Funding provided by friends, the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of family and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.

♪ I am a giant ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ I'm Andrea Dana, executive director of the Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association.

At this year's state championships, an astounding 255 high school and 25 college teams competed for top honors.

Horton: Teams from across the state converged in Des Moines for three days of exciting competition.

I'm Stacie Horton, board president of the ISDTA.

Countless hours of preparation come down to one shining moment on the performance floor as nearly 5,000 dancers showcase their talent.

Enyart: The performances were judged by leaders in the dance industry from across the country.

I'm event announcer Scott Enyart.

Here now are the highlights of all the winning routines and the busy backstage action in this exclusive presentation of the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team Championships.

♪♪ We begin the show with the champions in Class 1 Hip Hop -- North-Linn.

Second place was St. Albert.

Springville came in third.

Fourth place was Graettinger-Terril- Ruthven-Ayrshire, and in fifth place was Ar-We-Va. Dana: This year marks our 47th State championships, which included three days of competition.

And North-Linn is really bringing the energy right now.

♪♪ Horton: Hip hop is such a fun category.

The stance is outside of the shoulders, the deep plié, very low, hard-hitting motions, really fun for the audience to watch and get into.

♪ I go hard on Southside G ♪ ♪ I make sure that north side eat ♪ ♪ God's plan ♪ ♪ God's plan ♪ I can really appreciate their group work here.

Formation changes, using a lot of that floor.

♪♪ Nice job, North-Linn.

In Class II Hip Hop, West Fork earned the championship as well as a Judges' Choice award for this routine.

Second place was Newman Catholic.

Westwood placed third.

Baxter came in fourth and Maquoketa Valley placed fifth.

This year we gave six Judges' Choice awards to our high school teams.

This award is very coveted to the teams each year, and it truly is those routines that stand out to our judges at the end of the day.

♪ Really nicely ♪ ♪ They buy me all these ice-ys ♪ ♪♪ This is such a great routine.

A nice, large team, very creative theme with their costuming.

♪ I got your man ♪ ♪ I got your boyfriend ♪ ♪ I got your man ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can do it all by yourself ♪ ♪ Girl, I don't dance, I work ♪ These girls are really selling this routine as well, with all the other facials and the high energy they're bringing.

♪♪ The music changes bring along tempo changes and they're doing a great job with it.

♪ Welcome to Harvard ♪ Underwood earned first place in Class III Hip Hop.

Second place was Akron-Westfield, third was Cascade, Missouri Valley placed fourth, and North Union came in fifth.

Underwood does a great job of matching their creative movements with their music.

Really liking this peel-off they're doing here as a team.

♪♪ ♪ California ♪ Hip hop has always been a popular category for our dancers, and this year, it was huge.

We had 96 routines in hip hop over the three days.

♪ Keep it working ♪ ♪ Keep it rocking ♪ Loving the different level changes that Underwood is bringing to their routine, as well.

♪ 7 ♪ ♪ 6 ♪ ♪ 5 ♪ ♪ 4 ♪ ♪ 3, 2, 1 ♪ ♪ There's ups and downs ♪ Synchronizations right on, nice little highlight there in the middle.

♪ Through the good and the bad, still got love ♪ ♪ Dedicated to the one I love ♪ ♪ Oh, I wanna dance with somebody ♪ ♪ I wanna feel the heat ♪ Great job, Underwood.

Waterloo Columbus Catholic placed first in Class IV Hip Hop.

Kuemper Catholic came in second, third was West Central Valley.

OA-BCIG placed fourth and in fifth place was North Fayette Valley.

How can you not get into this routine?

Their energy, the costuming -- it's so much fun.

It's bright and it pops on the floor.

The musicality, absolutely.

I agree, Andrea.

I love the neon hot pink and yellow together paired with the black pants.

It really pops on that performance floor.

♪ Got to take a deep breath, time to focus on you ♪ ♪ All the big fights, long nights that you been through ♪ ♪ Boss up and change your life ♪ All these teams are really making this look easy.

♪ So go and let it all hang out ♪ In hip hop, it is actually quite difficult to synchronize and look uniform as a team and they're doing an absolute wonderful job.

♪ I've been in the bamboo, yeah ♪ ♪ Focused on this music ♪ ♪ My ex, man, he blew it ♪ ♪ Last year I thought I would lose it ♪ There's a real sense of overexaggeration in hip hop with the movements, and this team is really doing a good job showcasing that.

♪ Oh ♪ ♪ But haters do what they do ♪ ♪ Haters do what they do ♪ ♪ All the rumors are true ♪ ♪♪ We are proud to introduce and welcome Stacie Horton as ISDTA's new board president.

Once upon a time, I was a dancer at Southeast Polk High School.

That's where I started my career.

I went on to the University of Iowa to dance there.

♪ Gonna show you, baby ♪ Then I started the dance program at Grand View University 21 years ago.

♪ Come on, come on ♪ [ All chanting indistinctly ] ISDTA has really given me a foundation from the very beginning of my dance career.

And now, for me, this is coming full circle with my participation as a young dancer now to a coach and mentor.

Okay.

That was amazing.

[ All cheering ] Another significant part of becoming the new ISDTA president is that meant following in the footsteps of Lois Turnage, who I have thought so much of and been inspired by for so many years.

So giving, so positive, so nurturing.

I'm honored to be able to walk behind her and keep doing her good work and just put my spin on it.

♪♪ Enyart: We are now going to be moving into the Pom category with our Class I champions, Bishop Garrigan.

Second place was Springville, HLV placed third, West Bend-Mallard placed fourth, and then fifth place was Holy Trinity Catholic.

In this pom category, of course, really looking for those nice, tight, sharp arm movements, nice, crisp angles.

They're doing a really nice job of showcasing all of that.

♪♪ On occasion, you'll see teams choose to do one pom color in one hand and another in the other hand.

Or sometimes they'll choose to do the same pom color.

So as you can see, they've chosen a gold in one and a white in another.

♪♪ ♪♪ Nice features of technical skills there in the front.

Nice little highlight there in the middle.

Beautiful leap.

♪♪ North-Linn earned the championship in Class II pom.

Second place was Baxter, third was Kingsley-Pierson.

Newell-Fonda came in fourth and St. Albert placed fifth.

♪♪ ♪♪ Our pom category is our most popular.

We had 160 routines equating to 14 classes.

North-Linn really playing with the visuals, adding different levels, different group work.

They're doing a fantastic job with that.

Additionally, North-Linn has a lot of dancers on the floor, so they can spread out, do a lot of different formations, making it visually appealing for the judges and the audience.

Their transitions are really moving smoothly as well, Andrea.

♪♪ ♪♪ Great job.

Newman Catholic placed first in Class III Pom.

Second place was Westwood.

We had a tie for third between Woodbury Central and North Cedar.

Maquoketa Valley placed fourth and Riverside came in fifth.

Newman Catholic has a fun piece of music that's "Alice in Wonderland" themed, and they did a nice job of costuming this piece as well.

♪♪ Among our high school teams, our class sizes are determined by school enrollment rather than team size.

This allows our teams to compete against similar-sized schools.

So in this case, our smallest schools are in Class I, II, III, with our largest school enrollments in classes XI, XII, XIII, and XIV.

♪ Playin' with the Queen of Hearts ♪ I really like the different formations they're using in this routine.

I also really like the costuming and how it plays to their turns.

♪♪ Little headspring trick here.

♪♪ They sure are giving off a lot of energy throughout the routine.

♪♪ West Fork was crowned the champion in Class IV Pom.

Second place was Lisbon.

Third place was Akron-Westfield, Lawton-Bronson placed fourth, and in fifth place was Alburnett.

♪♪ I love the musicality right there.

♪♪ Adding another layer with the three columns.

♪♪ Such a high-energy performance.

Love that straddle split highlight.

♪♪ This team's timing is just impeccable.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Pleasantville was our champion in Class V Pom.

Second place was Cascade, Manson Northwest Webster came in third, Colfax-Mingo placed fourth, and in fifth place was Missouri Valley.

♪ I really don't think ♪ The tempo of this routine is crazy fast, but they're really keeping up with it and it is so impressive.

And that takes so much endurance and strength.

Awesome job, Pleasantville.

The speed of the music also adds to the difficulty.

They're doing a very nice job.

As you see, they have some circling, full circling motions with their poms.

That's really hard to get synchronized and they are right on together.

♪♪ ♪ Check this out ♪ ♪♪ Beautiful toe touches.

♪ Believer, believer ♪ I'm picking up a theme in their music of believe, believer.

That's really special.

Believe it, and you can achieve it.

♪♪ [ All yell indistinctly ] You'll hear some teams add in those vocals to just add a little bit more spirit.

