The 40 high school basketball teams that qualified for this year’s State Basketball Tournament have spent days, weeks and months in practice even during these unprecedented pandemic times.
But another championship-caliber team that will show its talent Saturday has practiced for only a few hours. That team is the All-Iowa Honor Dance Team, whose performances have become a tradition at the Girls State Basketball Tournament.
After mere hours of practice together, the student dancers put on an annual show that is nationally recognized as one of the finest of its kind. This year, however, was different. The dancers came together Feb. 22 to learn the entire show and then pre-recorded their performance for television broadcast.
All of the high school dance teams are members of the Iowa State Dance Team Association,
and the dancers were chosen based on ability, attitude, dedication and leadership qualities.
Three Perry High School seniors, Claire Southward, Cindy Truong and Aubree Tasler, will be among the 238 dancers from 90 Iowa high school to perform during halftime of the 4A championship game Saturday, March 6 about 2 p.m. Game time is 1:30 p.m. and will air on Iowa PBS.
Some 520 dancers auditioned virtually last fall for spots on the the All-Iowa Honor Dance Team. The Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union salutes Kathy Enyart and the All-Iowa Honor Dance Team for the 40th consecutive year.
