The Sentinel: Dance Performance

Central varsity dance team competes at IHSA state finals

BLOOMINGTON - The competitive dance team at Central made school history on Friday, becoming the first squad to compete for a state title in the IHSA's Competitive Dance State Championships. The Maroons were among 30 Class 2A teams that performed at Grossinger Motors Area in Bloomington, aiming for a spot in the championship round before judges, hundreds of dancers, and thousands of fans.

Members of the Central dance team perform at the IHSA Competitive State Dance Finals. The Maroons were the only Big 12 team to qualify for this year's finals.

Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Central secured their state qualification with a third-place finish, showcasing their dynamic hip hop routine at the Mahomet-Seymour Sectional on January 22, surpassing Triad (4th), Dunlap (5th), and Ottawa (6th). The sectional title went to Bradley-Bourbonnais, narrowly edging out Washington for the top spot by less than half a point.

Following the preliminary round, Bradley-Bourbonnais was the sole team from downstate 2A to advance to Saturday's final. The Boilerettes faced tough competition from championship-caliber teams like Geneva and Lake Zurich, who have been contenders since Competitive Dance was introduced by the IHSA in 2013. In their inaugural state appearance, Central finished 30th.

"It's absolutely incredibly. The energy here is awesome. They worked so hard and they earned it," head Coach Illyanna Lopez said after the list of teams advancing to Saturday's final was read. Unfortunately, Central was not among them. "To be here, fighting with the best of the best, is the most we could hope for."

Central was the lone Big 12 dance team to qualify for the IHSA state competition. Heading into Friday's preliminaries, the Maroon varsity dance squad was no stranger to competing with top-tier teams. Under Lopez, the program has claimed a IDTA state title in Hip Hop (2023) and qualified for the IDTA state last year.

Members of the 2024-2025 Champaign Central varsity dance team pose for a photo after competing at the state dance championships. Photo: Sentinel/Clark Brooks

Lopez emphasized the team's dedication to academics and discipline in preparation for competing against the best. "We pushed them as students first before being athletes," she explained. She pointed out that the school's athletic director and families were 'incredible' to work with this season. "It truly was a team effort."

Despite their final placement, Lopez expressed pride in her team's performance on Friday. "It is our first time in Unit 4 to be here," Lopez told her dancers. "You've earned it. Congratulations."

Central's first state-qualifying dance team includes: TyShauna Leinhart, Summer Aker, Leyla Allison, Azaria Lewis, Aurelie Gerini, Yanadelyz Cabrera, Kai’mere Beard, Aylaya Dooley, Zarayah Markham, Kimora Maynor, Tesla Burack, Londyn Grant, and Jane Koske.

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H Mart grand opening in Urbana draws hundreds of shoppers

URBANA - A crowd of well over 400 shoppers were on hand for the grand opening of H Mart, the nation’s largest Asian supermarket chain, Thursday morning in downtown Urbana. Kick-off activities included a Lion Dance, giveaways, remarks from the mayor, and a ribbon cutting. The 32,000-square-foot store is located at 220 N. Broadway Ave. in downtown Urbana, across the street from the Black Dog Smoke & Ale House, which closed during the pandemic and has plans to resume operation in the future. Here is a look back at the first day of business for the first H Mart store operated outside of the Chicagoland area.

Chinese Lion dancing at H Mart grand opening

One of two lions performs for customers waiting to enther the store after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at the H Mart grand opening on Thursday morning.

Lion Dance performance

Lion dancing is believed to bring success and chase away evil spirits. In Chinese culture, the lion symbolizes power, wisdom, and superiority. Martial artists generally and trained dancers perform lion dances at festivals or special occasions to bring good fortune.

Inside H Mart

Moments before opening H Mart's neatly stocked shelves wait for the first day of customers. The store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily and will remain open 365 days a year. The Urbana store is the sixth location in Illinois. There are more than 80 stores spread across the country started by a South Korean immigrant in 1982.

Stocked shelves in newly opened H Mart

Rows of freezers packaged with seafood, meats and other Asian specialty items were filled to the brim. The store also features the "Market Eatery" food court, offering various Asian cuisines in a sit-down dining environment. Shoppers will find a extensive selection of produce for homemade kimchi, tonkatsu, onigiri, spring rolls and more.

