Stanton/Red Oak Dance Team to Attend State Dance in December

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 Dec. 3–5 at the Casey’s Center in Des Moines, Iowa. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of ISDTA, commemorating five decades of elevating dance, drill team, and color guard in Iowa.
“As we celebrate our 50th anniversary, we are honoring not only the thousands of dancers who have performed on this floor, but the teachers, coaches, judges, and parents who built this strong and vibrant community,” said Andrea Dana, ISDTA Executive Director. “Iowa dance teams continue to set the standard for excellence, creativity, and sportsmanship, and this year’s championship embodies the spirit that has defined ISDTA for five decades.”
One of the largest events of its kind in the nation, the ISDTA State Championship brings together high school and collegiate dance athletes for three days of high-energy performances and competition. Team categories include pom,
hip hop, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, military, kick, hoopla, lights, novelty, prop, color guard, co-ed, and The M.I.X. Color guard teams perform on Wednesday, with high school and college teams competing on Thursday and Friday.
The event will also feature 140 finalists in the ISDTA State Solo Championships.
Teams and soloists are divided into classes based on school enrollment and are judged on choreography, execution, difficulty, and showmanship by industry professionals from across the United States.
The 50th-anniversary celebration will be recognized throughout the three-day event, honoring ISDTA’s evolution from a small coaches’ initiative in the 1970s to a statewide leader in dance education, performance, and competition. The Stanton/Red Oak Dance Team will take the floor on Thursday, Dec. 4, performing Hip Hop at 9:26 a.m. and Pom at 10:44 a.m.