All 22 girls on South’s varsity dance team, the Titan Poms, huddled around nervously, waiting for the selection between 14 other high schools in the Central Suburban League to advance to the state competition in Bloomington, IL on Jan. 27. After agonizing minutes in anticipation, when they finally heard “Glenbrook South” over the intercom, they erupted into cheers. All their hard work had paid off, and the Titan Poms would advance to the IHSA State Championships, senior captain Maleah Bux, explained.

The Titan Poms are no strangers to the State Championships, junior Poms member Kiera Kurt said. The team had advanced to state championships every year for more than 10 years, she explained. While their victory is constant, their routines change every year including this year, the team completely changed the structure of their routine, she said.

“Our jazz routine this year is in six [counts] while most routines are in eight,” Kurt said. “It was a challenge to learn how to turn to the [new structure of] music, but we have practiced for so long that it comes to us naturally now.”

In preparation to qualify for the State Championship, the team worked tirelessly throughout their season, junior Poms member Caylie Browe said. With a goal to reach 100 rehearsals before nationals on Feb. 2, the team practices five days a week for three hours a day. 

“We are working really hard this year to make our routines [very] clean,” Browe explained. “We are very fortunate to have gotten an amazing routine this year, and we have put in a lot of work cleaning them up and making sure we all look perfect.”

Bux credits the Poms’ accomplishments to the team’s chemistry and positive attitude. The team’s unique bond led their season’s positive progression  and ultimately to their recent success, Bux explained.

“The biggest factor [that led the team to state] is our bond,” Bux said. “We yell out encouraging and positive words to each other [during our performances], which makes us a better team.”