♪ Get your hands up ♪ ♪♪ Awesome performance, Pleasantville.

Enyart: Up next, we're going to see the Color Guard category.

Our Class I champion was IKM-Manning.

Second place was Pleasantville.

Garter-Hayfield/Ventura placed third.

Louisa-Muscatine came in fourth, and in fifth place was Aplington-Parkersburg.

♪♪ IKM-Manning also earned a Judges' Choice award for this performance.

Color Guard is a routine with emphasis on equipment work.

Flags are required and a routine may also incorporate the use of rifles and other auxiliary equipment.

And you'll see here that IKM-Manning has chosen to have a floor covering to really give the appearance of a stage.

It is not required, but they have chosen to do it.

And it looks really nice because it pops those purple silks.

♪♪ And it looks like we have a little bit of rifle work here in the back.

It's a very dramatic theme.

♪♪ ♪♪ Very nice flag toss there.

Very difficult.

♪♪ In Class II Color Guard, our champion was Creston.

North Polk placed second.

In third was Roland-Story.

Estherville Lincoln Central placed fourth.

And in fifth place was Glenwood.

♪ I ♪ ♪ I just died in your arms tonight ♪ Creston displays a lot of powerful and strong movements throughout this routine, and it really matches with the power of the music.

♪ I should've walked ♪ Their confidence is just unmatched.

♪ Awa-a-a-a-a-y ♪ ♪ I should've walked away ♪ I love that part.

Right on that crescendo in the music and everybody caught their flags.

Awesome job.

The timing and the difficulty of that takes so much work.

♪♪ ♪♪ Dubuque Senior soared to the championship in Class III Color Guard.

Second place was Des Moines Roosevelt.

Ankeny Centennial placed third.

Indianola came in fourth and in fifth place was Marshalltown.

Dubuque Senior earned a Judges' Choice award for this "How to Train Your Dragon"-themed routine.

♪♪ ♪♪ They're really telling a story here.

It's a very well-done production.

Their floor covering is so interesting, too, because it really does give you that three-dimensional feel.

I compared it to a pop-up book.

♪♪ And, wow, what a wow moment for this team.

These large silks are gorgeous, and how they're manipulating them is absolutely beautiful.

♪♪ The different colors placed so well to their floor covering.

♪♪ ♪♪ We're now going to transition and slow things down as we move into the Lyrical category with our Class I champions, Panorama.

In second place was Bellevue, Alburnett placed third, and Lone Tree placed fourth.

♪♪ Showcasing their dancer in the middle with a beautiful turn sequence to start the routine off.

Panorama really shows a lot of control and technique throughout this routine.

♪♪ Panorama does a nice job of settling into their motions and really playing with the music and waiting for those highlights to come.

Check out the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team Championships online at iowapbs.org.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Beautiful performance, Panorama.

♪♪ Monticello earned first place in Class II Lyrical with this powerful yet graceful performance.

Second place was Kuemper Catholic.

Third place was Colfax-Mingo.

Pella Christian placed fourth.

And Van Buren County placed fifth.

♪ And I know your story ♪ Monticello started out with some partner work there, as you can see.

Beautiful job, ladies.

♪ All of your words are like poems to me ♪ ♪ I would be honored if you would take me as I am ♪ ♪ I want you ♪ ♪ To look right in my eyes ♪ These dancers are able to blend that power and grace so nicely throughout this routine.

♪ At the moment I die ♪ ♪ Is that alright?

♪ ♪ Is that alright?

♪ One of my favorite things about lyrical is all of the accents that people incorporate into their choreography.

♪ That things will be right ♪ ♪ I want you ♪ Amazing control.

♪ To look right in my eyes ♪ Bondurant-Farrar earned top honors in Class III Lyrical.

Second place was Oskaloosa, third place, Carlisle, and in fourth place was Western Dubuque.

♪ I made something of myself and now you wanna come back ♪ The interpretation these dancers are displaying of the music is done very well.

♪ It isn't free, it has to be earned ♪ ♪ Back then I didn't have anything you needed ♪ Bondurant-Farrar does a really nice job dancing with power and passion.

♪ Piece by piece, I fell far from the tree ♪ ♪ I will never leave her like you left me ♪ ♪ And she will never have to wonder her worth ♪ ♪ Because unlike you, I'm gonna put her first and you know ♪ ♪ He'll never walk away ♪ ♪ He'll never break her heart ♪ ♪ He'll take care of things, he'll love her ♪ ♪ Piece by piece, he restored my faith ♪ ♪ That a man can be kind and the father should be great ♪ In Class IV Lyrical, our champion was Dowling Catholic.

Second place was Ankeny.

West Des Moines Valley placed third and Sioux City East came in fourth.

♪ I promise you ♪ ♪ I'm always there ♪ The technical skills Dowling displays throughout this routine is phenomenal.

Their costumes flow beautifully with this piece of choreography.

♪ And I'll carry you ♪ ♪ When you need a friend ♪ ♪ You'll find my footprints in the sand ♪ Beautiful turn sequence here.

♪ When I'm weary ♪ ♪ Well, I know you'll be there ♪ ♪ And I can feel you ♪ ♪ When you say ♪ ♪ I promise you ♪ ♪ I'm always there ♪ Beautiful turns.

♪ When your heart is filled with sadness ♪ Gorgeous highlight.

♪ Oh, I'll carry you ♪ Look at that split lift.

Oh, my goodness.

♪♪ Up next is our Show Production category.

And our Class I champion was Sergeant Bluff-Luton, East Sac County placed second.

McGonagall: You will come forth.

I shall place the Sorting Hat on your head, and you will be sorted into your houses.

In our Show Production category, teams can do a variety of dance styles throughout their 3- to 5-minute routine.

♪ We don't have to go out ♪ And here we see Harry Potter making a fun appearance on the dance floor.

Sergeant Bluff-Luton really entertained us with this popular character.

♪ We don't have to go out ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Welcome to my house ♪ ♪ We ain't got to go out 'cause what?

♪ ♪ Welcome to my house ♪ ♪ This is my house, my house, what?

♪ ♪ Welcome to my house ♪ ♪ This is my house ♪ I really liked how these dancers stayed committed to their individual characters and really played that up.

Oh, they're all getting their lessons.

[ Woman speaks indistinctly ] ♪ I got the magic in me ♪ Enyart: It's really fun to hear all the music choices throughout the Show Production performances to match the themes.

In Class II Show Production, our champion was Sioux City East with their "Lion King"-themed routine.

♪ Hakuna Matata!

♪ ♪♪ We'd be remiss if we didn't thank all the parents and all the behind-the-scenes folks that help with all the props.

♪♪ ♪♪ There really is a lot of forethought and planning to make a true production.

And Sioux City East is doing a phenomenal job.

I love this section that's very playful and fun.

♪♪ ♪♪ This show production's beautifully costumed as well.

Nice job.

♪♪ ♪ Come on, shake your body, baby, do the conga ♪ ♪ I know you can't control yourself any longer ♪ ♪ Come on, shake your body, baby, do the conga ♪ In Class I Hoopla, our champion was MFL MarMac.

Second place was Manson Northwest Webster.

Third place Newell-Fonda, Alta-Aurelia placed fourth, and Grundy Center came in fifth.

Hoopla is one of my favorites.

And it is a fully dedicated category to Hoopla, which is unique to Iowa.

There are so many teams that love doing this that we decided to have a Hoopla category.

♪♪ It's very visual.

It's fun to do as a performer and the crowds love a Hoopla routine.

♪♪ Their red dresses show up so well on the performance floor.

♪♪ You grip these hooplas differently than you would a pom, so getting in sync with one another is more difficult than it looks.

♪ Para bailar la bamba ♪ ♪ Para bailar la bamba se necesita ♪ ♪ Una poquita de gracia ♪ ♪ Una poquita de gracia y otra cosita ♪ ♪ Y arriba y arriba ♪ ♪ Arriba y arriba, y arriba iré ♪ ♪ Por ti seré, por ti seré ♪ ♪ Bamba, bamba ♪ Sioux City North earned first place in Class II Hoopla with this high-powered performance.

Second place was Sioux City West.

Third place -- ADM.

This routine is so clean and crisp.

And they never stop.

There's so much energy.

The colors are wonderful, and there's a variety of formations and movements throughout.

These ladies do an amazing job keeping up with the pace of this music as well.

♪♪ ♪ I was born this way ♪ ♪ Baby, I was born this way ♪ I will say turning with hooplas is not easy either, and they just pulled that off quite well.

♪ Baby, I was born this way ♪ ♪♪ Let's not underestimate the difficulty of getting the colors facing the right direction, holding your hoopla the correct way.

