Eastview in Class 3A, Benilde-St. Margaret's in 2A, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd in 1A win jazz dance titles

It was a different kind of evening in the Target Center.

Under its bright lights, new Minnesota dance royalty was crowned Friday night — watched by dedicated fan bases, decked out in everything from matching red velour tracksuits on Maple Grove dads to coordinated purple top hats on Yellow Medicine East supporters.

Downtown Minneapolis is the host of the high school dance team state championships this weekend, and 36 schools from across the state brought their jazz routines to the Target Center floor Friday. The dancing will continue Saturday with high kick competition.

In Class 3A, things were shaking up. Reigning champion Wayzata did not make the top six in the qualifying round, surprisingly knocking the Trojans out of the finals. All of a sudden, it was anyone's game.

Eastview bounded forward to avenge last year's third-place finish to take the title, dancing to "Ne Me Quitte Pas," by Jacques Brel, a French song whose title translates to "Don't Leave Me."

"It's so amazing," senior Nicollette Kruger shouted as her team celebrated behind her. "I don't even know how to feel yet."

Maple Grove took second place, and Edina snagged third.

In Class 2A, Benilde-St. Margaret's successfully defended its title. The Red Knights danced to an emotional rendition of "Who I Am" by Wyn Starks, a song they said really connected with the team.

"Everyone has a different journey on this team, and we are all really able to connect [the song] with our individual life," senior Lauren Adams said.

Head coach Samantha Cameranesi said the title came from "a lot of blood, sweat and tears."

And Adams agreed.

"I ran out of tears," she said with a laugh. "I don't even have words to describe these emotions."

Orono was runner-up, duplicating last year's result, and Totino-Grace took third.

In Class 1A, Lac qui Parle Valley/Dawson-Boyd was named champion to raucous applause.

The win ended three years of St. Cloud Cathedral dominance in the class and rendered the champions speechless.

"It's indescribable," senior Hannah Oie said.

"Surreal," head coach Carly Wader said. "You work so hard for this, so to be rewarded is an awesome feeling."

Their routine, to the song "Fix It to Break It" by Clinton Kane, was a tear-jerker.

"That was one of your guys' goals at the beginning. They were like, 'We want a song we can cry to,' " said Wader, to laughs from the dancers. "So, check!"

Yellow Medicine East, last year's runner-up, landed there again, and St. Cloud Cathedral took home third.