College Dance Team Central

Minnesota Dance Team Takes UDA Titles

2011-01-20T20:45:00.000-08:00

The University of Minnesota spirit squads lit up the 2011 UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando over the weekend, turning in one it best overall performances in competition history.

For the second straight year, the Gophers’ dance team placed first in both in the jazz and pom divisions, a stunning achievement that made a huge statement about the squad’s consistency.

For video of the Gophers' Dance Team performance visit GopherSports.com

For complete UDA College Nationals coverage visit Varsity.com

UDA College Nationals Underway!

2011-01-15T10:07:00.001-08:00

The Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals are underway this weekend in Orlando. Minnesota (pictured) will attempt to defend their Division IA title from 2010.

For previews and predictions for all divisions, check the Dance Team Competitions Yahoo! Group

For full coverage of the event including schedules visit UDA College Nationals at Varsity.com

Don't forget to check College Dance Team Central on Twitter

College Dance Team Central News Links

2011-01-15T09:43:00.000-08:00

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Lenoir-Rhyne announces SugarBears Auditions (pictured): LRBears.com

- Bleacher Report: Meet the TCU Dance Team: Bleacher Report

- Washington State announces Junior Crimson Girls Clinics: WSU Today

- UCA Honeybears prepare for nationals: UCAsports.com

- EKU Dance Team travels to nationals: EKUsports.com

- ISU Bengal Dancers perform before heading to nationals: Idaho State Journal

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-12-19T21:26:00.000-08:00

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- LSU Golden Girls (pictured) make sick kid one of their own: Daily Comet

- Penn State Lionettes boost team morale: Daily Collegian

- UMKC dancer Shanna Colbern named Player of the Week: UMKC University News

- Meet Syracuse dancer Bethany Whitley: Syracuse.com

- Former NC State dance coach pleads guilty to embezzlement: WRAL.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-11-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Breaking down the Keene State Dance Team: The Equinox

- West Virginia dancer finalist in national spirit competition : The Daily Athenaeum

- Dancing in their shoes, Elon Dance Team: The Pendulum

- Unexpected breaks heart not spirit, EKU Dance Team: The Eastern Progress

- Meet the Syracuse Dance Team, Ja'Nel (pictured): Syracuse.com

- Redsteppers let 27 women continue passion for dance (Indiana): Indiana Daily Student

UTC Sugar Mocs Dancers Benched In Uniform Dispute

2010-11-05T19:40:00.000-07:00

Two members of the University of Tennessee-Chattanooga Sugar Mocs Dance Team were not allowed to perform because they refused to wear their new uniforms (not the uniform pictured to the left). As reported in several articles, the dancers requested to wear tights under their shorts, but their request was not granted and they were "benched" for a football game on October 16. The incident was reported locally and has been picked up nationally, even making an appearance on AOL Fanhouse.

The disciplinary action against dancers who were obviously not comfortable performing in their team's uniform brings up numerous questions that college administrators, coaches and dancers have been grappling with some time. What is permissible attire for dance teams? How far do you "push the limits" not only in terms of uniforms but also performance routines? What is appropriate disciplinary action for dancers that refuse to perform? Who, if anyone, is at fault in this situation? How can such an incident be avoided in the future?

CDTC and the College Dance Team community would love to hear your opinions on the matter. Please log your thoughts in the comments section below.

Here are links to some articles on the web about the UTC Sugar Mocs, with a pic of the uniform in question from the News Channel 9 website.

Fanhouse

News Channel 9 (with video)

Chattanooga Pulse

The Chattanoogan

The University Echo

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-10-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- South Dakota Dance Team adapts to D-I pressures: The Volante

- Three cheers for the Seattle University Spirit Squad (pictured): SU Spectator

- Wisconsin Spirit Squad member in Athlon Sideline Spirit Contest: UWBadgers.com

- Former Sacred Heart Dancer a member of the New York Jets Flight Crew: North Jersey.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-10-02T13:16:00.000-07:00

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Former Idaho dancer Nicole Bulcher (pictured) a Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader: KHQ.com

- Lyndon State Dance Team stepping up the beat: The Critic

- Two new coaches lead Montana cheer, dance squads: The Missoulan

- Former WKU dancer loses battle with cancer: WBKO.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-09-23T19:26:00.000-07:00

More great items from the College Dance Team World with links below.

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Sac State Hornet Girlz (pictured) work to build spirit: State Hornet.com

Note: College Dance Team Central featured the Hornet Girlz and coach Jolie Roberts back in 2006. To read that exclusive feature Click Here

- Wesleyan Scarlett Dancers win at UDA Camp in San Marcos: The Rambler

- Former USF Sun Doll signs on as dance instructor: Plant City Courier & Tribune

- K-State Salina Spirit Cats are moved by spirit: Salina.com

- William Penn University (Iowa) is offering Dance Team Scholarships: iHigh.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-08-30T19:49:00.000-07:00

More great items from the College Dance Team World with links below.

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Central Michigan Dance Team participates in sports camp: Central Michigan Life

- Genesee Cougarettes Dance team return from NDA Camp: Genesee Community College

- Edgewood College (pictured) Announces Tryout Dates: EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com

- Former Towson Dancer has a "Devil" of a second career: NorthJersey.com

- High Point names Melanie Haynes new Dance Team coach: HighPointPanthers.com

- Western Carolina takes first at UDA Camp: CatamountSports.com

- Miami's Sarah is SI.com's Cheerleader of the Week: SI.com

- Virginia Tech's Brandy is SI.com's Cheerleader of the Week: SI.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-08-17T21:36:00.000-07:00

Three great items from the College Dance Team World including Athletic Department News, Sports Illustrated.com Cheerleader of the Week gallery and NDA Camp news.

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Edgewood College in Wisconsin has made Dance Team a varsity sport: EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com

- Arizona State's Alicia is the SI.com Cheerleader of the Week (Pictured): SI.com

- The Western Kentucky Topperettes were honored at NDA camp: WKUsports.com

College Dance Team Central News Links

2010-08-03T22:00:00.000-07:00

A number of great stories have run in the last few weeks, including hometown features, a team introduction, alumni update and even some pageant news.

Click on the links to enjoy the stories and as always, check the CDTC Twitter account for updates and to follow College Dance Team Central.

- Nikki Patrick from the Morning Sun had a great feature on Faith Miller who has joined the Missouri Golden Girls Dance Team: Morning Sun.net

- Bruins Nation introduces the new UCLA Dance Team: BruinsNation.com

- The Akron Zips website featured Dance Team member Bridget Linton who competed in the Miss Teen USA Pageant: GoZips.com

- The Western Carolinian features former WCU dancer Tara Mull Ryan, who is now a member of the NFL's Carolina Panthers TopCats: Western Carolinian.com

- Nikki Patrick of the Morning Sun features Kansas Dance Team member Kelsey Parks: Morning Sun.net

Q & A With ProDance!

2010-07-27T19:27:00.000-07:00

WIth the ProDance Convention opening in Miami this weekend, ProDance's Rosalyn Jones and Sam Shen took a few minutes to answer some questions about the convention. Rosalyn is the founder of ProDance and started as the Director and Choreographer for the San Antonio Spurs. For more on Sam, please see below.

To visit ProDance Click Here

Also, College Dance Team Central is now on twitter. For College Dance Team updates in 140 characters or less Click Here

CDTC: For those that are not familiar with the convention, please tell us a little bit about ProDance.

Rosalyn Jones: ProDance is simply a catalyst that educates, empowers, inspires, and nurtures dancers and directors who yearn to be the very best! As the choreographer for the San Antonio Spurs Silver Dancers from 1992-2003, I attended numerous dance conventions attempting to find a style of choreography that suited professional sports dance. Nothing satisfied my specific needs so I decided to start something that did--ProDance! Now, 11 years later, ProDance is a benchmark! Professional and collegiate dancers and directors with the highest standards attend our event. On the surface, ProDance is the most exceptional and exclusive choreography you can imagine! We bring together choreographers who "GET IT!!" Crowd-pleasing, technically challenging, visually exciting choreography! Hip-hop, jazz, novelty, prop, pom, etc. It's just something you have to see to believe! There's a quote I found that describes the essence of ProDance. It says, "Some experiences simply do not translate. You have to go to know." Whether you're an NBA or NFL dancer or a nationally-ranked collegiate team like Cal State Fullerton or the University of Memphis (who have attended for years), ProDance should be YOUR resource! We also offer seminars, networking opportunities, and so much more! There's no fluff. No lectures. We simply disseminate information that every intelligent and successful dancer and director needs to reach their highest potential. Period. Our non-competitive environment allows everyone to concentrate on learning. It's a fantastic concept! There is true camaraderie at ProDance! The energy is palpable! Oh my goodness...I could go on and on! We hold it at some of the most phenomenal venues ALL at incredibly reasonable prices! We understand your needs and do everything in our power to meet and EXCEED those needs! Come to ProDance and be AMAZED!!