It takes a lot of practice.

♪♪ ♪ Baby, I was born this way ♪ ♪ I was born this way ♪ Great job, Sioux City North.

New Hampton was the champion in Class I Prop with a marionette-themed routine.

Second place was Mount Ayr and in third place was Central Lee.

In our Prop category, it is just that.

We are looking for teams to manipulate a prop and in this case, New Hampton is doing a really cool job with these strings as marionettes.

♪♪ When I saw this team take the floor at State, I was really excited to see what they were gonna do and they didn't disappoint.

♪♪ ♪♪ And look at that.

They're pulling strings off their pants.

♪♪ I would imagine there may have been a few giggles at practice getting tangled in these strings.

That would be my guess.

But it does create a unique visual, and that's what we want from the Prop division.

♪♪ That somersault ripple was a really interesting transition.

New Hampton is doing an excellent job.

Denison-Schleswig won Class II Prop with this creative ladder performance.

Second place was Knoxville and in third place was LeMars.

♪ One step at a time ♪ ♪ There's no need to rush ♪ ♪ It's like learning to fly ♪ ♪ Or falling in love ♪ ♪ It's gonna happen when it's ♪ ♪ Supposed to happen that we ♪ ♪ Find the reasons why ♪ ♪ One step at a time ♪ ♪ Da-da-da-da-da-da ♪ ♪ Work your body, work your body ♪ ♪ Let me see you one-two step ♪ ♪ Body, stop it ♪ I really like how this routine allows them to use different levels.

♪ Let me see you one-two step ♪ ♪ Baby, one-two step ♪ ♪ Everybody, one-two step ♪ ♪ We got to get it right ♪ I've always wondered what other shapes you could get from those regular, good old ladders.

It makes me a little bit nervous.

[ Laughing ] ISDTA values the work our dance and color-guard athletes accomplish off the floor and have been recognizing and rewarding these outstanding efforts for more than 25 years.

Here are this year's recipients.

This year's sportsmanship honorees were West Central Valley, PCM, and Humboldt.

The top academic teams were Ankeny, Cedar Falls, Gilbert, Wahlert Catholic, Central Lee, Kingsley-Pierson.

Holy Trinity Catholic, Benton, Logan-Magnolia, Audubon, Southeast Warren, Central Decatur and Westwood.

This year's senior scholarship recipients were Ellie Booth, Peyton Seuferer, Kadence Boender, Olivia Warner, Isabel Ungs, Hannah Dillehay, Olivia Tuttle, and Lydia Feis.

♪♪ The Be Bold awards went home with Springville, Panorama, New Hampton, Centerville, Wahlert Catholic, Xavier, Southeast Polk, Des Moines Roosevelt, and Waterloo West.

♪♪ ♪ I'm a survivor ♪ Now back to the action with St. Albert, the champions in Class I Jazz.

North-Linn placed second.

Third place was Lone Tree.

Ar-We-Va came in fourth, and Gehlen Catholic placed fifth.

I'm Scott Enyart, along with Andrea Dana and Stacie Horton, bringing you highlights of the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team championships.

Jazz is a combination of stylized rhythmic dance movements and combinations which interpret and emphasize the up-tempo music.

Includes a lot of formation changes, group work, leaps, turns.

The emphasis is really placed on proper technique throughout.

St. Albert's doing a great job.

This is very dramatic.

And with only six dancers on the floor, it's great.

♪ I'm gonna make it ♪ ♪ I will survive, keep on survivin' ♪ ♪♪ There may only be six of them, but it gives the appearance that there are more.

They just really dance big.

♪ I'm gon' work harder ♪ ♪ I'm a survivor ♪ In Class II Jazz, our champion was West Fork.

Second place was Iowa City Regina.

Akron-Westfield placed third.

In fourth place was South Hamilton and in fifth place, Lisbon.

So this is a different take on jazz.

I like to call this sassy jazz.

I'm a huge fan of sassy jazz, and when this routine came on to the floor and I heard this music, I immediately started tapping, tapping, tapping, yep.

They're having a lot of fun with it.

It was really fun to watch, too.

Very nice feature here in the middle of this performance.

Love this peel off.

♪ If you want it, come get it ♪ ♪ No disrespectin' ♪ I love the pop of pink on their costumes.

It's a great visual in their choreography.

♪ Show me how you gonna work, work it, work it out!

♪ ♪ I hit it bad with a brand-new style ♪ I love how they play a little bit with the really deep pliés, but then bounce right back into some technical elements.

♪ I'ma shout it real loud and proud ♪ ♪ Baby I'm fabulous!

♪ ♪ Share all the love!

♪ ♪ There's more than enough!

♪ ♪ Let it rain on you ♪ ♪ 'Cause you're fabulous!

♪ ♪ It's time to put yourself first!

♪ ♪ Don't stop believing your worth ♪ ♪ Let it rain on you!

♪♪ ♪ Let me see you dance ♪ In Class III Jazz, our champion was Kuemper Catholic.

Second place, Panorama.

Third place was Aplington-Parkersburg.

Emmetsburg placed fourth and in fifth place was IKM-Manning.

♪♪ Kuemper Catholic earned a Judges' Choice award for the creativity of movement and concept, as well as execution throughout this routine.

♪♪ Talk about unique and difficult.

Wow.

I could not take my eyes off of this performance, and I still can't.

And these hats are such an amazing accent.

And the purple gloves.

Very interesting music selection.

Some may think this hits the Hip-Hop category better than it would Jazz, and I love that they selected it for Jazz.

♪♪ There's a lot of control demonstrated by these dancers.

And throughout the choreography, there's a lot of dramatic accents.

♪♪ ♪♪ You can tell they're having fun with this.

♪♪ Clear Lake placed first in Class IV Jazz, Centerville placed second, OA-BCIG came in third.

Fourth place was Mid-Prairie, and in fifth place was Williamsburg.

The pace of this routine is top notch.

♪ I was wondering if you and me could spend a minute ♪ ♪ On the floor up close gettin' lost in it ♪ ♪ I won't give up without a fight ♪ ♪ I just wanna ♪ ♪ Ooh, oh, baby ♪ The combination of the music, their performance energy, it all makes me smile.

And I-I just enjoy watching this one.

♪ Ooh, oh, baby ♪ Excellent turns.

♪ I just want you to dance with me tonight ♪ Extremely smooth transitions throughout.

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Shake it like that ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Now bring it all back ♪ ♪ To dance with me tonight ♪ ♪ One more time, one more time, come on now ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Do your thing ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Everybody sing ♪ ♪ I just want you to dance with me tonight ♪ Excellent job, Clear Lake.

♪ Ooh, oh, baby ♪ North Union was thrilled when they were crowned champions in Class I Novelty.

Second place was Alta-Aurelia.

Third place -- Bellevue.

Wapello came in fourth and in fifth place was Springville.

♪ You know it's thriller ♪ ♪ Thriller night ♪ ♪ You're fighting for your life ♪ In our Novelty category, teams are to choreograph a routine that tells a story and carries out a theme.

They could have props and backdrops, but they certainly don't have to.

♪ You dance, dance, dance till you're dead ♪ I appreciate how playful they were in this routine and really getting into character.

Making it a true novelty.

♪ That this is thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ 'Cause I can thrill you more ♪ ♪ Than any ghost could ever dare try ♪ ♪ Thriller, thriller night ♪ ♪ So let me hold you tight ♪ ♪ And share a killer, thriller tonight ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Dance, dance, dance till you're dead ♪ Many of our smaller schools have multi-sport athletes.

They're the dancers, cheerleaders.

They may play basketball, volleyball.

They do it all.

Pleasantville stung the competition in Class II Novelty, taking home the championship.

Second place was Estherville Lincoln Central.

PCM placed third and fourth place is Pella Christian and South Central Calhoun came in fifth.

♪♪ Pleasantville also won a Judges' Choice award for this sweet bee-themed routine.

This is so clever.

It's fun.

Every detail was considered from the backdrops, the costuming, obviously the choreography and music.

They did such an outstanding job with this.

♪♪ The best way I can describe this team is that they're very polished, very clean, very bright, very shiny.

♪ Every day ♪ ♪ Taking care of business, every way ♪ ♪ I've been taking care of business ♪ ♪ It's all mine ♪ ♪ Taking care of business and working overtime, whoo ♪ Here you can see a utilization of a prop in the middle of this novelty performance.

To carry out the theme.

♪♪ Pella cleaned house in Class III Novelty, placing first with this laundry-themed routine.

Second place was Mason City, and in third place was Waverly-Shell Rock.

♪♪ Such a unique and cute theme.

