On Jan. 30, the New Trier varsity dance team placed No. 8 out of 30 teams in the 3A division at the IHSA State Championship in Bloomington, Illinois. This is the highest the team has ever placed.  

Over the past four years, NTDT has exhibited major growth; for senior Taryn Foersterling, her experience on the team was on an upward trajectory since her freshman year. NTDT’s placement has improved each year since they qualified for state in 2023: they’ve gone from 30th in 2023, to 19th in 2024, to 15th in 2025, to No. 8.

“There has just been so much growth in only four years…I think this dance and this year’s experience at state has really changed the game for NTDT moving forward,” Foesterling said. 

This is the fourth year in a row that the team has been to the state championships. 

“Performing at state is the most rewarding experience, because as a team, we got to show off all the hard work we have put in up until now,” Foerstering said. “I’ve been to state with NTDT four years now, but this year was seriously something special. I will truly never forget it.”

The girls danced to Prince’s “Baby I’m a Star” from his sixth studio album, “Purple Rain.” Choreographed by head coach Courtney Kafkis, the dance was first introduced to the team over the summer, and then perfected in October. The dancers were able to channel the influential music star, appearing lively and animated throughout the entire dance. 

“Our choreography matched the song so well, and the dancers and our costumes really captured the essence of the song,” Kafkis said. “I think it’s safe to say this was our favorite dance thus far.” 

The team competed in their signature style—hip-hop. Only three out of the 12 teams competing in the final round were hip-hop. Hip-hop dances require high-energy performance and fast-paced movement; NTDT captured a more jazzy and upbeat element that most hip-hop routines don’t have, setting them apart from the other teams. 

“Although [three out of 12] seems small, it’s super uncommon that many teams make it at all,” Foesterling added. “I think it’s so amazing that hip-hop is really getting recognized and scored as great as we feel it is and should be. I think there’s just been more appreciation for hip-hop this year, and it’s such a great feeling.”

The stylistic choices for the dance were designed to mirror Prince’s distinctive essence. From androgynous costumes, including black pants, white tops, and purple vests, to bold and unapologetic movement, confidence radiated from the dancers, leaving the audience in awe. 

“I think the choreography itself is very categorized to Prince,” junior Camille Carano said. “Also, I think that the Illinois dance world, especially in high school, is centered around lyrical jazz. You only really see that kind of dance. [HipHop] is so different too…it just stands out.” 

After their No. 8 placement was announced, the girls were hit with a wave of emotion. 

“We all jumped up and immediately started screaming and crying,” Fosterling said. “I was in pure shock. It was such a memorable and proud moment for me and the whole team.”

According to Carano, while the team surpassed their goal for the season, she wasn’t surprised.

“I wasn’t super surprised, I mean, we worked really, really hard this season,” Carano said. “We definitely had a goal of top 12 in finals this year, but getting No. 8 was so amazing. I don’t even know if any of us knew what to think. It was so cool.”

NTDT is a diverse team. Many of the athletes come from different dance backgrounds or studios, differing from the teams that they compete against. Most dance teams have been dancing with each other for years—but NTDT’s distinguishing quality of hosting divergent dancers creates endless opportunities for new bonds and friendships to form. 

“We have 11 seniors leaving, so we’re going to have some new girls on the team,” Carano said. “I’m really excited to push a little harder, and I think we all pushed really hard this year. Next year, we’re going to train all summer, and then train all fall, and when the winter season comes, I think that we’ll definitely have a really awesome dance.”