Day of dance bring hundreds to HHS

HUNTLEY — Future dancers wowed a capacity crowd as the Huntley Dance Invitational came to a close.

Dozens of varsity and junior varsity high school squads, whose members started in dance at about the same age as the final performers, sought late-season Competitive Dance momentum.

They came from Aurora to Gurnee to the HHS gym for the annual event.  Host Huntley kicked off the prep performers in the morning round and concluded the competition some six hours later.

“I thought the varsity team did a beautiful job with the routine,” Red Raiders first year dance coach Candance Niccum said. “It was a lyrical routine, and we have done it in person five times this season. It’s a very technical routine with athletic skills.”

The Red Raiders have a program of 17 varsity and 10 junior varsity dancers. Marlowe and Heineman middle schools also have dance programs.

Senior leaders on the Red Raiders are Isabella Westburg, Avery Peters, Caleigh Denton, Delaney deLaPez and Grace Jones. Westberg and Peters are senior captains and commented on their dance careers.

“It’s very special because it is the last time we’ll do the event,” Peters said of the invite.

“The routine we did was very athletically challenging,” Westberg said.

Westburg has been involved in dance since age 7 and Peters since age 9.

In the end, the teams from Warren Township High in Gurnee won both JV and Varsity first place trophies.

The Red Raiders sought a strong showing at the Fox Valley Conference invite Jan. 16 at Hampshire and the IHSA Class 3A Jacobs Regional Jan. 20.