The Minnesota high school dance community will take over Target Center on Friday and Saturday for the 46th annual dance team state tournament.
The competition on Friday will crown jazz team champions in the state's three classes. The high-kick competition will be Saturday.
The defending champions return in all three classes both days.
In the jazz competition, Wayzata (3A), Totino-Grace (2A) and Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd (1A) are seeking to repeat. Wayzata is trying for its third consecutive title and ninth overall. A Totino-Grace victory would give the Eagles their 10th jazz title, most of any Class 2A program since the Minnesota State High School League began overseeing the tournament in 1997. Overall, 16 of 18 jazz team finalists from 2019 return.
Saturday, Wayzata and Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd will try to defend high-kick titles. Sartell-St. Stephen (2A), the other returning champion, will try to win its fourth consecutive championship. Of the 2019 finalists, 15 return.
The competitions in each style of dance follow the same format: In each class, 12 teams compete in a first round to determine six finalists. The Class 1A teams begin their first round at 11:30 a.m., Class 2A and 3A teams at 2 p.m.
The six finalists in each class perform their routines again, with Class 1A beginning at 5:30 p.m. and the other two classes at 7:15 p.m.
Judges use a 100-point scale to score team performances. They award points using criteria such as execution, choreography, difficulty, routine effectiveness and a fifth category tailored for jazz or high-kick performances.
Paul Hodowanic (paul.hodowanic@startribune.com) is a University of Minnesota student on assignment for the Star Tribune.
