31st homecoming activities culminate as kings, queens compete in dance competition

The lights dim, five step out upon the stage and the audience quiets in expectation. In a moment, spot lights flash and the crowd roars in approval as the dancers assume their routines.

The annual Royal Court Pageant deviated from the traditional homecoming King Dance and Queen Pageant, instead combining both events. Queens and kings competed against one another in a lip syncing battle, Oct. 15.

Each group performed two sets of songs such as Problem by Ariana Grande, Boyfriend by Justin Bieber and California Girls by Katy Perry.  Individual points and rankings were determined by levels of applause from audience members.

Drama and English teacher Kyle Dodson hosted the pageant. Dodson says the kings in particular dedicated a significant block of time to the rehearsal of their performance as part of the 31st FC homecoming celebration.

“The Kings Dance is going really well,” Dodson said. “They’ve been practicing really hard and fellow students Gillian Rea has been working really hard with them. They’ve been practicing at any chance they can get. So many of them are part of other extracurricular activities and it’s really difficult for all the Kings to get together and practice. All five of them have done a fantastic job in aligning their schedules and in getting together and inking out whatever time they have to make this the best dance they can.”

A live feed of the performers played on the projection screens in order to increase overall visibility for the audience members.

Freshman Harjot Chhina says he enjoyed his first King and Queen pageant.

“I think it was pretty interesting seeing our Kings do all the random modern dances,” Chhina said. “It was really funny. I was really excited for it to begin with.”

Kaylie Clem, ’19, also enjoyed her first King and Queen pageant and selected Timmy Nyberg as her favorite performer.

“I thought the dance was fun,” Clem said. “It was a great first experience. Timmy was my favorite dancer because he was so into it.”

Alison Breedlove, ’16,  says she prefers this year’s arrangement more so than the prior pageants.

I really liked it this year. I liked how there was a Queen Dance. It was a big surprise and  a big difference. I just really thought both of the dances went really well. I like both of them together because usually with the Queen Pageants the Queens gets embarrassed and they just get stuff smacked in their faces and on their clothes. In this way it’s all equal. Everybody loves the King Dance so why wouldn’t everybody love the Queen Dance too. — Alison Breedlove, ’16

“I really liked it this year,” Breedlove said. “I liked how there was a Queen Dance. It was a big surprise and  a big difference. I just really thought both of the dances went really well. I like both of them together because usually with the Queen Pageants the Queens gets embarrassed and they just get stuff smacked in their faces and on their clothes. In this way it’s all equal. Everybody loves the King Dance so why wouldn’t everybody love the Queen Dance too.”

The last number of the Queen Dance featured Rolling on a River by Tina Turner with a guest appearance from Principal Amy Deffenbacher.

“We worked so hard on that set and that number was my favorite one,” Hudecek said. “The crowd’s reaction was so encouraging especially when Amy Deffenbacher came out. That really seemed to shock everyone.”

At the end of the pageant the student body voted by applause for the winner of the King and Queen Lip Sync Battle. The official victors of the contest by favor of the students were the Queens.

History teacher and photojournalism adviser Kori Friesen provided queen candidates a place to practice their routines. She says the contestants worked tirelessly in order to memorize and perfect their numbers.

“They gave up their Columbus Day; they gave up their day off and practiced all day,” Friesen said. “They gave up their evenings. They would come after their volleyball, tennis and cheer practices and be at my house till 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. every night. They probably did at least six practices in a two week time period. They worked very hard.”

King Candidate and ASB president Tim Nyberg, ’16, says he felt more enthusiastic rather than apprehensive in preparation for the pageant.

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“I wouldn’t say that I was nervous,” Nyberg said. “I was more so excited for our dance. I’m excited about performing our routine and really excited about how the crowd would react. I just hoped I could perform to the best of my abilities.

Queen candidate Maddie Luginbill , ’16, experienced a measure of nervousness before the dance however overcame her fears before the actual event.

“Before when we were practicing I was super nervous,” Luginbill said. “But when we came this morning to rehearse we were all like ‘guys we got this.’  I wasn’t nervous at all when I went up there. I was actually really excited. My favorite part was doing the solos just because you got to freestyle and do whatever you want. I also liked spending time with all of the other candidates.”

Students then voted in their individual class sections for their 2015 Homecoming candidates. Ballots remained confidential and separate for each of the four classes. The 2015 King and Queen as well as classes Princess will be announced at Homecoming, Oct, 16. Those festivities begin at 6:30 p.m.

Queen Candidates Alexis Kalugin, ’16, says the pageant went as planned and met the expectations of the audience. She hopes the candidates of 2016 started a traditional event for the FC community.

“I feel so relieved and happy now,” Kalugin said. “I really think it all pieced together really good and everyone loved it. The audience responded well and I think it was an overall success. I think they will continue to tradition that we set today.”

King candidate Tyler Breedlove, ’16, says the overall 2015 pageant was both fun and successful.

“I think the King Dance went really well,” Breedlove said. “It was so much fun. I liked the new twist they put on this year with the Queens and the lip sync battle. I think our hard work preparing for this dance really showed.

Read Homecoming from around the world: Day 3 and check out the 2014 King Dance in Homecoming kings bust a dance move (VIDEO)

This author can be reached via twitter @skylerSKL or via email: Skyler Lee.