Philomath High School’s Shining Stars dance team plans to host its 19th annual Dancing With the Stars competition on Saturday, coach Stefanie Larson announced.
The doors open at 11:30 a.m. and the event begins at noon in the high school’s main gymnasium. The Shining Stars will compete along with other high school, middle school and club teams. Two local youth dance teams — Pure Energy and Velocity — are scheduled to perform.
In addition to the team performances, the event also includes various other activities, such as the drill-down competition. Shining Stars seniors Kaylie Blake and Jadyn McMullen — both 4A/3A/2A/1A all-state selections — will perform their all-state routine.
Admission is $10 with children ages 5 and under free.
In addition to Blake and McMullen, the Shining Stars roster also includes seniors Alexa Eckhold and Abigail Workman, junior Elizabeth Burriel, sophomores Astrid Cropp, Ginnah Hopper and Adriana Nanoski, and freshman Katherine Burriel.
Blake, McMullen and Workman are the team captains. The PHS squad will perform its hip-hop, traditional and jazz dances as it works toward the state competition, which is scheduled for March 16 at Salem Pavilion.
“It will be a great day of many talents showcased,” Larson said. “It’s also our largest fundraiser of the year, so we are hoping to see a lot of community support. The money goes to costumes, competition fees, dance camps, choreography and many other expenses.”
Larson said Dancing With the Stars requires the help of a lot of volunteers, including parents, to be able to put on the event.
“My assistant coach, Michelle Park, has also done a lot of work getting things organized and ready to welcome teams from all over the region,” she said.