On Sunday, the dance/drill all-state auditions were also held at Putnam. This year the audition is held earlier in the year to avoid January weather setbacks, but the groups announce at the end of the day become part of the the 2025 all-state teams.
The day began in the early morning hours as dancers checked in for audition process to become part of three different all state teams: 1A-4A, 5A, and 6A. Any senior, nominated by their coach and having the skill level to execute the choreography required at the audition, can audition for the all-state team for their classification. The all-state routine includes three short dance sections that include elements of Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop movement styles.
Dancers are expected to learn the Jazz portion of the routine through video, before the audition. This section was sent to participants about a week prior to the audition to give dancers time to learn and practice the short Jazz portion. After a brief warm up and review session, dancers pinned on their numbers and were divided into small groups for the first half of the audition process.
The first round of auditions involved performing the Jazz section to a panel of three judges. Each small group consisted of dancers from the same school classifications, but ideally mixed in terms of the school they are from. This portion of the audition resulted in a first cut, where about half of the dancers in each classification were selected to continue on to the second part of the audition process.
The second and final part of the audition process involves a more rigorous learning process, where dancers learn the Hip Hop and Contemporary sections of the routine. This learning session is always a little more stressful, as the dancers see and learn the choreography for the first time and don’t have much time to embody the movement before the audition process continues.
Dancers are quickly re-assigned to small groups, and the three combined sections of Contemporary, Jazz, and Hip Hop are put together into a full routine to audition for the same panel of judges. For the dancers, each section provides an opportunity to showcase their versatility and strengths, hopefully landing them a spot on the all-state dance team. Not only do the dancers need to perform the skills of the routine, but they must showcase performance style and confidence, as well as maintain a strong knowledge of the choreography.
There are always movement blips and memory gaffs along the way, but based on what they see during the audition, the judges are able to narrow down the selections and determine the top dancers of each audition group. After a few call-backs for the judges to confirm final decisions, the all-state teams are announced. The juxtaposition of joy and disappointment among the dancers' faces are palpable when the names are announced, but after the nearly 10 hour day, the learning experience is deeply valuable for all of the participants regardless of the prize.
The dancers who make the all-state dance team, will have the opportunity to perform the routine at the OSAA championships in March, and will receive a medal for their accomplishment. The highest scoring dancers are also considered for a dance scholarship, provided by the Dance and Drill Coaches Association of Oregon. Scholarships are also announced and awarded at the OSAA championships.
1A-4A all-state team: Erika Akers (Marshfield), Dylan Candela (Astoria), Rachel Dang (Valley Catholic), Emma Humphries (Astoria), Sammie Stills (Pendleton), Isabella Poe (Astoria), Addison Schrotzberger (Scappoose).
5A all-state team: Isabella Baker (South Albany), Leia Dorman (West Albany), Jack Hurley (Silverton), Brooklyn Jackson (South Albany), Imari Miller (West Albany), Paisley Rains (Silverton), Eloisa Ribbing (Parkrose), Leslie Snair (South Albany), Hailey Vinogradoff (Silverton), Gabriella Walker (Canby).
6A all-state team: Hope Bomar (Tigard), Madison Chambers (Tigard), Ellie Corman (Lakeridge), Dasha Gordienko (Tualatin), Makena Hammond (Lake Oswego), Addie Heyer (Lake Oswego), Arianna Kennett (Sherwood), Anna Mimnaugh (Tigard), Sophie Monahan (Linconln), Lexi Prouser (Sherwood), Brooke Rinard (Sam Barlow), Cloe Roberts (Tulatin), Hannah Robertson (Lincoln), Natalie Santilli (Clackamas), Alaina Schlegel (Clackamas), Sydney Stuart (Lakeridge), Bella Terzenbach (Sprague), Eva Ujifusa (Clackamas), Lily Walsh (West Linn), Bella Waugh (Sherwood), Caden Williams (Grant), Josee Zagacki (Lake Oswego).
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