Korean folk dancers performing at Urbana H

A Korean dance group perform a traditional routine to bless the new location and celebrate the grand opening.

Henry Chung at work

H Mart employee Henry Chung tries to manage crowd control allowing a limited number of shoppers in at a time after the doors open on the first day of business.

People waiting to enter H Mart at Urbana's grand opening

Nearly 400 people wait patiently to enter the new store and purchase their favorite treats and goods to prepare Asian dishes at home.

Officially opening at 10 a.m., customers wait for their chance to enter the store.

The Korean dance group perform in the parking lot, entertaining customers waiting for their chance to enter the store and start their shopping experience.

Photo Gallery |
Unity dance team competes at state

Members of the Rockettes perform their routine at the IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals on Friday. Despite a solid performance, the Unity dance squad failed to make the cut into the top 12 teams in Class 1A and advance to Saturday's finals. This year's team includes Faith Lampe, Olivia Egelston, Lily Steffens, Desiré De Los Santos, Kourtney Russell, Ava Holladay, Lindsey Johnson, Ella Darnall and Chloe Cousins. Below are a few moments from their state preliminary round performance.

PhotoNews Media

Spartan dancers set to perform on Friday at state

BLOOMINGTON - Members of the SJO Dance Team perform in first-round competition during the 2023 IHSA Competitive Dance State Finals last January. Earning a score of 70.18, the team failed to advance to the second round, finishing 28th out of 30 squads in Class 1A. Saturday, SJO qualified for a return trip to Bloomington after finishing third at the Mascoutah Sectional. The team will perform at 12:59 p.m. on Friday at Grossinger Motors Arena for a spot into Saturday's championship round. Below are a few more photos from last year's state appearance.

Photos: PhotoNews Media

Jam packed weekend planned for Urbana's Folk & Roots Festival

URBANA - The 15th annual CU Folk & Roots Festival kicks off tomorrow at 5 pm at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts.

Louie Pappas plays a saxophone solo during the second set of the Hot Club Urbana's show during the band's rendition of Christmas is Coming in December of 2021. Listen to the entire live performance recorded by Sean Kutzko for Chambana Jazz here. The group will perform at Cloud Mountain Kombucha on Saturday from noon to 2 pm.

Photo: PhotoNews Media Archives

Featuring more than 50 performances at various venues throughout Urbana, this year's festival artists include Adeem the Artist, Dom Flemons, Eddie Barbash + KASA and Friends, Son Monarcas, Tee Dee Young, Anika Emily, Allie Jean, Arco & Aire, Bandoneon Massacre, Big Daddy Pride & the East Side Five, Bill Kirby, Black Eyed Lillies, Brian Krumm and His Barfly Friends, Cajun Strangers, Camellia Moon, Cole Bridges, Congress of Starlings, Derrick Streibig, Fox Crossing, The Gospel of Qui, Hannah Rose and the Sweet Nothings, Hooten Hallers, Hot Club of Urbana, Jaik Willis, Jean Rene Balekita, John Coppess, Kate Campbell, Keith Hall and The Creepin' Grass, Los Texano'z, Meadowhawk, Merry Travelers Duo, Mr. Dave, The Paw Paws, Sixth Street Brass Band, Spencer and Rains, Tumbleweeds, Tyler Lance Walker Gill, and The Young and the Fretless.

The event schedule is online at CU Folk & Roots master schedule and will be updated live with additional performances, venue changes, and last-minute events.

All-access festival tickets are $50, with single-day and single-venue tickets available at The Cohen Building at 136 W. Main Street in downtown Urbana.

The festival will also host dances, instructional sessions, jam sessions, and song circles. A family-oriented event, there are other activities such as storytelling, instrument-making, and other children's programs during the three day event.

For more information visit the Folk & Roots website at https://folkandroots.org/

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Spanish dancers introduce Sevillanas to Urbana

Photo: PhotoNews Media/Clark Brooks

URBANA - Flor Quiroz and members of the La Fuerza Flamenca perform at Lincoln Square Mall on Saturday during this year's Boneyard Arts Festival. Earlier, she and dancers from the University of Illiniois student dance troupe taught Sevillanas to workshop participants at the mall. Quiroz, a sophomore at the UofI, has studied the cultural dance form for just under a year. Influenced by Flamenco, Sevillanas is a style of dance from the Sevilla region in Spain.