Oh, my goodness.

They even have stain sticks in their hair as an accessory.

All the details went into this, and they're showing great dance technique.

And the amount of time it had to have taken to look up all of these songs.

Right?

To get it all put together specifically for this routine.

I'd like to ask their parents if this inspired these girls to maybe do laundry at home.

[ Laughs ] I doubt it.

♪♪ Nice technical element there.

♪ Right 'round, baby, right 'round like a record, baby ♪ I love how they're playing on the song "Spin Me Right 'Round," and they're throwing in their technical element with their turns.

♪ Right 'round, 'round, 'round ♪ Woman: I like the little dryer sheets.

♪♪ ♪ Make it bounce ♪ ♪ Make it, make it bounce ♪ ♪ Make it, make it bounce ♪ What a fun performance, Pella.

Great job.

♪♪ Dana: Lois dedicated so much of herself to ISDTA and her 40-plus years of impact on our 47-year-old organization is significant.

And creating a legacy fund inspired by her only seems fitting.

Okay, monsters, that was great.

Let's do it again.

This year, we awarded our first memorial Lois Turnage scholarship, and Peyton Seuferer from Pleasantville High School was the first recipient.

Peyton was one of 100 scholarship applicants that we received this year and one of 18 finalists who we then had our selection committee do a panel interview with.

And Peyton was selected as the first recipient of the memorial scholarship in Lois' name.

It is a true honor to award this year's Lois Turnage Memorial Senior Scholarship to Peyton Seuferer of Pleasantville.

[ Cheers and applause ] Seuferer: They had brought up her family to announce the scholarship, and then her daughter Megan was announcing.

She brought up points in the winner's essay.

And I just was like -- I did not want to get my hopes up, but it is like -- I was like, "That sounds like what I wrote."

And then she brought up the last sentence of my essay, which was I wanted to be the light in somebody else's life like Lois was for me.

And I immediately broke down and all my teammates knew.

I was just so happy, so happy.

And then I got to go up with her family and I got to hug them all and I just felt really good.

Coach T meant so much to me, and I think a lot of times, it's kind of crazy that I only got to spend one year with her as my coach.

But in that one year, she just really left a huge impact.

Congratulations, Peyton.

Busick: I feel that that scholarship went to Peyton because she works very hard in everything she does -- her academics, her dance, her livestock.

All the things that she does in her life, she puts 100% effort into that.

Lois -- She had a way of making you want to do your best, whether it was on the dance floor or whether it was in academics, in serving others through community service in all areas of your life.

Like, she had a way of making you want to be the best version of yourself.

Seuferer: I am a senior this year at Pleasantville.

I'll be graduating in May.

And this scholarship really gives me the opportunity to have more freedom on what I do want to do, which I would love to dance in college because it's such a big part of my life, and it would just be incredible to carry on with my career that started with her.

♪♪ Enyart: And now we're back with Manson Northwest Webster, the champions in Class I Military.

MFL MarMac placed second and West Bend-Mallard came in third.

♪♪ Dana: Our Military category is all about precision.

As you can see, Manson Northwest Webster is using a variety of formations and their movements are sharp and crisp and precise.

Everything from arms, legs, heads need to be accounted for.

Even so much as, Andrea, their foot closure and knees together when they're on the ground.

That was absolute precision there.

Yes, and just the little details.

So the three doing those headstands, they went from a pointed foot to a flex foot just on three beats.

♪♪ They're doing a nice job of incorporating their arms like Egyptians to carry out their theme.

This is a fun little move here in the middle of the routine.

Fun and creative.

It's almost like a serpent.

♪♪ ♪♪ Pella earned top honors in Class II Military with this powerful routine.

Second place was Williamsburg, and in third place, Pocahontas Area.

♪♪ ♪♪ Amazing control.

♪♪ Wow.

Awesome strength.

And spinning on their heads.

It is not comfortable, but it looks really cool.

One thing that I do love about their costuming is the front of it, for me, is more military and traditional and the back, with the open back and the straps across, it softens it a little bit and gives it a really nice visual.

♪♪ Their performance -- it matches the intensity of the music.

In Class I Kick, our champion was Bishop Garrigan.

Wilton came in second.

Aplington-Parkersburg placed third.

And in fourth place was Gehlen Catholic.

[ Spanish music playing ] ♪♪ When I watch this routine, all I can think of is fun.

They're having fun.

The music exudes fun.

But don't let them fool you.

They are working hard out there.

It takes incredible endurance to do a kick routine.

♪♪ I love the accent of the lace going down one leg.

That really accents those kicks.

[ Man singing in Spanish ] ♪♪ ♪♪ That was a really neat part with the music, how they spun around on the ground.

♪♪ ♪♪ In Class II Kick, Iowa Falls-Alden placed first.

Second place was Keokuk.

Newton placed third.

North Polk came in fourth and in fifth place was Humboldt.

♪ You gotta do it, you gotta do it your way ♪ ♪ You gotta prove it, you gotta mean what you say ♪ ♪ Let's get loud, let's get loud ♪ ♪ Turn the music up to hear that sound ♪ These are beautiful kicks.

The technique that they're displaying with straight legs, pointed feet, straight arms as they're hooked up to one another.

Excellent job.

And I love how they're playful here in their formations of choreography, really breaking it up from a normal kick line, but carrying out their theme.

The unique thing about this kick routine is the pace of the kicks is at a very high tempo throughout.

♪ Pump it up!

♪ ♪ Ah, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey ♪ Check out the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team Championships online at iowapbs.org.

♪ Turn the music up to hear that sound ♪ ♪ Let's get loud ♪ Awesome job.

Iowa Falls-Alden.

♪ Ain't nobody gotta tell ya what you gotta do ♪ In Class III Kick, our champion was Southeast Polk.

Second place, Ankeny Centennial.

Third place was Muscatine, and in fourth place was Sioux City North.

♪ Do the locomotion ♪ ♪ Come on, come on, do the locomotion ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ So impressed with Southeast Polk with the numbers that they have and being able to stay clean and precise like this.

♪ Do the loc, do the loc, do the loco locomotion ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Do the loc, do the loc, do the loco locomotion ♪ What an absolutely amazing kick line.

♪ Do the locomotion ♪ ♪ Do it nice and easy now don't lose control ♪ They fill the court.

And it is so impressive.

And it's a tradition.

They peel out to this single line and nail their kick line.

And as they do that, you hear the crowd kind of erupting.

♪ Come on, come on, do the locomotion ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ I also like their theme and their music, "The Loco-Motion."

And the costuming, all of it.

Oh, that was slick.

I know.

They sure made that look easy -- the control.

They have some really playful transitions throughout this routine as well.

Right here is my favorite one.

♪♪ Up next are the Co-ed champions.

First, we're going to see North Mahaska, the champion in Class I.

♪ Girls like boys like me ♪ In our Co-ed category, we bring in the male dancers, and the focus in this category is to do partner dancing.

And here North Mahaska has a fun little theme of taking us on a tropical getaway.

♪ All the girls, they think I'm groovy ♪ ♪ There's only one girl that's on my list ♪ These young men are really eager to learn and to perform as well.

When they perform, there's something special about it.

They're doing it and having so much joy.

And it gives the guys a great appreciation for the dancers.

♪ We're in the sun, it's a party ♪ ♪ You and me and everybody ♪ ♪ It's been the best summer ever ♪ ♪ Wheels and waves, surf and shades ♪ ♪ The best summer ever ♪ ♪ Rocking every night and day ♪ ♪ Like shakes and fries, wet and dry ♪ ♪ It all adds up to feel like ♪ ♪ The best summer ever, yeah ♪ ♪ Best summer ever ♪ Davenport Central earned first place in Class II Co-ed.

Oskaloosa came in second.

And Creston placed third.

♪♪ ♪ I'm in a sweet spot ♪ ♪ I'm feeling good ♪ I love how this choreography really incorporates a ton of lifts, partner work.

These kids are dancing.

♪ Let me show you what it's all about ♪ ♪ Check it out ♪ ♪ I'm gonna light it up ♪ It's impressive to see the sheer number of kids out there performing.

Really brings a lot of visual to the floor.

♪ Just check it out ♪ ♪ I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Let me show you what it's all about ♪ Really upbeat performance.

All the dancers are really getting into it.

♪ I'm on a big stage ♪ ♪ I've got my crew ♪ ♪ I'll get you moving ♪ ♪ It's what I do ♪ Boy, they are hitting their spots, too, aren't they?

♪ Let me show you what it's all about ♪ Oh, fun.

♪ I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Check it out ♪ ♪ I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm gonna light it up ♪ ♪ Just check it out ♪ Next we will look at our Lights category placements.