CDTC: Does the curriculum for college dance teams differ in any way from that of the professional teams?

Rosalyn Jones: The choreography is the same. However, we do offer opportunities for collegiate teams to network and exchange ideas and information in the same manner as the pros. It's an incredibly invaluable opportunity!

CDTC: What can dance squads expect while attending the ProDance convention.

Rosalyn Jones: They can expect an event that is specifically designed to challenge, inspire and motivate them to be the very best! It can't be compared to any other camp out there. It's so innovative! The event is professionally organized in a manner that produces maximum results with minimal time commitment. When you leave ProDance, you will have enough material to last an entire season! It doesn't get any better than that!

CDTC: What is your role with ProDance, and how did you get to the position that you’re in now.

Sam Shen: I am currently an Advisor and Coach for the 9-time UDA College National Dance Champs, Cal State Fullerton Dance Team. By day, I am also a Meeting and Events Planner. I've been working with Rosalyn for the past year but have attended 6 ProDance Conventions over the past decade.

CDTC: What do you see in the future for ProDance?

Rosalyn Jones: I see SO many exciting things ahead for ProDance! The brand will continue to expand!

ProDance 2010 - Don't Miss Out on THE Premiere Pro Dance Team Convention!!

2010-06-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

Where can you gather in one place to prepare for your entire season of dance in less than 2 days, with the ability to take home more than 25 “game-ready”, high-energy, and crowd-pleasing routines? ProDance!

In its 11th year, ProDance has continued to stand above the rest as THE premiere Dance Convention for Pro Dance Teams (NBA, NFL, AFL, NHL, etc.) and the most elite Collegiate Dance Teams in the Nation.

Mark your calendars NOW for July 30th-August 1st at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach! This year’s event is not to be missed!

REGISTRATION AND HOTEL LINKS ARE NOW AVAILABLE!!
Log onto the ProDance 2010 site for updated information! Click ProDance 2010 for more detail regarding the event!

OUR VENUE…
We are Miami-bound and hosting ProDance 2010 at the impressive Eden Roc Renaissance in Miami Beach. Our special ProDance room block is available now at an unbelievable rate unheard of in the South Beach area for such an amazing venue. Check it out online at Eden Roc Renaissance OR book your reservations immediately by logging onto ProDance 2010.

OUR CHOREOGRAPHERS…
At ProDance, we take our job seriously. Remaining on the cutting edge of the Professional Dance industry is highly important to us! We’ve done our research and have consulted several leading industry professionals to seek out the best of the best for you! As this is not something we take lightly, we have an “all-star” line-up of choreographers who will prepare you to be “game-ready” for your season with material that will excite and entertain.

We’ve listened to your feedback and have already confirmed ProDance Veteran choreographers Shandon Kolberg, ChiChi, and Sean Bankhead. Newly added! Jamie Parrish, recently awarded a 2010 Worlds Title for his Innovative Dance Choreography, Dena and Jenna Spellman AND Donyelle Jones of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “America’s Best Dance Crew” acclaim! In addition, we’re adding several new choreographers who come from a variety of backgrounds. We are all about providing different styles that will result in an innovative mix of dance genres. We know you want to keep it FRESH, and we hear you. ProDance will never be stagnate. We’ll always have the freshest, hottest, latest and greatest…YOU CAN COUNT ON THAT!

OUR ProDance FAMILY…
Join us in Miami along with hundreds of other Pro Dance Team members and Directors from across the Nation!

We are so excited to see you this summer and hope you are ready for an AMAZING experience!

Best Regards,

Rosalyn Jones
Founder, ProDance

Sam Shen
Partner, ProDance

Westfield State Tops In New England

2010-06-18T21:06:00.000-07:00

Submitted to College Dance Team Central by the Westfield State Dance Team

The Westfield State College Dance Team defended their New England Championship title at the UDA New England Dance Championships held on April 11, 2010. This is the second time Westfield has won 1st place in the hip hop division beating out teams like UConn, Quinnipiac University , Keene State and Bentley University . The team was comprised of 13 members: 4 Captains: Valerie Skalinsky , Michelle Ronayne, Jennie Beneway & Meg O’Connell as wells as: Jodi Hogan, Meghan Simmons, Marley Aitken, Stephanie Desmond, Taylor Murphy, Caroline Kelly, Allie McLaughlin, Nicole Post and Jennelle LeMoine.

“This year was a very special year for me because I started coaching 4 years ago so this group of seniors was the group that I started with” said Alia Camerota, one of the coaches of the team. “It was very bittersweet because I knew that this would be the last time I got to watch this group dance. After 4 years of long practices, competitions and trips to FL, I’ve gotten really close to these girls and it will be very hard for me to not have them on the team next year.”

When I started coaching, the team was new, inexperienced and had never had a coach. The first year, we jumped right into competitions and did everything we could to put our names out there. It was a very important year because we got to know each other and our strengths and weaknesses as a team. Former team Captain and founder Allison Scully is now a co-coach. She and I started the team at our High School years ago and we always worked really well together. It worked out perfectly having her as my captain at Westfield and then moving on to coaching with me once she graduated. We had always watched the College Nationals on ESPN and admired the teams there so we made it a goal that we would attend the UDA National competition in FL the following year. That goal really made the girls push themselves and work their hardest knowing that there would be a lot of very good, well known teams in attendance.

After a successful trip to Florida , we went on to compete locally and we have been undefeated ever since. We have won the QU Dance Challenge 3 years in a row along with many other New England competitions.

I am so proud of what the girls have accomplished. For such a small school to beat division 1 schools says a lot about hard work. Before nationals in January, we were putting in 7-8 hour practices. Instead of enjoying their winter break the girls returned to campus in early January to have 2-a-days. As much work as it was, the team really enjoyed spending time together. Even when not at practice, most of them spend a lot of time with each other and some of them even live together. The memories we’ve created will last a lifetime and I have been very fortunate to have such a wonderful group of girls that I am extremely proud of.

Our first round of try-outs was held at the beginning of May and we will have a second round in early September for the upcoming season.

Feature: West Virginia Dancer Ariel Fink

2010-06-18T21:03:00.000-07:00

Beckley native on WVU team that won national competition
By Andrea Lannom
The Register Herald

BECKLEY — Dancing has been a lifelong passion for Beckley native Ariel Fink, and just recently, she got the opportunity to go with her team from West Virginia University to a national dance competition. Not only was this opportunity great, but the fact that her team won was a dream come true.

The National Dance Alliance Collegian Dance Competition took place in Daytona Beach and had around 255 national and select international schools participating. Ariel’s team competed in the open division, which is a bit different from normal competitions, Fink said. With the open division, the team decides what songs they’re going to use and what style of dance they’re going to do. The song they chose was “Dare You to Move” by Switchfoot.

“It was very different,” she said. “With the nature of the open division dancing, you really had to dance from the heart. You had to be different and really feel the music deep inside.”

Dancing and music have always been something to which Fink has an emotional attachment. She started dancing at an early age and said she even remembers how she felt when watching her first performance.

“When I was really little, my mom took me to see ‘The Nutcracker’ and the entire time I just sat still watching,” Fink said. “I was so mesmerized by the performance, even then.”

With all of her years of dancing from beginnings at the Beckley Dance Theatre School to joining the dance team at Woodrow Wilson High School, practice was something she became accustomed to. This competition was no exception. Fink had to go through strict dancing regimens and even skip out on spring break.

“We had a pretty steady regimen and we practiced quite a bit through the week, even through spring break,” she said. “While everyone was at the beach, we were working on perfecting our regimen. It was worth it, though, because it really gave us that competitive edge.”

The team also had to raise at least $17,000 to compete. Because the dance team is not funded, many of the people on the team have to raise their own money and even buy things like uniforms out of pocket.

“Our team was part of the athletics division at one time but not anymore,” she said. “Right now, we don’t receive any funding, but we’re working on becoming a club.”

Even with fundraising and practice, she managed to take on a 21-hour class workload and has been able to make the dean’s list every semester, she said.

“It’s exhausting to try to balance everything, but it’s worth it,” she said. “I always like to have a lot of things to do, so I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Even with her dedication and practice, she says she still felt a little nervous when she first stepped on the stage. Yet this feeling was fleeting.

“There’s always that feeling before you step out on the stage where you feel a tinge of nervousness, yet that goes away when you start dancing,” she said. “Eventually you just give it all you’ve got and you feel a calmness sweep over you.”

She plans to continue her passion of dancing even after school by looking into professional dance teams. First, however, she wants to get her doctorate in audiology.

“One of my big dreams is to be on a professional team some day, maybe for the NFL or something,” she said. “Hopefully when I go to school to get my doctorate, I will find an opportunity to find a professional dance team.”

