Scary, creepy, dancing dolls may not come to mind when you think about the Minnesota Class AA state dance meet.

But that’s exactly what the Austin Packer dance team will conjure up when it competes with its intense and scary dolls routine in the high kick division at the state meet at Target Center in Minneapolis 2:17 p.m. Saturday.

Austin senior Emma O’Connor said the team likes to use unique themes and she recalled the team having fun with a scary theme a couple of years ago. This year she decided to bring up the idea of taking on another scary routine.

“I thought a creepy theme would be exciting,” she said. “We’ve been told it’s a routine you want to watch over and over again. As soon as you it’s done, you want to watch it again. It’s like a scary movie.”

The Packers have gotten all kinds of reactions from crowds this season and they’ve also had a lot of first place finishes throughout the year. Kayla Jacobsen said the Packers take pride in catching the attention of the audience, even if it means they frighten a few of them.

“We didn’t want to be cookie cutter with big smiles,” Jacobsen said. “We wanted something different and we wanted to be angry during dance. It’s kind of refreshing. A lot of people aren’t expecting it. Most people have been intrigued by it.”

Austin, which is competing in its 14th straight state meet, took fifth in the state high kick last season. The Packers took second in the Section 1AA meet and they will face some tough competition at state as Stephen-Sartell, last year’s Class AA champ, and Faribault, last year’s Class AAA champ, are in the field.

Victoria Hepler said that Austin’s routine should stick out.

“It’s kind of what sets us apart from every team at state. They see us and they know Austin’s going to be original,” she said. “That’s what we’ve been known for and that’s the way we’re going to keep it.”

No matter how the Packers finish at state, it’s sure to be an emotional day of competition for the seniors who have committed themselves to the team. Austin senior Madaline Rohr said the squad is prepared to do its best.

“I think we know that we’ve done what we’ve had to do over the course of the season,” she said. “It’s just a matter of watching it play out.”

Austin head coach Kayla Sellers said that her team has put in a lot work this year and she’s excited to have another chance to be in the state tournament.

“We’re really confident going in and whatever we put on the floor, we’re going to be happy with it,” Sellers said. “We love it and we’re so honored to compete at state. We feel Minnesota has the strongest dance teams in the United States.”

The Class AA high kick division preliminaries will take place 2 p.m Saturday. The finals, which include the top six teams from the 12-team field, will begin 7:15 p.m Saturday.