On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 the varsity dance will be competing at the IHSA dance state finals, which are held at Grossinger Motors Arena in Bloomington, Il. 

The team is performing at 10:51 a.m. on Friday, day one of the competition. Teams that place in the top 12 get the opportunity to compete Saturday.

The routine, titled “Earth”, is a lyrical jazz styled dance, different than the dark jazz style the team has done the past three seasons. 

Head coach Elizabeth Purcell has been coaching the team since the summer of the 2018-19 season. With the varsity captains, Sophia Antonopoulos, Charlotte Albrecht, and Hailey Sawatzky, they worked together over the summer to decide the style of dance and song for the routine. 

“The song that the girls are dancing to this year is about your emotions and how you have to stand up for yourself and have courage,” Purcell said, “They really build those emotions into the dance which makes it even more powerful.”

The team of 19 girls consists of five seniors, seven juniors, four sophomores, and three freshmen. 

Varsity caption and senior Sophia Antonopoulos has been a part of the varsity team since her sophomore year. 

“I think we are more than ready for state. We’ve worked so hard on our routine and are so excited to finish our season on a high note,”  said Antonopoulous.

Lemont has made an appearance at the state finals in  2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2020. The team placed their personal highest, 14th, in 2017 for the routine “Over the Love” coached by Jordan Fandrey at the time. 

“With their mindset, they can achieve so much,” Purcell said.