Fresno State School Spirit Unites

2010-06-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

By Megan Morales
The Collegian Online

The Fresno state cheer squad, dance team and mascot will join forces next fall for one outstanding team of Bulldog pride.

While Fresno State has always shown passion, spirit and pride at sporting events through its dance and cheer teams and through its mascot, Timeout, this fall all three will collaborate with each other to create a unified Fresno State Spirit Squad.

Although the teams will be joining forces to create one large team of spirit, they will each still hold their individual role as a dancer, cheerleader and of course, Timeout will still be Timeout. The collaboration is an attempt to enhance the fan’s excitement and provide a more intense experience for the crowd.

Former Fresno State cheerleader Nichol Gagnon, will assume the position of Associate Head Coach of the cheer program and thinks the formation of a cohesive Spirit Squad is an idea that will benefit everyone involved.

“I feel that having these three teams as one will be a great addition to Fresno State,” Gagnon said. “We are all at Fresno State events to get the crowd pumped up, so it only makes sense to bring us together. With cheer, dance and Timeout as one, it will show our school spirit and our willingness to work together. We will also be able to showcase our amazing talent in a much larger aspect.”

Bringing the squads together as one is expected to present a better quality of entertainment at the athletic events, and ensure fans go home happy.

“I definitely think it will be beneficial to have these teams working together,” Gagnon said. “We will be able to put on better shows and impress the audience more. There will be more joint performances, which means there will be more to look at.”

In addition to the collaboration, a new scholarship, The Timeout Spirit Award, has been established and will be awarded to the students who portray Timeout.

The scholarship was developed by the Bulldog Pride Scholarship Fund of the Fresno State Alumni Association. Those receiving the annual $2,000 scholarship will be awarded for their performance as Timeout.

In a recent release from gobulldogs.com, founder of the Bulldog Pride Scholarship Fund Peter Robertson said he is thrilled about providing a scholarship that entails academic excellence as well as Fresno State pride.

Associate Athletics Director of External Relations Paul Ladwig said he sees great things for the future with the collaboration of teams.

“I am as excited as everyone else about this combination to enhance the spirit squad,” Ladwig said. “Having all the teams working together will only make our game day presentation better. With three quality coaches newly hired we will continue the excellence and professionalism of the Fresno State Cheer and Dance teams.”

As for becoming Timeout, Ladwig said there are two returning seniors who will receive the scholarship, and they are considering having a tryout for a third.

If applying for the position of the infamous mascot sounds like something you could see yourself doing, Ladwig said qualification requirements include, “energy, school spirit, ability to dance, work with others, love to entertain, love to be the show and great physical condition.”

With all excitement around the new plans, one can expect great things just as everyone involved does.

“This upcoming year will be awesome, we just had tryouts for the 2010-2011 team and we had so much talent that tried out,” Gagnon said. “We will be an amazing team!”

NCSU Dance Team Coach Charged With Embezzlement

2010-06-18T20:56:00.000-07:00

ABC Local WTVD

RALEIGH (WTVD) -- North Carolina State University's dance team coach is facing embezzlement charges.

According to an arrest warrant, 27-year-old Jamila Wright of Raleigh is accused of taking $21,000 in currency, goods and services from the Wolfpack Howlin' Hunnies.

She was arrested Wednesday and released on a $2,000 bond.

According to police, the embezzlement took place between December 2007 and February 2010.

Wright is a graduate of NC State and danced on the team before becoming coach.

Topperette Changes Bring Costs, Benefits

2010-05-09T16:35:00.000-07:00

By Mandy Simpson
WKU Herald

To some, the changes to this year’s Topperette dance team seemed subtle — fewer girls, a new coach, different costumes.

But to Coach Candice Tope and Lindsay Thomas, director of marketing and promotions for Western Athletics, this rebuilding year has made all the difference.

Thomas said she noticed more fans sacrificing their half-time concessions to watch the Topperettes perform one of about 12 power-packed routines they practiced for hours each week.

“I can’t tell you how many fans have come up and said, ‘I love that routine. That routine was awesome,’” Tope said.

A series of these fresh routines ranging from pom to jazz to hip-hop graced the basketball floor and football field this year.

A budget resting comfortably in the black provided all Topperettes with necessary performance attire and each Topperette who met the team requirements with a small scholarship, Thomas said.

A team that was as good at dancing as advancing the image of Western emerged, she said.

“We are proud of the product we put on the floor,” Thomas said.

When the girls weren’t on the sidelines this year, they made appearances at promotional and charity events such as Relay for Life and the Special Olympics, Tope said.

As much as they were dancers, they were spokeswomen, Thomas said.

But this shift and these improvements didn’t come without cost.

The Topperettes didn’t compete in any national or local competitions this year in order to rebuild the team and the budget, Thomas said. A national competition alone can cost about $20,000.

This was a hard sacrifice for seniors dancing as a Topperette for the last time, Tope said.

“I love my girls,” she said. “All hard workers, no divas.”

Thomas and Tope also made tough decisions at tryouts in order to cut the team from about 50 girls to 21 girls in fall 2009, Thomas said.

She said the girls who made the team performed well in the three tryout routine styles — pom, hip-hop and jazz — and displayed the potential to excel in the collegiate dance world.

“This is a dance team,” Thomas said. “This isn’t a ballet company or the Rockettes. You have to be able to do all our styles of dance.”

In accordance with a new Topperette policy, current team members were not allowed to speak with the Herald, Tope said.
The smaller team was the change that stung several former Topperettes the hardest.

***

Athletes know the feeling — the lonely ache of the final walk off the floor, field, court or stage, said La Grange junior Allison Smith, a former Topperette. The end inevitably arrives.

But last May, Smith thought she had the best audition of her life for the Topperettes. She’d been on the team for two years and felt confident that her experience and technical abilities would help her make the cut.

She’d also recently secured a nationally competitive position in the Rockette Summer Intensive program.

So, with 18 years of turns, leaps, jumps, kicks and choreography under her feet, Smith completed the Topperettes’ two-day tryout, which included dance routines and technical evaluations. Then she waited expectantly for the judges to call her number.

One by one, the new Topperettes assembled on the opposite side of the gym. When all the numbers had been called, Smith remained.

“I felt my whole team sitting on the other side of that wall, and I wasn’t a part of it,” she said. “It was horrible. I had to stand there and wait to turn in my costumes.”

Smith wasn’t alone. About five other Topperette veterans were cut during last year’s tryouts and left confused about what parts of their auditions were inadequate, she said.

Smith and fellow former Topperette, Chicago sophomore Alise Hogan, had an idea.

“I knew it wasn’t my technique that kept me from making the team,” Smith said.

Stephanie Pennington, the team’s head coach for the previous five years, said she decided not to return for the 2009-2010 season in order to focus on teaching at her dance studio, Dynamic Dance.

So Thomas organized Topperette tryouts last year, and a new column — which accounted for 30 percent of the dancers’ overall score — appeared on the judges scorecard: “collegiate image,” Thomas said.

The image category assessed the neatness of the dancers’ clothing, hair and makeup, and judges explained these expectations to the dancers before tryouts began.

“It’s like, if you can write your name on the SAT, you can get points,” Thomas said about the image category. “If you can show up doing what we’ve asked of you, you can get points.”

Hogan, who joined the team as a freshman after competing with her state-champion high school dance team in Chicago, felt her body lowered her score in the image section. But she said she knew that was a possibility when she entered tryouts.

“The second I made the team (freshman year), I was told, ‘You need to work out because you aren’t necessarily where we want you to be,’” Hogan said.

Hogan had maintained the strong, petite body from her days as a gymnast, and said no one had addressed her about her weight previously.

Pennington said she didn’t include the image category when she ran tryouts, but judges conducted interviews with the dancers to ensure they had positive attitudes and good work ethics.

Pennington said the new category may reflect a shift in the Topperettes’ main priority from a competing team to a marketing
entity.

During her last year of coaching, Pennington said she did talk to groups of girls, which included Smith and Hogan, about working out and toning up.

She said girls also approached her for exercise advice that would help them feel comfortable in the form-fitting costumes the collegiate dance world requires.

“We never said body image is important. We said, ‘You’re going to be out on the floor,’” she said. “It hurts us to see people make comments about them.”

But the dancers weren’t the only ones addressed about body image. Pennington said Western marketing personnel spoke with her about the team’s image, which partially motivated her talks with the dancers.

“I was talked to about it, comparing it to other dance teams and cheerleading teams where body image was so important, just stressing that it is important,” she said. “It was, ‘Here’s the image that we’re looking for.’”

Hogan said she continued to work out with Pennington and the team throughout the year, but, by tryouts last May, her spirits were low.

“I knew ‘I’m not going to make it, because I’m not skinny,’” she said. “I just wanted to show that I could dance, that size shouldn’t matter.”

