Kahok, Knight Dance Units State Qualifiers For IDTA Competition

By Anthony Jones

Perhaps more than any other sports teams, dance squads in Illinois have had to face a slew of challenges in the age of COVID. The Illinois High School Association has added several rule changes to competitions which includes disallowing lifts, stunts, partner lifts, and dancer to dancer contact. Competitions are also being held virtually, which is a vast change in atmosphere during competitions.

Despite all of these changes in their way, both the Triad Knights and Collinsville Kahoks dance teams earned themselves spots in the IDTA State Finals this past weekend. The Kahoks earned their spot in the AAA Division for Pom Dance.

Triad earned their spot in the Jazz Division. Competing in the AA Division, the team earned a score high enough to qualify for the IDTA State Finals. The team also outscored Eureka, their lone competitor in AA Jazz, in the competition.

The IDTA will host their State Finals Virtual Competition on March 13. Teams will not perform live, but will have submitted videos of their performance at least a week in advance.

In addition to the IDTA, Triad and Collinsville have other dance competitions on their horizons. Alongside over 160 teams in the state of Illinois, both units have officially entered the IHSA’s State Series. Like the IDTA, the IHSA will hold their State Series virtually.

The IHSA Sectional Competition will be held on January 27, with teams being required to submit their videos four days in advance. Teams will also submit their videos four days in advance of the State Final, which will be held on March 6.