CHS Dance Team finishes the year with Senior Night

The Chester High School Dance Team held a "Senior Night" event and competition routine performance for dance parents on March 8 at CHS Colbert Gymnasium.

The event was for parents and close family members to recognize the 2020-2021 CHS Dance Team and to watch the IDTA and IHSA competition routines.

Senior dancers and their parents are Juliette Abernathy, daughter of Bob and Barb Misuraca; Taylor Cartwright, daughter of Ms. Shellie Cartwright and Mr. Kevin Cartwright; and Alison Venus, daughter of Henry and Cassie Venus.

Each dancer and her parents were directed to center court where they were introduced and received flowers and orange and black balloons. Immediately following the "Senior Night" ceremony the team performed their 2021 competition routine. The entire event was televised on the NFHS Television Network.

"This competition season has been like no other," said Coach Adrianne Kern. "The Dance Team handled all of the stress and tribulations of the year with all the strength and drive that a coach could ask for."

The 2020-2021 CHS Dance Team is tri-captains Juliette Abernathy, Taylor Cartwright and Alison Venus; juniors Kylie Fortner and Maria Nickel; sophomore Paige Vasquez; and freshmen Daphney Helmers, Kylie Springston, Hailey Clendenin, and Grace Welborn.

Kern said the team learned the high energy routine in record time. Moreover, "they learned a new technique and style of dance that we have not utilized in competition for four years. The team's energy and willingness to work hard to perfect this new routine was amazing."

CHS competed in the IDTA (Illinois Drill Team Association) competition on Feb. 27. The competition was totally virtual and performances had to be recorded and sent to the IDTA. Chester competed in the Jazz category, a style of dance in which they have not competed in at least four years. Nevertheless, the CHS team placed 2nd in the small school division.

CHS also competed in the 2021 IHSA Dance Team competition in which they placed 7th at sectionals. They missed competing in the state finals by two small points.

"This is the highest the CHS Dance Team has placed in an IHSA competition since beginning to compete at the IHSA in 2019," Kern added.

Following the performance of the 2021 competition routine, Coach Kern made a special announcement - that senior Juliette Abernathy and junior Kylie Fortner were chosen for the 2021 "8-Count Audio All Star Team."