School board celebrates dance teams, winter guard, indoor winds

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Four performing groups of Kokomo Center School students were honored April 10 by the Kokomo Center School Board of Trustees with resolutions honoring the students’ achievements in recent state music and dance competitions.

The Central Middle International School (CMIS) Dance Team successfully competed in junior high dance competitions, earning 5th in Junior High Hip-Hop, 5th in Junior High Pom, and 4th in Junior High Jazz at the 2024 Indiana High School Dance Team Association (IHSDTA) State Finals.

Retiring CMIS Dance Team Director Gina Curl remarked, “This season has been a remarkable journey for our Kokomo middle school dance team. I am immensely proud of these talented students. They have embraced challenges, overcome obstacles, and grown both individually and as a team.”

Honored as well was the KHS Dance Team, also led by directors Curl and Miranda Armstrong, with assistance by Olivia Lundin. The team captured regional championships in the Jazz and Hip Hop divisions, which secured their positions to compete in the IHSDTA AA State Championship.

Curl was reflective of her leaving saying, "As this journey for me as the KHS Dance Team Instructor comes to an end, I can't help but reflect on the incredible achievements of our Kokomo High School Dance Team and the Kokomo School Corporation dance programs."

KHS dance team members also earned national recognition when they claimed top 20 finishes in both Jazz and Hip-Hop categories at the Dance Team Union (DTU) Nationals.

Kokomo High School's Winter Guard also was honored by the board for their 22nd consecutive appearance at the Indiana High School Color Guard Association (IHSCGA) State Finals, finishing in 6th place. The group performed to a piece by Ezio Bosso titled, "Clouds: The Mind on the Rewind."

Winter Guard Director Deanne Wideman remarked, “I would like to express my immense pride in this group. This season has been filled with countless cherished memories, from moments of triumph to displays of resilience."

The Kokomo Indoor Winds marching band also was honored for capturing 1st place at the 2024 Indoor Percussion Association (IPA) WSA State Championship on March 23. Led by Director Justin Ekstrom and Assistant Directors Zach Peycha and Bryce Reish, the KHS Indoor Winds created a captivating performance that explored the connection between music, silence and the human experience for their powerful and emotive musical performance, entitled “The Sound of Silence,” which combined Beethoven’s famous works, together with the melodies used in the Simon and Garfunkel song of the same name.

Indoor Winds Director Justin Ekstrom noted, “While we were excited to defend our hard-earned championship title from the previous season, our focus extends beyond accolades. This year we have witnessed a remarkable scale of growth for our KHS students ... I am beyond proud of their efforts."