The Lights category requires a darkened venue, making it difficult to capture for television.

Here is our tribute to this year's first-place routines.

In Class I Lights, our champion was Calamus-Wheatland.

Second place, Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn.

And in third place was Audubon.

In Class II Lights, our champion was Creston.

Western Christian placed second and Unity Christian placed third.

♪ Ain't another man but you ♪ ♪ Let's break it down now ♪ This year's All-Male dance champion was Davenport Central.

Cedar Falls placed second.

♪♪ Nice flexibility on the opening toe touch of the routine.

I love that we offer an All-Male category dedicated just to our male dancers, and Davenport Central is bringing it.

♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah,yeah, yeah ♪ ♪♪ Great job with the tempo change.

♪♪ ♪ Push it ♪ ♪ Push it good ♪ ♪ Push it ♪ ♪ Push it good ♪ ♪ Push it ♪ ♪ Push it good ♪ ♪ Push it real good ♪ ♪♪ I appreciate how they're using footwork, doing leaps.

They did aerials.

And somersaults.

And now we go back to the Pom category with Waterloo Columbus Catholic, the champions in Class VI Pom.

Second place was West Central Valley.

Third place, Van Buren County.

Aplington-Parkersburg placed fourth and Underwood came in fifth.

♪♪ ♪ Crazy, crazy ♪ ♪ T-T-T-Tasty, tasty ♪ In the Pom category, you're always looking for those nice, sharp, tight movements, high V's, low V's, lots of strength and power behind every movement.

You're looking for lots of levels and variation throughout the routine.

♪ Tootsee Roll ♪ ♪ Come on, come on ♪ ♪ Just make that Tootsee Roll ♪ ♪ Here we go, here we go ♪ ♪ Just make that Tootsee Roll ♪ Very strong headspring on the floor there.

♪ Tootsee Roll ♪ ♪ If I could be sweet ♪ ♪ I know I've been a real bad girl ♪ ♪ I didn't mean for you to get hurt ♪ ♪ We can make it better ♪ ♪ And tell me, boy, now wouldn't that be sweet?

♪ ♪ I'm a sucker for all the subliminal things ♪ ♪ No one knows about you, about you, about you, about you ♪ That double jump.

Really nice job executing.

♪ Break my typical rules ♪ ♪♪ Eagle Grove placed first in Class VII Pom.

Second place was Sheldon.

Third place -- North Fayette Valley.

Maple Valley-Anthon Oto Charter placed fourth and in fifth place was Central Lee.

I really like the depth and the contrast that the white poms against the black uniforms creates.

♪♪ ♪♪ The single line contagions that they're doing here -- classic and so visual.

♪♪ ♪ Don't stop me now ♪ ♪ I'm having such a good time ♪ ♪ I'm having a ball ♪ ♪ Don't stop me now ♪ ♪ I'm having a good time ♪ ♪ I don't wanna stop at all ♪ Beautiful toe touch.

♪ Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga ♪ ♪ Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga Ooga-Chaka Ooga-Ooga ♪ That's a really fun part getting into the music.

♪ I'm hooked on a feeling ♪ ♪ I'm high on believing ♪ Another upbeat performance with a lot of energy.

The champion in Class VIII Pom was Iowa Falls-Alden.

In second place was Clear Lake.

Monticello placed third, PCM placed fourth, and in fifth place was Okoboji.

This performance is so sharp and clean throughout.

This team came right out of the gate with a strong team toe touch.

♪ It's tearin' up my heart when I'm with you ♪ Followed by another one.

♪ But when we are apart, I feel it too ♪ ♪ And no matter what I do ♪ These dancers are impressive.

They are hitting everything with power and, wow, beautiful aerials.

I'm always impressed with teams that come to the state competition.

You never know what their practice area's like.

And then they've got to come on to this huge stage and adjust, and they do it beautifully.

♪ Everyone else, but you, ooh ♪ ♪ Baby, you light up my world like nobody else ♪ ♪ The way that you flip your hair gets me overwhelmed ♪ ♪ But when you smile at the ground, it ain't hard to tell ♪ ♪ You don't know, oh-oh ♪ ♪ That's what makes you beautiful ♪ ♪ Dirty pop Baby, baby, you can't stop ♪ ♪ I know you like this dirty pop ♪ ♪ Do you ever wonder why ♪ ♪ This music gets you high?

♪ ♪ It takes you on a ride ♪ Even their transitions are filled with power.

♪ Body starts to rock ♪ Never a dull moment in this routine.

Awesome job, Iowa Falls-Alden.

♪♪ Davenport Assumption earned top honors in Class IX Pom.

Grinnell came in second.

Third place was Humboldt.

Fourth place, Sioux Center and Algona placed fifth.

♪ Sweet dreams are made of this ♪ This is a candy theme, and there's lollipops in their hair.

How cool is that?

Love that.

Beautiful turn sequence.

♪♪ Nice timing on those rotations.

♪ Oh, oh, sweet child of mine ♪ ♪ Whoa, oh, oh, oh, sweet love of mine ♪ ♪♪ Nice leg spins as well.

♪♪ They have several tempo changes throughout this routine and they're keeping up with it and still hitting those strong pom movements.

♪ Candy, baby, can't you see ♪ ♪ All I want is your candy?

♪ ♪ Candy in the morning time ♪ ♪ Candy in the hot sunshine ♪ Great turns.

♪ All I want is your candy?

♪ Xavier earned the championship in Class X Pom.

Second place was Ballard.

Third place, North Polk.

Oskaloosa placed fourth and Keokuk placed fifth.

Xavier makes pom look so easy.

Every technical element they're doing is so difficult.

♪♪ This is a jam-packed routine.

Strong pom technique.

They never stop.

Their turns -- Wow.

I can't even imagine how much they practiced those.

I appreciate how much they utilize the and counts in their music as well.

There's just no dead space in between.

They fill every little count, half count, with choreography.

♪♪ They also have a significant amount of transitions and they're dancing through their transitions, making it very visually appealing.

♪♪ Such a fun routine.

Amazing headsprings.

♪♪ Man: Focus on the sound of my voice.

Enyart: Up next, we see Wahlert Catholic, who was crowned the champion in Class V Jazz.

Second place was Davenport Assumption.

Third place, Grinnell.

Fourth place was Carroll, and in fifth was Knoxville.

Look for the emotion, strength and control in this highly difficult routine.

♪ Let's go there ♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ The music and choreography just pulls you in.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take the energy through our arms and legs.

♪ I love those dramatic accents.

So well done.

♪♪ ♪ What?

♪ ♪♪ Lewis Central was the champion in Class VI Jazz.

Bondurant-Farrar placed second.

Third place was North Polk.

LeMars placed fourth and in fifth place was Oskaloosa.

♪ ...thing called hypnosis ♪ ♪ It's that wonderful feeling ♪ ♪ Physical and mental relaxation ♪ ♪ That can now spread throughout your entire body ♪ ♪ Because from this moment in time ♪ ♪ There's nothing -- nothing -- important for you to do ♪ ♪ Except relax ♪ Really nice features and group work there.

♪ Relax ♪ ♪♪ Lewis Central has a lot of beautiful movements across the floor.

They truly are dancing as a team.

It's very fluid.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Great performance, Lewis Central.

♪♪ Up next, we see Dowling Catholic, the champions in Class VII Jazz.

Urbandale came in second.

Third place was North Scott.

Fourth place, Fort Dodge.

And in fifth place, Dallas Center-Grimes.

♪ Say my name ♪ ♪ If no one is around you ♪ ♪ Say baby I love you ♪ ♪ Baby, say my name ♪ ♪ You actin' kinda shady ♪ ♪ Ain't callin' me baby ♪ ♪ Better say my name ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ ♪ Yeah, yeah, yeah ♪ There are a lot of elements in this choreography going on at the same time.

And it all flows really well together.

♪ I know you say that I am assuming things ♪ ♪ Something's going down that's the way it seems ♪ They're playing off of those backbeats and those heavy accents with all of their choreography as well.

♪ Why can't you just tell the truth ♪ ♪ If somebody's there then tell me who ♪ ♪ Say my name, say my name ♪ ♪ If no one is around you ♪ ♪ Say baby I love you ♪ ♪ Say my name, say my name ♪ ♪ Say baby I love you ♪ ♪ Ain't callin' me baby ♪ ♪ Why the sudden change ♪ ♪ Say my name, say my name ♪ ♪ If no one is around you ♪ ♪ Say baby I love you ♪ ♪ Say my name, say my name ♪ ♪ You actin' kinda shady ♪ ♪ Ain't callin' me baby ♪ Great performance.