The first round of tryouts was judged by Thomas, who represented marketing and had danced throughout high school; Deborah Wilkins, chief of staff and general counsel, who represented Western as a whole; and a former Topperette, Thomas said.

For the final round of tryouts, Tope said she also judged.

When the judges turned in the score cards, Smith, Hogan and other veterans didn’t make the cut.

“That breaks my heart,” Pennington said. “I would have picked every girl that was (formerly) on the team.”

Smith requested a post-tryout meeting with Thomas, during which she mentioned that she had worked hard to lose 20 pounds in the past season, she said.

“(Thomas) told me to keep doing what I was doing,” Smith said.

Thomas said she cannot specifically recall the meeting with Smith, but stressed that she never discussed body image with the dancers.

Pennington, who danced on the national championship University of Louisville Ladybirds dance team, said she’s aware of body image pressure collegiate dancers receive and works hard to teach the young girls at her studio to love their bodies no matter what.

“It’s hard to see a great high school dancer, who might not make it in the college world because of their body image,” she said.
But Thomas and Tope said body image didn’t impact any of the dancer’s scores, and neither has spoken to dancers about their bodies this year.

“I tell my girls, ‘I want you to be healthy. I want you to feel comfortable in our costumes,’” Tope said.

She said she does emphasize the importance of fitness during conditioning, because of the physical demands of cheering at games.

“I’ll say, ‘You walked that lap. I didn’t need you to walk that lap,’” she said.

***

The Topperettes will host tryouts for the 2010-2011 team May 8 and 9, and they’re keeping their eyes on one prize moving forward, Tope said.

Tope said the women will continue their charity work this summer with appearances at the Boys and Girls Club in Glasgow, and they’ll continue working toward the highest honor in collegiate dance.

“At the end of the day our goal is go out there and win a national championship,” Thomas said.

Valdosta State Red Hots Champions Again

2010-05-09T16:32:00.000-07:00

By:Dorsena Drakeford
The Spectator

The VSU Red Hots Dance Team won their third consecutive National Championship on Friday April 9. The Red Hots traveled to Daytona Beach for the NCA/NDA College Nationals, the largest collegiate cheer and dance competition in the nation. The season for the Red Hots starts in August and continues until the national competition.

“These girls have to balance performing at every home football and basketball game, campusevents, and community service project in addition to their academic demands and practice three times a week for 2 1/2 hours,” Kelli Holland, head coach of the VSU Red Hots Dance Team, said.

The practice the Red Hots endure is preparation for 2 minutes and 15 seconds, which is the length of the Nationals routine. This year, as in the previous two years, the Red Hots have won the National Championship, but they decided to try something new this year as they entered the Hip Hop Division-II category. The Red Hots placed second next to Hawaii Pacific University.

“Finishing second in a new division and competing in a style for the first time was a great way to end the trip to College Nationals,” Holland said. “Defending a title requires the team, and myself, to never be complacent, and we are always striving to improve and move forward.”

Minnesota Captures Two Golds At World Cheer Competition

2010-04-28T20:26:00.000-07:00

By Paul Walsh
StarTribune.com

Competing as Team USA, the University of Minnesota Dance Team captured two gold medals and a silver at the International Cheer Union Worlds Competition in Orlando, Fla.

The 16-member cheer/dance team's routines earned gold in the jazz and freestyle (including pom) divisions and silver in hip-hop on Friday.

In January, the Minnesotans claimed national championships in two divisions. That allowed it to represent USA in Orlando, where about 60 nations participated.

The Worlds Competition is the largest international cheerleading and dance team competition, with more than 80 nations as members.

International Cheer Union World Championship Results

2010-04-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

ICU Official Site: Click Here
Results and Video: Click Here
Photo Galleries: Click Here

JAZZ
GOLD Team USA
SILVER Team Japan
BRONZE Team Ukraine

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team Chile
Team China
Team Australia
Team South Korea
Team Germany (pictured)
Team Guatemala

HIP HOP
GOLD Team Japan
SILVER Team USA
BRONZE Team China

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team Norway
Team Mexico
Team Scotland
Team UK
Team South Korea
Team Germany
Team Australia
Team Guatemala
Team Switzerland
Team Ecuador

FREESTYLE
GOLD Team USA
SILVER Team Japan
BRONZE Team Finland

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team Mexico
Team Norway
Team Slovenia
Team China
Team Australia
Team Colombia
Team Germany
Team South Korea
Team UK

DOUBLES JAZZ
GOLD Team Ukraine
SILVER Team China
BRONZE Team Mexico

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team Germany

DOUBLES HIP HOP
GOLD Team China
SILVER Team Mexico
BRONZE Team South Korea

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team Germany
Team New Zealand
Team Slovenia

DOUBLES FREESTYLE
GOLD Team Ukraine
SILVER Team Mexico
BRONZE Team Switzerland

ALSO PARTICIPATING
Team China
Team Russia
Team Germany
Team Slovenia

Minnesota Dance Team Wins Two Golds At Worlds

2010-04-28T20:08:00.000-07:00

The Gophers squad also picked up silver for their hip-hop routine.

BY KYLE POTTER
MNDaily.com

The University of Minnesota Dance Team earned two gold medals and one silver at the International Cheer Union World Championships last Friday.

Competing as Team USA in Orlando, Fla., the Gopher ladies squared off against teams from all over the world and came out on top in two of three categories: jazz and pom. And with a routine thrown together just a few months earlier, they also took silver in the hip-hop category.

After winning gold at nationals in January in both jazz and pom, the team was selected to represent the United States by the International Cheer Union in its second annual international event. ICU has almost 90 member nations from five different continents.

ICU spokeswoman Sheila Noone said teams from 65 nations were in attendance Friday at the championships, which included both cheerleading and dance categories.

Three countries weren’t able to compete because of flight complications caused by Iceland’s Eyjafjallajökull volcano ash, Noone said.

Gophers ladies coach Amber Jackson said this competition felt different than others in her 13-year history with the team.

“When we go to nationals, it’s about us and our competition,” Jackson said. “With [this competition], it was about being proud of what we’re doing and how that is impacting the world. It’s something bigger than just us.”

Both Jackson and senior captain Toni Gabrielli said their experiences with one team in particular were unforgettable.

Members of Team Mexico made a doll wearing the dress UMDT wore at nationals. Team Mexico members had watched and were inspired by videos of their jazz routine on YouTube.

When Minnesota performed the same routine at worlds, Team Mexico was in the front row with tears streaming down its members’ faces.

“We didn’t even realize the lives that we’ve touched,” Gabrielli said.

For Gabrielli, this competition was the perfect way to close out her four years on the dance team. And although it was a humbling experience to dance with people from so many different countries, she said she hasn’t wrapped her head around the idea of winning two gold medals just yet.

“It’s just crazy to think that we’re the best in the world at what we do.”

Cougarettes' Winning Performance to be Broadcast Nationally

2010-04-24T19:11:00.000-07:00

BYU Cougars.com

PROVO, Utah (April 23, 2010) – Cougar fans will have a chance to see the BYU Cougarettes’ winning performance at the National College Dance Team Championships as broadcast plans have been announced. The Championships will air at 4 p.m. MT Saturday on Fox Sports Network Rocky Mountain, which can be found on channel 52 for Comcast subscribers in Utah or on DISH Network channel 414.

The Cougarettes won the national dance title for the eighth time in 13 years in the competition held April 9 in Daytona Beach, Fla. Competing against schools from all over the country at the NDA National Championships, the Cougarettes recorded a score of 9.860, edging out the University of Louisville (9.831) for the 2010 title. The 20-member squad posted the highest score of all three divisions, giving BYU the Grand National Championship as well.

“This means a lot to our program. We didn’t have a chance to compete last year, so coming back this year to win it all is very exciting,” said Cougarette head coach Jodi Maxfield. “We've been working hard since last April, and I believe this was the best routine we've ever performed. I'm so proud of the girls for their hard work, dedication and the way they represented Brigham Young University.”

The BYU Cougarettes are categorized as a precision dance team, but in fact the scope and breadth of their focus is much more varied, including jazz, hip hop and pom. The Cougarettes captured its first National Collegiate Dance Championship in 1997 and has since won titles in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now 2010. In addition, the Cougarettes have finished in the Top 4 three other times.

Considered the elite college dance program in the country, BYU Cougarettes have gone on to perform for the Walt Disney Co., Universal Studios, Opryland, Broadway, professional dance companies, as well as National Basketball Association dancers. The Cougarettes also performed at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

Duke Dancing Devils Take Fifth at National Competition

2010-04-24T19:08:00.001-07:00

Courtesy: Duke Photography
GoDuke.com

DURHAM, N.C. - The Duke Dancing Devils earned a fifth-place finish at the National Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship hosted by the National Dance Alliance on April 8 and 9 in Daytona Beach, Fla. After earning top-ten finishes in each of the last two years, the Dancing Devils took fifth out of 230 teams at the 2010 competition.

