Indianettes shine at IHSA sectionals; finish season Saturday with IDTA finals

The Du Quoin Indianettes fervently hope they never have another season like 2020-21 - where for a long time they doubted there would even be a season - but as they gear up for the IDTA state finals this weekend, the girls have plenty to be proud of.

The Indianettes rocked the IHSA Dance sectionals with their hip-hop routine danced to a cleaned-up version of the song "Body" by Megan Thee Stallion. They finished fifth at the Mascoutah sectionals and the top 6 finishers went to the state finals.

At the state finals the Indianettes came in 27th, but that sectional performance is the one everyone will remember. Despite the fact that the entire competition was virtual, and the girls were performing for a camera and not an audience; despite the need for masks and the rule against stunts and touching - despite all that it was a performance the girls just loved.

"The energy was really high, and they were really excited," Head Coach Bri Green said of her 16-member squad. "They had really good unity."

Back when Green choreographed the 1:45-minute routine to "Body," it was during the dark days of COVID-19 and she had little hope of it ever being used in a competition. She did it for fun and to keep the girls sharp.

"It turned out to be one of our most successful routines ever," Green said Monday. The videotape of the sectional performance did have a few little mistakes, but the overall effect of it was so mesmerizing the girls knew this was the tape to submit.

"They were dancing like they were having fun," Green said. "They were so happy with it, I submitted it."

Du Quoin was one of only three dance teams to make the state IHSA finals. The others are Murphysboro and Marion. Murphy tied for 8th in the state finals and Marion came in 13th. The Pinckneyville dancers finished 11th at the Mascoutah sectional.

Now, the Indianettes season hangs on the Illinois Dance Team Association state finals on Saturday. IDTA has collected the submissions from each qualifying team and has created a video that will be streamed online at IDTA.org between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tickets to watch the broadcast are $15.

The awards will be announced live, starting at 4 p.m.

Unlike IHSA, which does not break its competition down by size of school, the IDTA has divisions. Du Quoin is a small-school competitor.

Green has been posting all the Indianettes performances on YouTube. You can see them for free, by searching YouTube for Bri Green's name.