Linn-Mar earned the championship in Class VIII Jazz.

Second place was Pleasant Valley, Southeast Polk placed third, Cedar Rapids Prairie placed fourth, and in fifth place was Waukee.

Linn-Mar has impressive technique and their team turns -- every element of their choreography is difficult and they execute it beautifully.

Each one of them has incredible control.

♪ So I'll just hang around ♪ ♪ And find some things to do ♪ ♪ To take my mind off missing you ♪ ♪ And I know in my heart ♪ ♪ You can't say that you don't love me too ♪ It's a stunning performance by Linn-Mar.

♪ Yeeaah ♪ ♪ I've been sittin' here ♪ ♪ Can't get you off my mind ♪ ♪ I've tried my best to be a man and be strong ♪ ♪ I drove myself insane ♪ ♪ Wishin' I could touch your face ♪ ♪ But the truth remains ♪ Our 3-day event also included our solo competition, where a record-breaking 921 dance and color-guard athletes competed.

Here are this year's solo winners.

Our champion in Class I Dance was Lila Mouw from St. Albert.

The champion in Class II Dance was Kylin Johnson from West Fork.

The Class III Dance champion was Donovin Delp from Panorama.

Our Class IV Dance champion was Natalie DeMai from Denver.

In Class V Dance, our champion was Keesha Lindemann from Sheldon.

The Class VI Dance champion from Iowa Falls-Alden was Marikate Lancaster.

The Class VII Dance champion was Chayse Gilchrest from Fairfield.

In Class VIII Dance, our champion was Adysen Miller from Carlisle.

The Class IX Dance champion from North Scott was Carolyn Keppy.

The Class X Dance champion was Brooklyn O'Conner from Dowling Catholic.

The Class XI Dance champion from Pleasant Valley was Josie Kaffenberger.

The Class XII Dance champion was Victoria Adams from Waukee Northwest.

In Class I Color Guard.

our champion was Emmie Ring from IKM-Manning.

The Class II Color Guard champion was from Creston, Trinity Woody, and Lindsey Fleming from Des Moines Roosevelt was our Class III Color Guard champion.

The Character Counts Team of the Year was Manson Northwest Webster.

The Character Counts Coach of the Year was Heather Boes from Kuemper Catholic.

And our Friend of ISDTA is Pat Tierney.

The Lois Turnage Outstanding Community Service awards went home with...

The High School Judges' Choice Awards were presented to...

The College Judges' Choice Awards were presented to... We now move in to our college divisions, and we begin with the champions in Community College Hip Hop, Iowa Central.

Second place was Iowa Western, NIACC placed third and in fourth place was Kirkwood.

I'm Scott Enyart along with Andrea Dana and Stacie Horton, bringing you highlights of the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team Championships.

[ Hip-hop music playing ] ♪♪ This year, we had 25 Iowa colleges competing over the three days.

It was very impressive competition.

I really like the energy that Iowa Central is bringing.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Those are some fun partner tricks.

♪♪ This is where they start having fun.

♪♪ Central College placed first in NCAA Division II/III Hip Hop.

Second place was Wartburg.

Third place Simpson and Buena Vista came in fourth.

[ Hip-hop music playing ] ♪♪ ♪♪ Central is doing a really nice job of utilizing the floor with only six members on this team.

Really nice overexaggerated motions, though.

They add drama.

♪♪ ♪ No matter what I do ♪ ♪ All I think about is you ♪ ♪ Even when I'm with my boo ♪ ♪ You know I'm crazy over you ♪ ♪ If you want to go and take a ride with me ♪ Lots of fun choreography, showcasing individual personalities, I can tell, on this team.

♪ Hey, must be the money!

♪ ♪ Money ♪ ♪ Money ♪ ♪ Money ♪ ♪ Hey, must be the money!

♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ What a fun routine, Central.

Good job.

The NAIA Hip Hop champion was St. Ambrose University.

Second place was Morningside and Graceland placed third.

[ Hip-hop music playing ] ♪♪ St. Ambrose has a really large team.

Loving the black costuming.

Really accents the strength in their movements.

Nice pick-up.

♪♪ ♪♪ You see, too, with St. Ambrose's choreography, they incorporate those heads as a part of the choreography, too.

Also known as "hair-ography."

♪♪ Nice group work there.

The difficulty of the aerials.

♪♪ I love the strength in all their movements.

♪♪ ♪♪ Nice job.

Iowa State University was the champion in NCAA Division I Hip Hop.

[ Hip-hop music playing ] ♪ Hold up, she wanna work, that's work ♪ ♪ That work, work, work, work, that's work, that ♪ ♪ You got a hurt back ♪ What an awesome performance and energy.

♪ Come on, let's go, let's go ♪ So fun to watch them on the floor.

Creative use of the floor with the three column diagonal.

What's even more incredible to me with these college teams is that they are getting dancers from all across the state, outside of state.

They're meshing them all together as one team, and they can make a routine look like this with all the different experience.

♪ Nah, Shorty, y'all don't want to stop ♪ ♪ Go, girl ♪ ♪ Go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go, go ♪ Very impressive.

♪ Make it pop ♪ ♪ Toot that thang up, mami, make it roll ♪ ♪ Once you pop, pop, lock it for me, girl, get low ♪ ♪ Pop, lock and drop it ♪ ♪ Pop, lock and drop it ♪ ♪ Pop up, guess who ♪ ♪ Pop up, guess who ♪ ♪ Press, press, press, press, press ♪ ♪ Cardi don't need more press ♪ Nice, smooth transitions.

♪ Walk in, bulletproof vest ♪ ♪ Please tell me who she gon' check ♪ ♪ Murder scene, Cardi made a mess ♪ ♪ Pop up, guess who?

♪ ♪ Ding-dong ♪ [ Doorbell rings ] Dana: This is our fifth year offering the ISDTA college dance combine.

And really the philosophy was to provide the opportunity for our thousands of high school dancers and also dancers outside of the state of Iowa to see what programs we have in college to continue their dance career.

Each year we have about 25 colleges, and we have learned that our sweet spot is 180 dancers to get the most impact for them and for our college coaches.

One of the reasons I wanted to have this college combine was to attract and retain these young students and athletes in our state.

Our dance program is considered an athletic at Iowa Central, and so we have to recruit a certain number of dancers every year.

We have to recruit 30 dancers on our team.

I believe the most significant thing about the ISDTA combine is that it truly shows how big of a dance state Iowa is.

Booth: So at the age of 10, I actually lost about 85% of my hearing in my right ear, but I did receive about 75% of my hearing back.

During that time, dance was what was so consistent in my life when everything else around me was constantly changing.

♪ My pride away ♪ My plans for the future with dance is I hope to be on a college dance team next year, and I'm also incorporating dance into my future career.

I hope to be an athletic trainer with a specialization on dancers and cheerleaders, just because I understand all the ethic and all the work that you have to put into the dance world, and I want to reciprocate that back to everything that it's given me.

Langeneckert: I truly feel that there is a program for every dancer in the state of Iowa.

You know, we have very strong college programs, and they're all a little bit different.

[ "Beat It" playing ] We have such a large number of dancers that have graduated that are now coaching at the high school level.

So they're just continuing on, and it's just helping to grow our sport in the state.

Spitzer: I started dance when I was 4 years old.

I used, with ISDTA, this college combine, and I just knew that I wanted to pursue dance.

And so I have my BFA in dance as well from the University of Iowa.

And that is the school that I danced on the dance team for four years.

6, pop, 7, 8.

Now what I'm doing with dance is choreographing for local high schools around the area and colleges, and they're competing here today.

And I just completed my master's at the University of Iowa in athletic training.

I think the most significant thing about the ISDTA combine would be connections.

That is one place that you have all of these powerful women, men in one room, and you have the power to go up and talk to one of these coaches and make that connection.

[ Indistinct conversations ] Dana: We want to give opportunity to these athletes and the students to grow in their sport.

And offering events like the college combine and our state championships, we see it.

We see them growing and elevating.

And it's really amazing to be a part of that.

♪♪ Enyart: Here is Iowa Central Community College, the champions in community college jazz.

Second place was NIACC.

Iowa Western came in third, and in fourth place was Kirkwood.

♪♪ This costuming is absolutely beautiful.

Looks so nice on the performance floor.

♪♪ In addition to the college combine, having the opportunity to compete at state has truly grown the dance programs in Iowa.

♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ Let it be me ♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh ♪ Excellent turns.

♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ Whoa-oh-oh, whoa-oh-oh-oh ♪ ♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ With this choreography.

I really appreciate how much these -- these young ladies settle in and give it time and really feel the choreography and the emotion with it.