The top-five finish also ensures that the Dancing Devils' performance at the competition will appear on national television. The broadcast of this year's National Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship will be aired on April 24 and 25 on Fox Sports Network.

"It was incredibly exciting to have the team climb the ladder so quickly in the last three years," said coach Alayne Rusnak. "To go from eighth to sixth to fifth and know that the team made the cut to be on TV - that seals the deal. You know you've succeeded."

Dance and cheerleading squads from around the country aspire each year to earn a spot at the National Dance Alliance and the National Cheerleaders Association's annual competitions. In order to advance to the final competition in Daytona Beach, squads must pre-qualify by competing at camps or via video submissions. The Dancing Devils qualified for the 2010 Nationals based on their video submission.

After the first day of competition on April 8, the Dancing Devils were in sixth place entering Friday's finals. The team's performance in the finals secured the fifth-place finish - as well as a spot on national television.

"The girls worked so hard, overcame several challenges this year and they couldn't be more excited about their performance at Nationals," Rusnak said. "It was truly rewarding to represent Duke at the NDA Championships after the men's basketball program came off of such a tremendous win the weekend before. We are so proud to be a part of the Duke family and I am so proud of the girls."

The Dancing Devils are the official dance team of Duke University. The squad performs at many Duke athletic events, including football and basketball games. Team members include Bria Barker, Devyn Coskey, Claire Daly, Jamie Forrest, Kat Franklin, Alexa Galan, Julene Latter, Danielle Reinhardt, Michelle Sawyer, Caroline Schwarzman, Amy Snook, Courtney Washington, Jenny Zhou and captains Katherine Booth, Chantel Hopper and Kim Thomas.

Assumption College Competes in Florida

2010-04-24T19:04:00.001-07:00

Le Provocateur

This past week the Assumption College Dance Team traveled to Florida to participate in the Division II dance categories against some of the best teams in the country, including Hawaii Pacific University and Tamagawa University.

The latter university traveled all the way from Japan to compete in this dance competition. After dancing in preliminaries on Thursday, April 7, the Assumption College Dance team was ranked second in the Challenge Cup competition that would occur later that afternoon.

The Challenge Cup determines the last team that will make finals and perform in a different venue the following day. After performing the best the team ever had, they placed 2nd in the Challenge Cup after the University of Minnesota Mankato score a mere .008 higher and was granted a place in the finals.

Although the Assumption College Dance team did not make the finals, they ranked nineth in the nation, the first place team under the eight finalists.

"This is a personal best for the team and we were thrilled with our performances and our ranking overall," stated Marie Torto, the senior captain of the Assumption College Dance team.

Saint Mary's University: Dancing Their Way to the Top

2010-04-24T19:01:00.000-07:00

The Saint Mary's University Dance Team will be representing Canada at the 2010 USASF Dance Worlds this weekend at Disney World.

Seven members of the Saint Mary's University Dance Team are on their way to Disney World to compete in the 2010 Dance Worlds.

The seven members competing in Florida are (left to right): Jasmine Moreash, Nikki Brown, Stephanie Gauvin, Francis Brake, Katelyn Ettinger, Syndell Goode, and Czeri Nocon. (pic: Melissa Tait)

The SMU team, who won the 2010 CheerExpo National Dance Championship for the third year in a row, will represent Canada in the two-day competition which begins on Saturday.

They'll compete in the international open hip-hop division against dozens of other teams from around the world.

Providence Dance Team Ties for First in New England

2010-04-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

By Allison O’Connor ’10/ News Staff
The Cowl

The Providence College Dance Team showed the judges what their dreams were made of at the Universal Dance Association New England Dance Championship at Westfield State College in Westfield, Mass., on April 11.

“This is a regional event for college and high schools throughout New England to come and compete in front of judges,” said Andrea Ricci ’10, coach of the Dance Team.

The team, made of up 18 girls, competed against eight other teams in the College Dance bracket and tied for first place with Marist College. Their first-place routine was choreographed to the song “Sweet Dreams” by the Eurythmics.

“We had originally thought to do a mix of Lady Gaga songs, but we decided to do something different and use a song that a lot of other teams would not choose,” said Devan Lovegreen ’11.

This year marks the first year that the Dance Team has had an official coach. Typically, the captains have been in charge of choreographing and developing routines.

“[The College] was looking for a coach, and I ended up coming back to the school, so I jumped on board,” said Andrea Ricci.

Ricci, who is also assistant director of Alumni Affairs in the Office of Institutional Advancement, was on the Dance Team as an undergraduate student, and was captain of the team her senior year. She also currently works as a dance teacher and previously worked for the Universal Dance Association (UDA) for six years, during which she ran the New England Dance Championship competition.

The girls attribute much of this year’s success to the addition of Ricci as their coach.

“Andrea’s input and leadership really helped us improve and to place well in the competition this year,” said Bridget Landry ’10.
Jen Bencivenga ’11, explained that the team’s motivation can be attributed to Ricci.“We owe all our successes to her,” she said.

Their journey to number one has not been easy, and their success is due to the hard work and dedication that the girls put into the team.

“We spend a lot of time together, as our season runs from September through April, so we consider each other family,” said Bencivenga.

The team performs at all of the men’s basketball games at the Dunkin Donuts Center, some of the women’s basketball games, and at various events on campus.

“Throughout the year, the dancers have really improved,” said Ricci. “We set goals at the beginning of the year to compete regionally and win, and we did.”

The team only began developing their routine for the competition after basketball season ended.

“We practiced three times a week for two and a half hours at a time,” said Lovegreen. “The competition routine had a lot more technical aspects in it than our routines for basketball games, so it was definitely a challenge.”

The routine was two minutes long, making it longer than the routines the team typically performs at the games. Therefore, the girls were forced to build up their endurance for the performance.

“The hardest part about training is the few practices before the competition. Doing even just a two-minute routine over and over again for two hours, full-out and up to speed, is exhausting,” said Landry. “The pay-off is worth it though!”

Getting to the competition was also a challenge, literally.

“While traveling to Westfield College, one of the cars got a flat [tire],” said Bencivenga. “Four of the girls arrived at the competition minutes before we had to perform. They maintained composure and were able to execute the dance perfectly, as they always do!”

The “Sweet Dreams” routine included technical aspects and incorporated tricks done by the entire team.

“We showcased all of [the girls’] talents while trying to create something really visual, so if you were a generic spectator watching, then there would be lots to look at,” said Ricci.

The girls’ dedication and teamwork proved to be a great success.

“There’s a lot of talent in our region… It was incredible to end my four years on the team to come in first place,” said Landry.

To symbolize the girls’ success, they were awarded a trophy that will be on display in theshowcase in Peterson.

“We’ve had a really great year, and [winning] was a good way to end it,” said Ricci.

Aside from their success, the girls are most grateful for the bond they share as a team.

“My favorite part about being on the dance team are the girls that I dance with,” said Landry. “Performing at the Dunk wouldn’t be half as fun without their energy to feed off of, and I’m taking away so many friendships and memories from the dance team that I’ll never forget!”

Seniors Ashley Bryan, Amanda Camerota, Jessica Costa, Bridget Landry, and Meaghan McComiskey will graduate with the memory of their first-place win during their final year at PC.

TCU Elite Dance Team Finds Success

2010-04-24T18:55:00.001-07:00

By Rachel Wilson
TCU Daily Skiff

It's the group's inaugural season, and TCU Elite is already off to a running start.

The team recently won dance awards at two national competitions, said TCU Elite Director Megan McDonald.

In March, the team went to the American Dance and Drill Competition in Denton and placed second, beating the Southern Methodist University team, which has won the past five years, said McDonald, a junior Spanish major.

Earlier this month, the team flew to Daytona, Fla., for the National Dance Alliance Nationals after receiving a bid to attend.

In Daytona, the team didn't score enough points to make it to the final round, but the team danced in the Challenge Cup and won first place, which secured it a spot in the finals, where they finished No. 7 at Daytona, McDonald said.

Mallary McGrath, a senior math major, said dancing in Daytona was a thrill.

"When (we heard) that we made it to finals all we could do was jump up and down screaming," she said, adding that both events were a great achievement for a first-year team. "Performing at finals was a great feeling and probably one of my most memorable college experiences."

McDonald said that usually a team must attend NDA summer camp to receive a bid for Nationals, but TCU Elite made the cut after submitting a video of the group's dances to the organization.

For McDonald, the team's biggest accomplishment is not the awards they have won, but the fact that the members did it on their own.

Members of the student-run team raised the funds for its Florida trip, approximately $1,000 a dancer for 14 dancers, completely on their own.

