This Saturday, Kentridge High School will become the center of the Washington State dance-competition universe, as 45 teams from around the state descend on the school for the 19th annual Kentridge Chatelaines Kick It Up Competition.<\/p>\n
And though as hosts the Chatelaines themselves will not be competing, the team will be performing their new circus-themed routine, according to head coach Staci Mattson, who described the event as being like the television show \u201cSo You Think You Can Dance,\u201d only local.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019ll see a lot of different kinds of performances,\u201d Mattson said of the show.<\/p>\n
The annual event has drawn upwards of 2,000 spectators in the past.<\/p>\n
This weekend\u2019s event will feature performances from teams from Kentwood, Kent-Meridian, Tahoma and \u201cbasically all the local schools,\u201d Mattson said, as well as teams coming from as far south as Vancouver, Wash., and as far north as Snohomish county and even from the other side of the Puget Sound.<\/p>\n
Also performing this weekend will be the Everett Bombshells, a dance team for the new Washington Stealth lacrosse team, as well as the Chat Boys, made up of male Kentridge dancers.<\/p>\n
The other schools will be competing in up to three categories, which range from straight \u201cdance\u201d to \u201ckick\u201d (routine must include at least 50 kicks) to \u201chip hop\u201d to \u201cmilitary\u201d (formerly \u201cdrill,\u201d a precision competition) to \u201cshow,\u201d in which teams tell a story and are allowed to use props and sets.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople get a little more intricate,\u201d Mattson said of the show category.<\/p>\n
The event is not only a competition, but is designed to help the team raise money for costumes and transportation costs to get to other competitions.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s our biggest fundraiser of the year,\u201d Mattson said.<\/p>\n
The Chatelaines are an award-winning dance team founded in 1979. Each year, the team competes in regional and district competitions to qualify for the state competition, where, according to Mattson, the team does very well.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a lot of \u2018superiors\u2019 and trophies,\u201d said Mattson, who has coached the team for nine years.<\/p>\n
Last year, the Chatelaines finished first in the \u201ckick\u201d category and second in the \u201cshow\u201d category at the state competition.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s Chatelaines team is made up of 52 girls from all four grade levels at Kentridge, with a surprising number of freshmen and sophomores.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of our team is made up of underclassmen right now,\u201d Mattson said, adding that it hasn\u2019t hurt the performances at all because of the dedication and work ethic the younger students bring to the team.<\/p>\n
In fact, at a Jan. 23 competition at Lindbergh High School in Renton, the Chatelaines finished first in a combined show\/hip hop division.<\/p>\n
The Lindbergh competition featured the debut performance of the team\u2019s circus routine, which features gypsies, jesters and even lions, according to Mattson.<\/p>\n
Saturday\u2019s show is open to the public and Mattson encouraged everyone to come out and support the squads.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome see the show,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s going to be fun!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The Chatelaines \u201cKick It Up\u201d invitational is scheduled for Jan. 30 at the Kentridge High School gymnasium. Doors open at noon with the event to begin at 1 p.m. Cost is $8 general admission, including a program, and $6 for seniors and students with an ASB card. Children ages 5 and under are free.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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