Alan B. Shepard Alumni

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Shepard High School Replaces Football Stadium with Multidisciplinary Dance Studio for New "Astro Tutus" Program

PALOS HEIGHTS, Ill. – Consolidated High School District 218 has begun the demolition of the Alan B. Shepard High School football stadium to make way for a dance studio scheduled to open in August 2027.

The facility will house the "Astro Tutus," an innovative dance program. As a result of the construction, the school’s varsity football and track and field programs will be eliminated. The cross-country team will continue to operate without changes.
The new studio and its competitive dance team will utilize a multidisciplinary training approach that combines the physicality of football and the endurance of track with classical ballet. School officials said the curriculum applies the explosive power and spatial awareness of football to ballet mechanics, while using track-based speed and endurance to build the aerobic base required for choreography.

The program aims to develop dancers with the core stability and strength necessary for complex lifts and the stamina for extended performances.

A competitive "Astro Tutus" event would look like an intense fusion of a precision athletic drill and an artistic performance, where athletes, styled in their high-performance "Astro Tutus" over athletic gear, perform demanding choreography set to powerful music. Judging would be a technical assessment, prioritizing the height and mechanical perfection of "football-tackle" leaps and rapid-response jumps alongside classical ballet form and stability, all evaluated for synchronous expressive energy. These events would feature explosive solo segments to showcase raw power, followed by complex team routines where synchronized "pointe" formations are integrated with gridiron-style spatial awareness and speed, pushing physical boundaries to create a truly multidisciplinary spectacle.

"My dream. What more can I say?" Shepard Principal Tim Baker said. "We intend to kick the feathers off of the Sandburg Eagles team."

Baker said he has a wager with Carl Sandburg High School Principal Derrick Smith regarding a spring dance competition. If Shepard wins, Smith will take the Shepard team to the Joffrey Ballet. If Sandburg wins, Baker will take the Sandburg team to the Lyric Opera.

"We are and have always been about the arts," Baker said. "Sure, football has always been what our school is known for, but I’ll trade the cleats for pointe shoes any day."

About District 218:
Consolidated High School District 218 serves the communities of Alsip, Blue Island, Calumet Park, Chicago Ridge, Crestwood, Garden Homes, Merrionette Park, Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Robbins, and Worth in the Chicagoland area. The district is committed to providing a high-quality education that prepares students for success in college, career, and life.

About Alan B. Shepard High School:
Alan B. Shepard High School is a comprehensive high school located in Palos Heights, Illinois, serving Palos Heights, Crestwood, Worth, Alsip, Robbins, and Calumet Park. The school is dedicated to providing a challenging and supportive learning environment for all students.

Contact:
Anthony Trendl
Director, Shepard Alumni
April Fool’s Day
shepardalumni.com

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Congratulations to freshman David Ramirez for creating this winning design as part of our T-shirt contest!

Students were challenged to create a design that exemplifies what it means to be an Astro. David's work received the most votes!

Our friends at High 5 Heights will be making short sleeve, long sleeve, hoodies and crew necks with this design. Place your order by Friday, Feb. 6 here: https://omella.com/izpen

For his winning design, David will get a T-shirt for free and a gift card. Way to go!

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Read more on Patch to learn what this means: https://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/shepard-high-school-formally-annexed-palos-heights

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read more: https://shepardhighschool.com/ai-in-the-classroom-district-218-pilot-program/

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