McGrath said this season with TCU Elite has been a highlight of her college experience.

"I competed with a local dance studio in high school, but being part of a collegiate team has been a whole new experience," she said. "In many ways it seems much more serious, and the competition is much higher."

McDonald came up with the idea after an injury in 2008 sidelined her from her TCU Showgirls rehearsals.

2010-11 Auditions

When: Saturday, August 28

Time and place will be announced later at www.campusrec.tcu.edu.

UNR Dance Team Cut, Combined With Cheer

2010-04-17T09:32:00.000-07:00

By: Juan Lopez
Photo:Brian Bolton
The Nevada Sagebrush

In yet another budget-saving measure, the Nevada dance team will be cut — but its members will continue to dance.

Holly Aycock, Nevada athletics director of marketing and promotions, said the Wolf Pack’s dance team would be moved into the pom squad as of April 24 (the date of tryouts for the cheerleading team). The dance team ended the year with 13 members while the cheer team had 29 (11 pom girls, eight stunt girls, eight stunt guys and three mascots). Under the change, next year’s cheerleading team will have up to 16 pom girls, up to four mascots, eight stunt girls and eight stunt guys.

Under this move, the Nevada athletics department will save $5,000 (the amount of money allocated to the dance team last year), Aycock said.

The move is intended to gain a bigger audience for both squads.

“We’re not eliminating; we’re just merging,” Aycock said. “A lot of times people will call our office and ask for the cheerleaders to come down to one of their events, but the dance team doesn’t get the same exposure. By joining the two, I think they’ll both benefit and the experience for both will just set a good precedent.”

Aycock, who said she brought up the idea to upper management, said no paid positions or aid toward the dance team’s members would be lost in this move. She said she’s spoken to dance team head coach Nicole Scott and has asked her to stay as a coach on the cheerleading team.

Kim Welker, spirit coordinator and head cheerleading coach, said she was happy with the move and thought the transition into becoming one team would not be too difficult.

“Dance and pom have always been very similar teams,” she said. “Now by combining the two we will have more talent and more opportunities for everyone to perform more and I am very excited for the upcoming year.”

The cheerleading team is excited for the move as well. Samantha Rice, a 19-year-old sophomore who just finished her second year on the cheerleading team, said when the two teams are made into one, they’ll be able to better fulfill their goals: to entertain and boost the University of Nevada, Reno.

“I think that the merging is a great thing,” she said. “I’m not saying we’re the same thing, but we pretty much do the same thing. Our goals are to support the school in whatever way we can. This way, no one else will step on anyone else’s toes and there won’t be two separate entities anymore.”

Juan López can be reached at jlopez@nevadasagebrush.com.

SI.com Features FIU Golden Dazzlers Michelle and Alexandra

2010-04-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured twins Michelle and Alexandra from the FIU Golden Dazzlers as the "Cheerleaders of the Week." SI.com features the twins in 33 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

Harvard Crimson: Athletes and Aesthetes

2010-04-17T09:10:00.004-07:00

Campus dance teams train and compete to sharpen their tools of creative expression

By ALI R. LESKOWITZ, CRIMSON STAFF WRITER
The Harvard Crimson
To visit the Harvard Crimson Dance Team page Click Here

There is no “competitive dance” tab on the Harvard University Athletics website home page. Click around a little, though, and you’ll eventually find the Crimson Dance Team (CDT) and the Harvard Ballroom Dance Team (HBDT) listed among the club sports—along with figure skating, capoeira, and Harvard’s own Quidditch team.

Technically a fictional sport—sprung from the pages of J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” series—Quidditch earns the same designation as the two competitive dance teams, both of which straddle a curious line of their own. Instead of facing Quidditch’s problem of self-identification with the real or the magical, however, tension for the dance teams exists in their classification as either sport or art.

The teams have the best of both worlds: they receive funding from the Department of Athletics, yet practice at venues supported by the Office for the Arts at Harvard. Their craft involves rules, competition, intense training, self-control, and teamwork—like many other sports—while also allowing for self-expression on a more sophisticated level than pure competitive drive. The Crimson Dance Team and Harvard Ballroom Dance Team fuse athletic competition with artistic interpretation, in a unique hybrid of art and sport.

OFF ON THE RIGHT FOOT

While dance groups abound at Harvard, only HBDT and CDT focus on competition. Harvard Ballroom began in 1990 to fill a gap in the dance community. “Our mission is to spread the art of ballroom dancing in a social and competitive way,” says Marco F. Perez-Moreno ’11, president of HBDT.

Throughout the year, HBDT team members learn the 19 dances that comprise the four World Dance Council categories of style: International Latin, International Standard, American Rhythm, and American Standard. Dancers work to become proficient in these groupings through training and the two to three annual competitions HBDT attends as a team.

The slightly-newer CDT was founded in 1995 to offer the opportunity for jazz and hip-hop dancers to demonstrate their skills not only in performances but also against other schools. According to CDT co-captain Ashley R. Prince ’11, competition pushes dancers and encourages progress the way performance might not. “In competitive dance, you have the opportunity to really assess your own skill set and techniques, whereas when you put on a show, it’s just fun to perform,” she says. “On CDT, you get to grow and see concrete improvement.”

CDT competes at the Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championships in Orlando, Florida, in addition to performing at men’s and women’s basketball games and exhibition shows. Their choreography mostly focuses on jazz and hip-hop, but they performed pom—a style of dancing similar to cheerleading—when they competed at the National Dance Alliance Championships in years past. Despite their practice of pom, CDT members insist that their craft differs from cheerleading in method.

“In cheerleading the technique is tight with the motions, which is where we overlap the most,” says Mary Caroline Szpak ’11, Prince’s CDT co-captain. “We both generate spirit, but it’s on different terms. Cheerleading is more classified as a sport, but with dance it’s more like a sport and an art.”

The two groups share a desire for competition and also a basic language: ballet. “You can’t walk until you crawl, and you can’t dance until you learn ballet. It’s the foundation of everything,” Szpak says. “The connection between ballet and dance team is like with the alphabet: once you have the letters down, you can make any word.” This dance alphabet leads to the diverse styles CDT performs, and just as with a spoken language, it’s easier to make the sounds if you’ve been exposed early. As a result, the team encourages its dancers to take ballet classes if possible.

Ballroom, too, depends on ballet for its foundation—but the former diverges from the latter in one critical way: the relationship to the floor. Ballet dancers stay lifted up off the floor, making minimal contact with it and absorbing any impact into the muscles so the moves remain graceful and quiet. Ballroom dancers strive for the exact opposite: they push their weight down into their muscles and make contact with the floor. Still, both depend on graceful elevated arms for the entirety of the dance, which means strong shoulder muscles are essential.

ONE STEP AHEAD

Once the foundation is laid, the teams undergo a process akin to a visual artist picking and priming his tools as they prepare for competition. CDT first chooses a choreographer based on an intense selection process. “It involves watching more YouTube than you can imagine,” Prince says. The captains then suggest music and a theme to the choreographer, who comes back to the team with a set two-minute routine. Even so, the members sometimes tweak the piece to fit their vision and showcase their dancers’ strengths. A winning routine is often a trade-off between performing advanced moves and fitting the team’s skill level.

Rehearsals of the piece span around two months, after which the dancers focus on cleaning and editing the routine so that everyone has the exact same timing and precise movements. Intense daily practices lead up to Nationals, which—according to the captains—are similar in atmosphere to the competitions portrayed in the 2000 film “Bring It On.”

HBDT’s training comes in mastering the “syllabus,” which supplies a framework for dancers to move up the ranks as they satisfy bronze, silver, and gold level “figures,” or skill levels. Three professional coaches teach dancers at the syllabus stages until they become proficient enough to dance at a more independent “open level.” These coaches typically create the syllabus-level routines, but some partners choose to choreograph themselves with moves that fit their stages.

Since ballroom competitions can have up to 20 couples on the floor at one time, the syllabus ensures a safe environment. “If you have people who are lifting their partners, it could get dangerous very fast,” says Madison J. Shelton ’11, the HBDT competitions chair. The first HBDT rehearsals of any given year involve around 200 members on a small floor, so tricky moves like lifts are not only prohibited, but impossible.

HBDT’s rehearsals culminate in the Harvard Invitational, an annual competition between as many as 50 schools at which the team showcases their talents. The competition lasts two full days, during which the four styles at all three levels are performed. Professional judges wander the dance floor looking at each couple for a short amount of time; each round, they cut half of the couples until finally selecting the highest scorers.

Hard work pays off for the teams. CDT has placed around fifth or sixth in their division in recent years. They also stand alone as an Ivy League school at their contests. “People always think we’re joking when we say we’re from Harvard,” Prince says. “We get a lot of attention.”

