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42 | January 25, 2018 | The Lockport Legend SPORTS
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Discover w/ Me
Walking-Age 3 with Adult
DiscoverTOTS
Age 2
DiscoverDance 1
Age 3
DiscoverDance 2
Age 4
Ages are as of August 31st, 2017
The DiscoverDance Early
Childhood Program
is a series of movement
classes designed to introduce
children to the creative and
expressive world of dance.
Each program offers children
the opportunity to develop their
natural movement ability in a
multi-sensory environment.
Music, movement, visuals,
and props will enhance your
dancer's love of the art form
and the unique conceptual
approach to dance education
will provide the opportunity for
cognitive growth.
12109 W. 159th St. Homer Glen
708.301.8800 info@EliteDanceIL.com
ELITEDANCEIL.COM
10 Questions
with Maddy Smietanski
Maddy Smietanski is a
senior at Lockport Township
and a member of the
competitive dance team.
For those that don’t
know, how would you
describe competitive
dance?
Well now it’s called competitive
dance, but it used
to be called the poms team.
It’s sort of a mixture of cheer
and dance, but it’s more of a
style. People think of it as an
art form, but you’re judged
on an entire team performance,
not just as an individual.
How did you get involved
in competitive
dance?
When I was in junior
high, I loved playing basketball.
I was on the team
there, played travel, everything.
But I also did dance.
So when it came to high
school I was debating on
basketball or dance. But my
teammates from Elite Dance
Academy Studio [in Homer]
convinced me to stick with
dance and I love it.
What do you love about
it?
I love the friends that I’ve
made. I’m the youngest of
four and have three older
brothers [Jake, David, Matt],
so they’re the sisters I never
had. But I’m also very competitive.
So I love competing
and the determination. I love
setting goals and reaching
them.
How did the SouthWest
Suburban Conference
meet go for the team?
That was on Jan. 10 at
Bolingbrook. We finished
third, but we had a point violation
for jewelry. Otherwise
we would have won. So it was
disappointing, but we know
in our heart that we won.
Have you gone to state
before?
Yes. I personally made it
to state freshman year and
junior year. So I hope to
make it again this year. We
do the same dance performance
all year. So there’s a
lot of cleaning and perfecting
the performance.
How do you come up
with the routine?
In the past we’ve used an
outside choreographer, but for
this one, other than getting a
few pointers, we didn’t have
to get an outside choreographer.
We choreographed it all
ourselves. The song we perform
to is called “Something
in the Water,” and it’s by Carrie
Underwood. We like that
she’s relative, but we wanted
to make it our own. We wear
blue, sparkly costumes and
smile and dance throughout it.
Since you perform to the
same song all year, do
you ever get tired of it?
We’ve been doing it since
October, so a good, solid 3-4
months. In the past I’ve got
tired of it, but not this year.
We came up with it and did
it. But there are times you
don’t even hear the song as
you’re performing. You just
hear the count and the beat.
What have you learned
from your competitive
22nd Century Media File
Photo
dance coach at Lockport,
Julie Rolston?
This is her first year as
head coach. She was an assistant
last year. She always
says, “Less is more.” But I’ve
also learned to go all out and
be confident from her. She’s
always very encouraging, uplifting,
and has faith in us.
Are you planing to do
anything with dance in
college?
Yes. I could either go and
continue dance at a college
like DePaul in Chicago or
Grand Valley State in Michigan.
Or I could go study it at
a university and get a major
or minor in it. Then potentially
go teach it. But I’m leaning
toward going to continue to
do dance as a performer.
What’s the best thing
about being an athlete
at Lockport?
I think that Lockport sets
a very good environment for
everyone. All the coaches at
Lockport are very helpful
and encouraging.
Interview By Freelance Reporter
Randy Whalen