Dance/Drill competitions were held at Parkrose and Sheldon High Schools over the weekend with dynamic results.
At Parkrose, three rounds was a full day with a few crowded categories. At Sheldon, a smaller event where eight teams shared their work.
For teams to take a second routine to the OSAA championships, a score of 70 or higher must be reached. As many teams are planning to take a first routine to state, which does not need a minimum score, negotiating that second routine will ultimately determine which categories fill the 1A-4A, 5A, and 6A classifications for each category, and which classifications will combine. A category must have al least five teams to remain its own classification, otherwise it will combine with another classification.
At the state championships last year, all 1A-4A and 5A categories combined into larger 1A-5A groups in the Pom, Traditional, Hip Hop, and Jazz categories. The Show category combined into a 1A-6A group. In most cases, the combined divisions occurred because a second routine here and there did not qualify with that minimum score of 70.
As many 1A-4A categories and some 5A categories face challenges to maintain their own equitable playing-field, one wonders if the qualification standards are set too high, or if adjustments should be made to represent what is realistically happening within each classification.
An event striving to represent the best of the best is important, however is it sustainable for smaller schools to more often face the larger schools? Three weeks remain for teams to choose the single category they want to enter, or to qualify a second routine and broaden their chances for a state championship trophy.
Sheldon had performances in the Hip Hop, Traditional, Pom and Jazz categories by teams from Bend, Marshfield, Milwaukie, Mountain View, North Eugene, Philomath, Stayton, Thurston, and Willamette. A lower scoring event overall, with some state-qualifications remaining uncertain until future events. After twenty-one performances, only four teams scored a 70 or higher.
West Albany had a successful day at Sheldon, receiving two first place finishes in the most populated categories, Traditional (5A) and Hip Hop (1A-5A). Marshfield also took home two first place trophies for their Pom (1A-4A) and Traditional (1A-4A).
Mountain View from the Bend area, landed the first place spot in Pom (5A-6A). In a field of four teams, Willamette found themselves in first place with their Jazz routine. Willamette also received first place as the only Hip Hop team in the 6A classification.
Sheldon Competition - First Place Finishes
- Hip Hop (1A-5A): West Albany (74.67)
- Hip Hop (6A): Willamette (64.11)
- Traditional (1A-4A): Marshfield (64.00)
- Traditional (5A): West Albany (75.78)
- Pom (1A-4A): Marshfield (71.83)
- Pom (5A-6A): Mountain View (72.00)
- Jazz: Willamette (67.61)
- all results
The Mount Hood & Friends Competition was an all-day event at Parkrose with three rounds. The first two rounds were the sanctioned team events. After 22 teams with 45 performances taking the floor, some dramatic outcomes played out.
Centennial, Grant, Barlow, Reynolds, Gladstone, Sandy, Putnam, Nelson, Mountainside, Roosevelt, Cleveland, Tigard, Lakeridge, Valley Catholic, Benson, Clackamas, Sunset, Canby, Lebanon, Sprague, Glencoe, Scappoose, and Parkrose were the competitive attendees.
Traditional (1A-5A) and Pom (1A-5A) each had three teams in the line-up. Valley Catholic, sophisticated in white, had a first place finish. Parkrose earned first place in this Pom Category. Parkrose and Valley Catholic also earned a second first place trophy each for two other combined 1A-5A categories. Valley Catholic landed in first place with a dramatic Jazz routine, and Parkrose won the Hip Hop category. These great teams also received the two highest scores of the competition, and the only Superior ratings.
Tigard had a successful day at the Parkrose event with two first place finishes as well. Among the 6A teams, Tigard took the Jazz and Pom categories with two great routines.
Arguably the most competitive category of the day was the Traditional (6A) category. In a remarkable field of ten teams, Clackamas continued their successful run with another first place finish in this category. With ten teams in play at this event, and more teams out there that did not compete this weekend, this category will be one to watch in the weeks to come.
Lakeridge also had a good day with their first place finish in the Hip Hop (6A) category.
In the Show category, the drama never stops, as Sprague took home the first place honors with their routine “Pause // Press Play,” pressing Canby into the second place slot and Clackamas into the third place position. This outcome is no surprise, as Sprague always brings inventive ideas to the floor, but it does give the Show teams pause. Clackamas may want to press rewind, as they had a win over Sprague a couple of weeks ago, while Canby might want to press pause to ponder what happens next. In the Show category saga, however, nobody can press fast-forward to illuminate the final outcome. All we can do is press play.
It is always exciting to see the inventive ideas the Show Category brings to the stage, and this year is no different. All active Show teams have qualified their routines to the State Championships, with Sprague, Canby, Clackamas, Cleveland, Rex Putnam, and West Linn on their way to that final stage.
Parkrose Competition - First Place Finishes
- Jazz (6A): Tigard (75.78)
- Jazz (1A-5A): Valley Catholic (86.33)
- Hip Hop (6A): Lakeridge (76.28)
- Hip Hop (1A-5A): Parkrose (85.00)
- Traditional (6A): Clackamas (82.17)
- Traditional (1A-5A): Valley Catholic (83.94)
- Pom (6A): Tigard (79.78)
- Pom (1A-5A): Parkrose (77.50)
- Show: Sprague (83.11)
- all results
Drill down at both events revealed top ten lists for novice and advanced at Parkrose and top five for each level at Sheldon. Well done to all teams that had top ten finalists over the weekend, with an extra shout-out to Cleveland’s eight finalists in the novice drill down at Parkrose. Cleveland is always one to watch when the Tenacity dancers forward march into drill down competitions.
Next weekend teams will meet again for more rounds of competition at the Pendleton and Sprague events. Good job and good luck dance teams!
healeyjamesr@gmail.com
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