Dancers from Nazareth Academy once again are among the best in the state after a top-10 finish last weekend at the Illinois High School Association Class 1A championships in Bloomington.
The competitive dance team from the school in La Grange Park claimed a 10th-place finish after their performances Friday and Saturday.
The strong showing marked the fourth consecutive season in which Nazareth advanced to the state finals by virtue of a strong sectional showing, this time a second-place finish at the Maine East Sectional. The 10th-place finish also comes a year after a ninth-place performance at state in 2024.
“We lost a good core group from last year (to graduation), but I knew this group had it in them to do well,” coach Kristen Yarka said. “The last month especially, this group really came together and took ownership. They really bought into the idea of a team and really bonded.”
Yarka said she was confident, heading into the state competition, that her team would perform well.
“And it really struck me when we were warming up, about 20 minutes before we went on,” she said. “I could really sense that we were going to do well.”
The team’s rapport was an important factor in its success, said junior Gabriella Imbarrato, of Willow Springs.
“We spent a lot of time during sectionals week and state week hanging out and bonding with each other to make sure when we hit the stage the audience could feel our connection and we were confident in ourselves and each other,” she said. “A lot of training and long practices went into preparing for state but I think one of the most important things we did to prepare was to bond as a team.”
Senior Maria Nelson, of Western Springs, agreed with Imbarrato’s take.
“Despite the pressure that comes with going to state, we amp each other up constantly and share many laughs along the way,” she said. “I don’t think I have ever been with such a positive and supportive team.”
Nelson said the team’s performance at the state competition was definitely its best of the season.
“We really prioritized communicating during our routine,” she said. “Whether it was chanting ‘let’s go,’ or saying our counts out loud, our vocals made the dance more powerful, both for the audience and for ourselves.”
Nelson said it was particularly satisfying, as a senior, to see the progress the team has made during her four years.
“The evolution of our team over four years has been amazing,” she said. “Freshman and sophomore year, we had a simpler routine and only made it to the preliminary rounds. By junior year, we had changed our work ethic, with a goal of making it to the finals.
“Finding out we made it to day two (finals) junior year and senior year is a feeling I will never forget. No matter what place we ended up coming in, it was so fulfilling to achieve something our freshman selves could’ve never imagined.”
Coach Yarka pointed out that while the 10th-place finish was one spot lower than the ninth-place showing a year ago, the team’s score of 86.10 was higher than the 84.68 they scored in 2024. This year’s state title went to Providence Catholic in New Lenox with a score of 94.66.
Members of the 2024-25 Nazareth competitive dance team are: seniors Emma Chiarito (Oak Brook), Lia Jozwiak (Westchester), Bella Madonia (Westchester), Maria Nelson (Western Springs) Georgia Panek (Westchester) and Rosaria Ricchio (Westchester); juniors Elisa Drda (Downers Grove), Violet Umbrasas (La Grange), Lilly Baldwin (Western Springs), Emma Calderon (Bridgeview), Gabriella Imbarrato (Willow Springs), Bea Keenan (La Grange Park), and Zoe Weiss (La Grange); sophomores Norah Cassidy (La Grange) and Shaye Neville (Western Springs); and freshmen Kassandra Carreno (Chicago), Kiley Broderick (Western Springs), Olivia Caputo (La Grange Park), Gianna Lavorato (La Grange) and Ivy Wiet (Burr Ridge).
Chuck Fieldman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