See how they elongate those arms and really feel all the way to their fingertips.

♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ You're gonna need somebody ♪ ♪ Let it be me ♪ ♪♪ Central College earned first place in NCAA II/III Jazz.

Second place was Upper Iowa University.

Third place Simpson, and Buena Vista came in fourth.

♪♪ ♪ I know you think your fire is burning out ♪ Center College also earned a Judges' Choice award for this performance.

For our college competition, we do give out three Judges' Choice awards, and Central truly deserved this with this beautiful performance.

I really like how their choreography helps them move gracefully across the floor.

They have really nice individual dancer highlights throughout, too.

♪♪ Nice control on that lift.

♪♪ ♪ Ooh, you got it in you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the lights go out and leave you standing in the dark ♪ ♪♪ For our college competition, teams can choose from three different categories -- Hip Hop, Jazz and Pop.

♪ I know you think your fire is burning out ♪ ♪ But I still see you shining through ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You got it in you ♪ St. Ambrose University earned first place in NAIA Jazz.

Second place was Grand View, and Dordt placed third.

♪♪ Love how they open with that lift and move that lift transition across the floor.

Very powerful.

♪♪ ♪ It's got a hold ♪ ♪ Just a phone call left unanswered ♪ Beautiful technique and strength... ...but also graceful.

♪ Don't let go ♪ ♪ Keep a hold ♪ ♪ 'Cause if you look into the distance ♪ ♪ There's a house upon the hill ♪ ♪ Guiding like a lighthouse ♪ Beautiful turn sequence.

Also, adding to St. Ambrose's difficulty, the changing spots, the different arm variations -- that all adds into the difficulty.

♪ I will leave the light on ♪ I love the group work through this section here too.

♪♪ ♪ And I know you're down and out now ♪ ♪ But I need you to be brave ♪ ♪ Hiding from the truth ain't gonna make this all okay ♪ ♪ I see your pain ♪ ♪ If you don't feel our grace ♪ ♪ And you've lost your way ♪ This routine flows so well too.

♪♪ ♪ I will leave the light on ♪ ♪♪ The champion in the NCAA Division I Jazz category was the University of Iowa.

Second place was Iowa State, and in third place, UNI.

♪ Hearts broken in two ♪ ♪ Two ♪ What a dynamic opening.

So much to watch.

♪ Sleepless nights ♪ And that music is pulling you in.

You know it's about to explode here soon, and so this is drawing us in.

♪ You ♪ ♪♪ Amazing velocity.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ No ♪ ♪♪ ♪ No ♪ It's fun to be present at state in the arena when these colleges are performing.

There is a lot of energy and pride in the room.

The intensity that this team brings as well.

I don't know if you heard that quiet moment of their choreography, they're hollering and screaming to encourage one another.

That's the intensity.

♪♪ Iowa State University earned a Judges' Choice award for their second place routine in NCAA Division I Jazz.

♪♪ ♪ I love you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ You can take her any place she wants ♪ ♪ To fancy clubs and restaurants ♪ ♪ But I can only watch you with ♪ ♪ My nose pressed up against the window pane ♪ Incredible turn sequence with the arm variations.

Very powerful.

Nice.

You know, these college teams train outside of dance practices.

They have strength and conditioning programs to get them in shape for their competition season.

The amount of hours that these dancers put in even outside of practice is to be commended.

They're true athletes.

They really are.

♪ But, darling, it's I ♪ ♪ Who loves you ♪ ♪♪ ♪ I love you ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ [ Cheers and applause ] ♪♪ Iowa Central Community College earned first place and the Judges' Choice award in Community College Pom.

Second place was NIACC.

Iowa Lakes placed third, and Kirkwood came in fourth.

♪♪ A lot of the college teams start learning their choreography over the summer and then continue to fine tune that choreography for state and other competitions that they may attend in the winter months.

♪♪ This routine is super clean.

I'm loving the white poms with the white top and the blue skirt -- looks really nice.

Really presents a nice, clean look.

♪ Living in a material world ♪ ♪ And I am a material girl ♪ ♪ You know that we are living in a material world ♪ Another special part about our college competition for me personally is seen familiar faces, seeing dancers from four years of high school and then seeing them on a college team.

What a proud moment for our organization, for our state, for these kids and their parents.

We welcome them all back, and it is so fun to see them continue their dance careers.

And they may be seeing each other, a high school teammate, for the first time as a college dancer.

♪♪ ♪♪ St. Ambrose University earned top honors in NAIA Pom.

Second place was Grand View.

Mount Mercy placed third, and Morningside placed fourth.

♪♪ I'm always very impressed with St. Ambrose's skills.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ Little change of pace in the music there.

♪♪ To get that many dancers in unison is awesome.

♪♪ So much energy and strength given here.

♪♪ ♪♪ Center College earned first place in the NCAA Division II/III Pom category.

Second place was Buena Vista, and third place was Wartburg.

♪♪ Wow.

Those red poms really pop on this floor, don't they?

They sure do.

It really adds to this performance.

♪♪ ♪♪ ♪ We built this city ♪ ♪♪ ♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪ ♪♪ Oh, that's super cute.

Love the musicality.

♪♪ There's no shortage of creativity in any of this choreography you're seeing today.

♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪ ♪ Built this city ♪ ♪ We built this city on rock and roll ♪ ♪♪ Love that straddle ripple to the back.

♪♪ ♪♪ The champion in NCAA Division I Pom was the University of Iowa.

Second place was Iowa State, and the University of Northern Iowa placed third.

♪♪ The fast pace of those turns and that music are unbelievable.

♪♪ ♪♪ This just exudes power.

♪♪ And the amount of endurance that these athletes have...

I mean, it just goes to show this is a really difficult, fast-paced routine, and they don't look tired.

No.

♪♪ ♪♪ And I like how they go from some very hard-hitting choreography to playful choreography.

♪♪ I want to personally thank all of the college coaches for your time, passion, effort in your dance programs and sharing your talent and competing at our organization's state competition each year.

♪♪ And now we move back to the high school competition action with our champions in Class V Hip Hop, Clear Lake.

Second place was Monticello.

PCM placed third.

New Hampton came in fourth, and in fifth place was Spirit Lake.

♪♪ Clear Lake's hitting it really hard here in their choreography.

The kip up from the floor all together.

Really loving Clear Lake's aggression.

♪ Like this, like this ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Take that thing and make it go round and round ♪ ♪ Like the way you do that right there ♪ ♪ Go down ♪ ♪ Like this ♪ ♪♪ ♪ Drop it like it's hot ♪ ♪ Like that, like that ♪ ♪ Drop ♪ Nice.

♪♪ ♪ Yo, stop ♪ ♪ What?

♪ ♪♪ There's a lot of different tricks in this routine that calls for some big endurance.

And these ladies have hit everything so far.

♪♪ ♪ Get up, stand up, c'mon, throw your hands up ♪ ♪ I came to get down ♪ ♪♪ Xavier was the champion in Class VI Hip Hop with this battle-themed performance.

Second place was Davenport Assumption.

Third place, Grinnell.

Fourth place was Carroll, and in fifth place was Vinton-Shellsburg.

♪ Respect ♪ ♪ I said, "I'ma do me" ♪ ♪ B.I.G., everything zoomed in ♪ ♪ Big bag on me lookin' like I'm movin' in ♪ This hip hop routine is creatively costumed with the black and white, and even have the referee in the middle to kind of keep everybody under control here.

It's really a nice visual, too, Scott.

♪♪ That is not easy.

That was really well done.

♪♪ Really nice wide stances.

♪♪ ♪ I got a new boy ♪ ♪ Ayy, yo, I been on, you been corn ♪ ♪ Bentley tints on ♪ Check out the 2023 Iowa State Dance Team Championships online at iowapbs.org.

♪ My team didn't have to play to win the championship, come on ♪ ♪ Don't dance, we just pull up our pants ♪ ♪ And do the rockaway ♪ ♪ Now lean back, lean back, lean back ♪ Now they're battling it out back and forth.

♪ Come on ♪ [ Bell dings ] Mason City placed first in Class VII Hip Hop.

Second place was Western Dubuque.

Bondurant-Farrar placed third.

Fourth place was Dallas Center- Grimes, and Waverly-Shell Rock came in fifth.

♪♪ ISDTA provides professional development and resources to our coaches across the state.

These coaches then in turn help develop our young dancers.

♪ Ya, ya, ya, ya, ya, ya ♪ ♪ What you know about rollin'?

♪ ♪♪ That's a fun visual of the moonwalk and sliding along the floor.

♪♪ Transitioning with that attitude.

Nice job.

