Gilchrist signs with Central

FAIRFIELD — Nine years ago, a near-death experience led Fairfield’s Chayse Gilchrist to become a dancer. Almost a decade later, she will be part of a college dance team.

Gilchrist, a member of the Trojans’ 2021 Class IX Pom Division state championship squad, and now a solo state champion, signed her letter of intent to attend and dance at Central College in Pella last week.

Gilchrist began dancing after a scary situation when she was just in third grade.

“The first day of third grade, I had my appendix rupture,” Gilchrist recalled. “Seven or eight months later, I kept getting sick and couldn't get better.”

Gilchrist was sent to Iowa City, where it was revealed that scar tissue from a previous surgery had wrapped around her intestines. That damage killed 25 inches of intestines and doctors had to remove over 27 inches in a new surgery.

Gilchrist says, she was told to find something to keep her body moving, and that’s when she found the love of dance.

“I had a long road to recovery, and they said 'you should try something new, like go dance or something, to keep your body regulated,’” she said.

Gilchrist’s dance career blossomed into what it is today, as she is one of the most decorated dancers in the area. Perhaps most notably, Gilchrist and the Trojan dance team’s state championship in 2021 was the first for Fairfield High Schools since 1997.

“That was incredible,” Gilchrist said. “We didn't think we would win that, and when we did, we were all crying.”

Gilchrist is fresh off winning the Class VII Dance solo championship at the Iowa State Dance championships in February.

Gilchrist says her first interest in attending Central College arose when she visited the campus.

“I enjoyed the beauty of the campus when I went for Tulip Time last year, and it never really occurred to me that I could go there for college,” Gilchrist said. “Then, I was like 'dang, maybe I should look into going to college there.'”

Gilchrist will be back in action on Saturday at the Fairfield Arts and Convention Center for one last big performance. All are welcome to attend.

“We've been preparing for the past seven or eight months,” Gilchrist said. “I have nine routines I've been learning. We're just going to go on that stage and perform one last time.”