teams trying to qualify for state.”
On Saturday the Rockettes will be trying to qualify for the state competition, which is held March 17 at the University of Illinois Assembly Hall.
Labayen said the Rockettes have “been doing really well and scores have been improving. They’re constantly on their toes and learning new choreography.”
A special performance at about 3:45 p.m. will feature the “Rocket Men” putting on a routine. The Legend Dance Company from the University of Illinois is scheduled to dance at 3:40 p.m., and the Junior Rockettes, a group of dancers from sixth- to eighth-grade, are scheduled to dance at 3:50 p.m. Awards will be presented at 4 p.m.
Concessions will be sold all day and will include pork chops donated by UAAA, nachos, Monical’s pizza and Subway sandwiches. Black and gold T-shirts featuring the slogan “Got Dance?” will be sold, and spray painting of T-shirts and apparel will be available.
Admission is $6 for adults and $5 for students.