HBDT also consistently performs at the top of their competitions, especially against their rivals at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Members claim the rivalry is friendly—the two teams often share dancers because of various gender and number discrepancies between the schools—but they proudly report that they either beat or tied MIT in most of the finals at the 19th Annual Harvard Invitational at the end of March.

CHOREO AND CARDIO

These competitions require intense athletic training and teamwork. Like other fusion sports such as fencing and figure skating, competitive dancing requires intense physical fitness. The Department of Athletics recognizes the physical aspects of competitive dance, providing both teams with funding as club sports. “We review the groups’ specific goals and objectives and then work with them to accomplish these over the course of the year,” says Gary Brown, the Department’s Manager of Recreational Services.

Competitive dancers are certainly athletes, whether or not their competition of choice is seen as a sport. The stamina, flexibility, and energy dance demands necessitate frequent cardiovascular training and exercise. CDT usually practices four days a week for around two hours. Perez-Moreno runs regularly and Shelton does total body conditioning in addition to dance training. The brevity of routines—as opposed to football or basketball games, which can last hours—might seem to entail less need for endurance, but the dancers would strongly disagree. “When you get off a stage after a two-minute routine and you’re just panting—that’s the moment you know it’s a sport,” Szpak says.

Teamwork—an element generally absent in most art forms—also becomes essential. CDT members must perform in sync—“like the Rockettes,” Szpak says—while HBDT dancers work with partners. These pairings are chosen based on physical compatibility (a taller male partner facilitates certain moves) and motivation. Dancers who push themselves differently or set imbalanced goals eventually clash and split up. “In ballroom you rely a ton on your partner, especially as a woman, since you follow: he decides what you do next,” Shelton says. “You have to be very aware of another person.”

In the same way, Szpak compares CDT to a track team: “Everybody is dancing on their own, but it only succeeds if they all move together—so in that way, it’s more cohesive than a sport. If someone in front of you moves, you have to move even if they’re wrong. It really is like we’re on a playing field together, working as a team,” she says.

MAKING A POINTE

Such rigorous athletic training makes creative expression possible. “We’re classically training our muscles but we’re also expressing ourselves through dance,” Prince says. However, a routine won’t rise to its greatest form unless dancers have the stamina, flexibility, and poise that training provides. “You need to do a nice line with your arm, and to be competent at expressing that, you need to be physically able,” Perez-Moreno contends.

Dance teams are judged on various, partly subjective, criteria: technique, difficulty, passion, creativity, style, ability to communicate emotion, clarity, control, synchronization, and musicality—all of which highlight the hybrid aspects of the art. In ballroom, there are four principal aspects: musicality, beauty and technique, partnering, and speed and power. Musicality—or a dancer’s capacity to interpret the music through motions that fit the mood and rhythm—shifts these competitive dances from a sport to an art form. A competitive dancer should not just be robotically performing moves; there needs to be emotion behind every figure.

This is especially true for the lyrical style that CDT practices. A combination of ballet, jazz, and modern dance, lyrical style movements speak directly to the words and tone of a song using gestures and facial expressions. “If in the song the lyrics say that something is far away, then you extend your arm out to indicate that,” Szpak explains.

Nevertheless, both teams admit that show dancing—rather than competition—is where their work truly becomes an art. Almost theatrical in nature, non-competitive performances require the dancers to tell stories using their bodies as media. Performers can communicate a storyline even before the dancing begins through costuming.

Dance teams are even judged on how well costumes convey the theme and mood of the piece. CDT wore glittered black and purple outfits reminiscent of the night sky for their “Midnight” piece two years ago. This year’s vibrant red costumes were cut dramatically to suggest the fury of a woman incensed by her ex-lover, as the song dictated.

A woman’s costume in ballroom must catch the judge’s eye to bring attention to the couple, so attire is typically shiny and vibrantly colored—and, particularly in Latin dances, revealing. Dancers also need to be extremely tan, both to draw attention and look appealing under bright lights. “You need to put forward confidence; there’s a certain beauty in it,” Shelton explains. Every ballroom style has its own character that requires performers to act to the music, so costumes help dancers fit the parts. “You play a role of elegance and high class for Standard and a role of sex appeal for Latin,” Perez-Moreno says. These extravagant costumes require dancers to spend exorbitant sums of money to stay on top of their appearances—which often deters less-serious performers.

STRIKING A BALANCE

While these competitions might seem obscure to outsiders, the dancers insist on the mass appeal of their sport—as evidenced by popular entertainment such as “Dancing with the Stars” and the 2005 documentary film “Mad Hot Ballroom.” A fusion of physical skill and artistic beauty, competitive dance attracts those who want athletic challenge, creative expression, or a little of each. “As athletes, we’re constantly training and pushing our bodies to be better,” Szpak says. “As artists, we’re always looking for inspiration from outside sources and different ways to express ourselves.”

While show dancing seemingly provides more of an opportunity for self-expression, competing helps dancers build the skills necessary for collaborative creative communication. “When you dance by yourself, if your hip’s in a different direction than it should be, it doesn’t necessarily matter,” Szpak says. “It’s hard to get used to, but competitive dance forces you to realize, ‘If my triple isn’t perfect, the team will suffer.’ You’re not dancing for yourself anymore—it’s like a team sport, but one that makes a beautiful and expressive product.”

—Staff writer Ali R. Leskowitz can be reached at aleskow@fas.harvard.edu.

Towson Dance Team First At Nationals

2010-04-17T09:03:00.000-07:00

By Alissa Katz
Dance Team file photo by Casey Prather / The Towerlight
Towerlight Online

The Towson Dance Team took their 12th consecutive national title with precision dances, which are a combination of hip-hop, jazz, funk and pom routines.

The Towson University Dance Team typically performs throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and at Towson University sporting events and numerous community events. However, they went to Daytona Beach, Fl. this past week to compete against other universities for a shot at the national title.

Almost 5,000 student athletes and 15,000 spectators convened to see the competition. The National Cheerleading Association and National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championship is the largest college cheer and dance competition in the world, according to a press release from TU.

They Division I competitors from Harvard University, James Madison University, Columbia University and Boston University, among others.

Thomas Cascella, professor in the department of theatre arts coached the team of 27 members.

“We’re extremely excited and proud to represent Towson University once again at the national championships. The team spirit and cooperation of this group of young women makes them champions. I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of our team,” Cascella said in the release.

Senior communication studies major Amanda Cieri is one of the dance team’s officers.

“We were all really excited that we won,” she said. “We go down hoping we do our best. It’s not about winning for us; it’s about going on the floor proving to everybody that we did our best. This year, we really came off really happy with what we did ... We’re all so dedicated to this performance.”

Their winning piece was described as a hyper-paced bump- and-grind precision dance, according to the release.

This helped set them above their competitors.

Lionettes Take Third At Nationals

2010-04-17T09:00:00.000-07:00

By Jocelyn Syrstad
Collegian Online

JoAnn Esposito had goosebumps as she sat poolside in Daytona, Fla., Saturday.

The weather was gorgeous, but the sensation would come every time the senior co-captain on the Lionettes Dance Team thought of her team's performance at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) championship over the weekend.

The Lionettes finished in third place, the team's best finish ever, behind only Brigham Young and Louisville, which are the two teams that have dominated the championships for nearly 20 years.

"There are no words to describe how I am feeling right now," Esposito said. "When they announced fourth place, and it wasn't us, we just hit our knees and collapsed on the floor. It's just amazing."

The competition consists of a preliminary and final round and showcases teams from all over the country. Esposito said the preliminary round was the best performance the team has ever done, which propelled them into finals.

However, senior co-captain Erin Zoch said the Lionettes were nervous after their final performance because the dancers were so exhausted from performing two days in a row. But the end result was more than they could have asked for, and they forgot about how sore and tired they were, she said.

"We pushed ourselves to the limit, and we are just so proud we pushed ourselves the way we did," Zoch said. "We left everything out on the floor. It's just unreal."

Finishing behind both BYU and Louisville was like a first place finish for the team, Esposito said. Since the two teams have such a legacies in NDA, it is unheard of to beat them. The Cougarettes Dance Team of BYU has won eight NDA titles and finished in the top-4 three other times since 1997.

However, after the preliminary competition, a dancer from BYU came up to the Lionettes and told them the BYU parents told their daughters to watch out for Penn State because the Lionettes were a threat this year.

"We just can't believe this moment has actually come," senior co-captain Alexandra Costello said. "People are scared of us, and we are actually up there with the best. We've accomplished our goals."

The Lionettes finished fourth at last year's championships and had a goal of finishing in the top-3 this year. However, the team faces many challenges because of not having a coach and having to rely on themselves to see success -- something that is rare in collegiate dance.

The senior members of the team expressed how fortunate the team is to have grown and developed into a top-notch team, and they're confident the Lionettes will continue to break barriers in years to come.

