Dancers from high schools in Marion County will compete at the ISDTA State Championship this weekend. 

The Iowa State Dance Team Association (ISDTA) will celebrate a historic milestone as dancers from across the state take the floor for the 2026 ISDTA State Dance Team Championship, held December 3–5 at the Casey’s Center and EMC Expo Center in Des Moines. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of ISDTA, commemorating five decades of elevating dance, drill team, and color guard in Iowa.

Knoxville Senior Bailey Gullion says state dance is an amazing experience.

“It’s like an insane feeling that you can’t really explain to anyone else that isn’t a dancer. Being on stage, the lights are on you, everyone is silent, you’re in your beginning formation and like a wave rushes over you and you’re like why was I scared, I’m here and this is what I do. It’s like a crazy and euphoric feeling that I wouldn’t really know how to describe to anyone else.”

Performance schedule below for Marion County teams/competitors:

Knoxville Performance Information:

Friday:

Class IV Jazz – 10:08 AM @ EMC Center

Class II MIX – 11:34 @ Casey’s Center

Class II Prop – 12:33 @ Casey’s Center

Class IX Pom – 4:02 @ Casey’s Center

Pleasantville Performance Information:

Wednesday:

Color Guard – 2:17 pm @ EMC Center

Thursday:

Pom – 8:27 am @ Casey’s Center

Novelty – 3:05 pm @ Casey’s Center

Class III Solo Finalist Paeton Robuck – 10:27 am – EMC Center

Melcher-Dallas Performance Information:

Thursday:

Pom – 10:00 am @ EMC Center