Oak Park High School will host its 4th annual showdown on Nov. 15 at 6 p.m at the OPHS gym. The dance, cheer, and fall-athletic teams had a month to create a mini-half time show to win the cash prize. But this group of kindergarten and 5th grade kids, practicing only two hours before the showdown, with the help of cheer and dance leads, are ready to perform.
Varsity dance coach, Destiny Ridge, shared what their theme for the team was.
“I would say, the theme for the practice today is just getting excited for showdown,” Ridge said. “Letting the little kids have a performance and let them watch the showdown and just to encourage more community within the event of showdown.”
The team’s choreography took shape while waiting in line at Magic Mountain.
“Yep, that’s how it came to fruition,” Ridge said. “We choreographed this dance while we were at a team bonding at Magic Mountain this last Tuesday. Waited in the line for about an hour and a half and so we decided, let’s choreograph our dance. So we had a lot of fun doing it. It took us about an hour and a half to get it all ready. And then we worked on it again at practice this week, just to make sure it was all good to go.”
Lila Winsick, varsity dance captain and lead for three showdown teams is making the most of her last showdown as a senior.
“I’m excited,” said Winsick. “This has been a really fun. Last year, it was, like, not as fun, but this year, it’s a lot of fun. I’m working with a really hard working team. Being able to be a part of this again this year, and then being in a couple performances is really fun, and I’m excited.”
The planning behind the scenes for the performance was practical, testing, but always kept fun.
“You have to put yourself in the people’s shoes and think about what they can do and what they can dance, and making sure it’s not too hard and not too easy,” Winsick said. “We all choreographed it together while we were on our team bonding. And so it matches everyone. It was fun. We all did it together.”
The difficult aspect of showdown practice was keeping the kid’s attention.
“This practice, it’s keeping all the kids entertained and making sure that they’re having fun, and that they’re also trying to pick up the choreography,” said Winsick. “It’s honestly not as difficult as you think it would be.”
The best parts of showdown practice were the new bonds formed.
“I love working with these kids, and I love when it comes to showdown in general,” Winsick said. “I like working with new people who I’ve never worked with before. You make new friends during showdown, which is fun, and all these kids are a joy. They’re all just here to have fun, which is so cute.”
While Ridge was excited to see the “audience’s reactions to cute kids,” Winsick looked forward to perform.
“Getting to perform this last time,” said Winsick. “This is gonna be fun. I’m excited. I’m really hoping my team wins. And then seeing them perform, it will be fun.
Come watch the team tonight at 6 p.m, at the OPHS gym, and watch for yourself if they have what it takes to win the cash prize. Find out the top three winners tomorrow at 6 p.m.