♪ Boom ♪ ♪ For my theme song ♪ ♪♪ ♪ My leather black jeans on ♪ ♪ Pardon, I'm getting my scream on ♪ ♪ You can't stop me ♪ ♪♪ Love the two circles and unfolding.

That was nice.

A nice transition.

♪♪ Nice heel stretch.

♪ Hands up for hands down, back up, back up ♪ ♪ Tell me what ya gonna do now ♪ ♪ Keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' ♪ ♪ Keep rollin' rollin' rollin' rollin' ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ Up next, we have Ankeny, the Champions in Class VIII Hip Hop.

Second place was Johnston.

Third place was Sioux City East.

Southeast Polk placed fourth, and Des Moines Roosevelt came in fifth.

I really like the costuming here.

That part of green under the white jacket and pants.

And then they have green shoes.

It just really adds to this performance.

♪♪ I like all the group work throughout this routine.

♪♪ Not only at this competition do we have over 5,000 athletes competing, but we have over 100 volunteers helping behind the scenes, helping with tabulation, lining up, announcing, registration.

It is a huge group, collective effort, and I want to thank all of them for their time, their passion, and just making this an amazing event for these kids.

♪♪ Man: ...existence.

isn't that good enough?

Enyart: In Class I Contemporary, Panorama earned top honors with this very meaningful performance.

Second place was West Central Valley.

Harris-Lake Park placed third.

West Monona placed fourth, and in fifth place was South Central Calhoun.

I really enjoyed watching this routine unfold at state.

It caught my attention and then just kept me hanging on.

Man: ...not be culmination of each incredible, improbable moment that led to your existence.

You heard me right.

And those scars you carry?

Well, those are yours.

So wear them with honor, like badges you've collected along your way.

Place them over your heart one by one for all to see, and stand up straight, hold your head up high, and don't you even think of wasting any more of your precious moments looking down on yourself.

Wake up.

You deserve that.

You are human.

You're alive.

Wake up.

You're a wildfire.

Burn bright.

Burn bright.

Burn bright.

♪♪ The positive messaging in this song is perfect.

Enyart: Wahlert Catholic earned first place in Class II Contemporary.

Second place was Ballard, third place with Sergeant Bluff-Luton, and in fourth place was OA-BCIG.

♪ So when I'm all choked up, but I can't find the words ♪ Really loved that partner choreography.

♪ Every time we say goodbye ♪ All of our teams are judged against a 100-point score sheet on execution, choreography, difficulty and showmanship.

And all of our judges are industry leaders from across the nation, which makes our competition absolutely unique.

♪♪ ♪ I don't wanna be just a memory, baby, yeah ♪ ♪ Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo ♪ ♪ Hoo, hoo, hoo, hoo ♪ Beautiful movements by Wahlert Catholic and emotion.

♪♪ This team performs with such great strength and confidence.

♪ And I can't find the words ♪ ♪ Every time we say goodbye ♪ ♪ Baby, it hurts ♪ ♪♪ ♪ When the sun goes down ♪ ♪ And the band won't play ♪ Beautiful performance, Wahlert Catholic.

♪ This way, yeah ♪ ♪ When you look at me ♪ ♪ And the whole world fades ♪ Up next, we have Des Moines Roosevelt, the Champions in Class III Contemporary.

Second place was Johnston.

Third place was Waukee Northwest, and our fourth place team was Ankeny Centennial.

♪ It feels like we're oceans apart ♪ ♪ There is so much space between us ♪ ♪ Baby, we're already defeated ♪ This is just a stunning performance.

So much emotion displayed by each and every performer.

♪ Everything changed me ♪ I love how the energy just flows from one dancer to another.

The other thing I really like about this routine throughout is the... strength with which they hit... a motion and then the resistance that they put behind it.

♪ I can't love you in the dark ♪ ♪ It feels like we're oceans apart ♪ ♪ There is so much space between us ♪ ♪ Baby, we're already defeated ♪ ♪ 'Cause e-e-e-e-everything... ♪ North Scott was crowned the champion in Class XI Pom.

Second place was Pella.

Third place was Lewis Central.

Mason City came in fourth, and we had a tie for fifth between Carlisle and Newton.

♪♪ ♪♪ This is such a fun, high-energy performance.

And, boy, are they using the floor.

Rarely do you see an entire team move from one side of the floor to the other.

I love it.

And then they contrast it with a tempo change.

♪♪ ♪♪ Our teams in Iowa have seasons that vary in lengths.

Following the state championships, many will perform at home basketball games and some compete at regional and national events.

♪♪ ♪♪ I'm glad they're showing a closeup now of the costuming.

You can really see how the sparkle lifts under those lights.

♪♪ Iowa City Liberty was crowned the champion in Class XII Pom with this inspiring performance.

Second place was Dowling Catholic.

Third place, Urbandale.

We had a tie for fourth between Council Bluffs Abraham Lincoln and Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson.

Cedar Rapids Washington placed fifth.

♪♪ ♪ Another one bites the dust ♪ ♪ Another one bites the dust ♪ ♪ Another one bites the dust, hey, hey ♪ ♪ Another one, another one ♪ ♪ Ooh, yeah ♪ ♪ Another one bites the dust ♪ ♪ Another one bites the dust ♪ The play on formations and their choreography really make this a very visual performance.

When you have this many on your team, it's got to be really fun to play with the choreography and the formations.

So many possibilities.

It allows for more when you have more on the floor.

♪ Is this the real life?

♪ ♪ We are the champions, my friend ♪ ♪ One, two, three, let's go ♪ And Iowa is known as the Poms state.

And what we're seeing now are some of the largest enrollments of schools competing.

♪ We are the champions ♪ ♪♪ The champion in Class XIII Pom was Pleasant Valley.

Second place Waukee, Bettendorf placed third, Sioux City North came in fourth, and we had a tie for fifth between Muscatine and Davenport Central.

♪♪ Pleasant Valley earned a Judges' Choice award for this outstanding performance.

Pleasant Valley truly, with every motion, every step, every transition, their attacking everything.

The aggression and the confidence is incredible.

♪♪ Everything's within an exclamation point.

♪♪ They literally nailed this routine.

It is so fun to watch.

♪♪ Even their pom switches from hip to hip or their pom claps in front of them are with intensity, and it shows.

♪♪ I think it's worth pointing out that the level of difficulty our high school teams are executing is impressive and the bar each year continues to rise.

♪♪ ♪ Five, four, three, two, one ♪ The champion in Class XIV Pom was Linn-Mar.

Second place was Waukee Northwest.

Johnston placed third, Iowa City West came in fourth, and our fifth placed team was Ankeny.

♪♪ They have so many intricate tempo changes throughout this performance and their choreography is spot on.

♪♪ I tell you, I don't know how these judges do it.

There's so much talent.

It's got to be so difficult to judge these teams.

And yet, on the other hand, that's why they love coming to Iowa.

Absolutely.

♪♪ This is a very high level, difficult routine.

♪♪ Turns on second with no arms.

Wow.

♪♪ Absolutely dynamic performance by Linn-Marr.

♪♪ I also need to say a huge thank you to our coaches for all of their time, love, and passion poured into their athletes.

Congratulations to you.

This is Andrea Dana, along with Stacy Horton and Scott Enyart.

Congratulations to all of this year's teams and soloists.

You were incredible.

Thank you for watching.

♪♪ ♪ Feel the magic ♪ ♪ Like it's falling through the air ♪ ♪ Feel your feet ♪ ♪ Standing upon the Earth ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Early rises ♪ ♪ The light in your starts ♪ ♪ For a dream ♪ ♪ The one thing you deserve ♪ ♪ Yeah ♪ ♪ Doesn't matter who's on your side ♪ ♪ You are stronger than you know ♪ ♪ Oh, when your hopes fall from the sky ♪ ♪ It's time to let things go ♪ ♪ When you feel the rush inside ♪ ♪ Yeah, when you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you come in waves so high ♪ ♪ Yeah, when you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you get that feeling ♪ ♪ You're rising up, rising up ♪ ♪ Rising up and up again ♪ ♪ Up again, up again ♪ ♪ Rise up ♪ ♪ When you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you come in waves so high ♪ ♪ Yeah, when you get that feeling ♪ ♪ When you get that feeling ♪ ♪ You're rising up, rising up ♪ ♪ Rising up and up again ♪ ♪ You're rising up, rising up ♪ ♪ Rising up and up again ♪ ♪ You're rising up, rising up ♪ ♪ Rising up and up again ♪ ♪ You're rising up, rising up ♪ ♪ Rising up and up again ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ Ooh ♪ Funding provided by Friends -- the Iowa PBS Foundation, as well as generations of family and friends who feel passionate about the programs they watch on Iowa PBS.