"It's just amazing, and it makes us realize nothing can stop us," Esposito said. "I just want the girls to keep pushing. We've achieved all of our goals and now we know that anything is possible."

SHSU Wins Championships In Two Spirit Programs

2010-04-17T08:57:00.000-07:00

KBTX.com

Sam Houston State University took away top honors in the National Cheerleaders Association/National Dance Association Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship held at Daytona Beach, Fla. April 7-11.

The Orange Pride Dance Team and Sammy the Bearkat won the 2010 national championship in each of their categories. The teams are formally associated with SHSU’s Department of Student Activities’ Spirit Programs.

“We are so proud of the Orange Pride Dance Team, Sammy the Bearkat and the mascot program,” said Brandon Cooper, assistant director of student activities at Sam Houston State.

“They continually work hard to improve the standards of the teams they are involved with, and it has paid off. This is such an amazing accomplishment for them as students and for the university as a whole,” he said.

The Sam Houston State University Orange Pride Dance Team won the 2010 National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship in Open Division 1 Friday afternoon (April 9).

Sam Houston State’s dance team was the top seed going into the competition, winning the division competition over Weber State, Illinois State, University of Texas at Arlington, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw University and others.

The team consists of 16 members and is coached by senior health major and former dance team captain Sarah Knigge of Killeen.
On the following day (Saturday, April 10) SHSU’s Sammy the Bearkat won the Mascot Nationals, also in Daytona, in a competition featuring mascots from 10 schools.

Criminal justice major Jarrod Leftwich, of Linden, is the life behind Sammy’s character.

He won over four other mascots including second place winner Sharky from Hawaii Pacific University and third place winner Mr. Wuf from North Carolina State University. Also placing were the mascots from Western Kentucky University and Cal State-Long Beach.

Leftwich was selected to compete with the other mascots from his preliminary video entry. At the competition, he was required to perform a 90-second skit, which was judged on a variety of factors including creativity, props and usage of the props, characterization and crowd response.

Almost 5,000 student athletes and 15,000 spectators convened for the Daytona Beach competition. The NCA/NDA Collegiate Championship is the largest College Cheer and Dance Championship in the world.

The competitions will be aired on Fox Sports Network on April 24-26.

HPU Squad Is Best

2010-04-17T08:53:00.000-07:00

Honolulu Advertiser

Hawai'i Pacific University's large co-ed cheer team won its eighth consecutive title at the National Cheerleaders Association and National Dance Alliance Championships yesterday at Daytona Beach, Fla.

The Sea Warriors' dance team won its fifth consecutive title, and also won the Hip Hop category.

The HPU all-girl cheer team and small co-ed cheer team placed third.

Towson Dance Team Does It Again

2010-04-10T18:35:00.000-07:00

By Scott Wykoff
WBAL.com
(Photo from Varsity.com)

The Towson University Dance Team won the 2010 National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fl.

It's their twelfth consecutive national championship,

The competition took place at Florida's Peabody Auditorium and at the Dayton Beach Band shell.

Tom Casella, dance team coach says "we're extremely excited and proud to represent Towson University once again at the national Championships. The team spirit and cooperation of this group of young women makes them champions. I can't begin to tell you how proud I am of our team."

The hyper-paced bump and grind precision dance s are a combination of hip-hop, jazz, funk and pom routines. The Towson University Dance Team was the top seed going into the competition, winning the Division I competition beating Harvard, James Madison, Columbia University, Boston University and more.

Almost 5,000 student athletes and 15,000 supporters and spectators convened for the competition of technical skills, breathtaking choreography, crowd pleasing showmanship, synchronization and teamwork. The 2010 NCA/NDA Collegiate Championship is the largest College Cheer and Dance Championship in the world.

The Towson University Dance Team performs throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and at Towson University Athletic Department competitions and numerous community events. The team consists of 27 members and is coached by Towson University professor of Theatre Arts Tom Cascella.

The National Cheerleading Association (NCA) and the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship is the largest collegiate cheerleading and dance competition in the world attracting more than 5,000 cheerleaders, dancers, mascots and spectators annually. NCA/NDA, the largest privately held cheerleading and dance organization in the world hold events for over 180,000 cheerleaders and dancers around the world.

MCC Dance Team Wins National Title

2010-04-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

The MCC Dance company has won its second straight national championship. (2009 NDA Pic Below)
KWTX.com

DAYTONA BEACH (April 9, 2010)--The McLennan Dance Company scored 9.269 in today's final round to win its second consecutive NDA Collegiate Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

Oklahoma City University finished second with 9.083, followed by Ramapo College of Mahwah, N.J., in third with 9.071.

Other scores: Blinn College, fourth, 8.781; New York University, fifth, 8.533; Barton Community College (Great Bend, Kan.), sixth, 7.952; and Eastern Connecticut State University, seventh, 7.865.

For the official McLennan CC site Click Here

UALR Dance Team Tryouts Set for April 22

2010-04-10T18:27:00.000-07:00

UALRTrojans.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The UALR Dance Team will be holding tryout for the 2010-11 squad on Thursday, April 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the UALR Theatre and Dance building. The UALR Dance Team performs at all home men’s and women’s basketball games as well as some away games during post-season.

Tryouts will consist of floor work, across the floor exercises, and a jazz, hip hop, and pom routine. Dancers will be judged on image, skills, memory, and dance performance.

Skills that the judges will be looking for:
· Single, Double, and Triple Pirouettes
· Fouette Turns
· A La Second Turns
· Illusions
· Straight Leg Leaps
· Open Side Leaps
· Switch Leaps
· “C” Jump

Dancers are recommended to wear dance shorts, nude tights, and a sports bra to auditions. Black ankle jazz shoes will be required throughout the season.

Scholarships will be offered to dancers who make the 2010-11 squad.

For more information about tryouts, please contact Andrea Nunez at (501) 569-3393 or at alduc@ualr.edu.

Cougarettes Capture National College Dance Team Championship

2010-04-10T18:25:00.001-07:00

BYUCougars.com

Daytona Beach, Fla. (April 9, 2010) — For the eighth time in the past 13 years, the Brigham Young University Cougarettes are the National College Dance Team Champions.

Competing against schools from all over the country at the NDA National Championships, the Cougarettes recorded a score of 9.860, edging out the University of Louisville (9.831) for the 2010 title. The 20-member squad posted the highest score of all three divisions, giving BYU the Grand National Championship as well.

“This means a lot to our program. We didn’t have a chance to compete last year, so coming back this year to win it all is very exciting,” said Cougarette head coach Jodi Maxfield. “We've been working hard since last April, and I believe this was the best routine we've ever performed. I'm so proud of the girls for their hard work, dedication and the way they represented Brigham Young University.”

The BYU Cougarettes are categorized as a precision dance team, but in fact the scope and breadth of their focus is much more varied, including jazz, hip hop and pom. The Cougarettes captured its first National Collegiate Dance Championship in 1997 and has since won titles in 1998, 1999, 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007 and now 2010. In addition, the Cougarettes have finished in the Top 4 three other times.

“Winning first place this year was the biggest thrill,” said senior Cougarette president Eliza Diederich. “We have an amazing team. We knew what we needed to do and brought it full force. Our theme this year was to believe and with that faith and burning desire anything is possible.”

Considered the elite college dance program in the country, BYU Cougarettes have gone on to perform for the Walt Disney Co., Universal Studios, Opryland, Broadway, professional dance companies, as well as National Basketball Association dancers. The Cougarettes also performed at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games.

"This experience has been so rewarding," said senior Jaymn Swenson who was Cougarette president last year. "The hard work paid off for us this year."

NDA National Championship Top 10
Brigham Young University (9.860)
University of Louisville (9.831)
Penn State (9.406)
South Carolina (9.406)
Duke (9.269)
Purdue University (9.233)
Virginia Tech (9.100)
Iowa State (9.073)
North Carolina State (8.985)
Texas Tech (8.948)

Towson Dance Team Tops In NDA

2010-04-10T18:19:00.000-07:00

TU Dance Team captures 12th consecutive crown
ExlporeBaltimoreCounty.com

The Towson University Dance Team won the 2010 National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship — the team's 12th consecutive national championship — this week in Daytona Beach, Fla., according to university officials.

According to a release from the school, the TU Dance Team was the top seed going into the competition, winning the Division I competition beating Harvard, James Madison, Columbia University, Boston University and others.

The team consists of 27 members and is coached by Towson University professor of Theatre Arts Tom Cascella. The team is formally associated with TU's Department of Theatre Arts.

"We’re extremely excited and proud to represent Towson University once again at the national championships," said Casella.

"The team spirit and cooperation of this group of young women makes them champions," he said. "I can’t begin to tell you how proud I am of our team.”

The Tiger's precision dances are a combination of hip-hop, jazz, funk and pom routines. The Towson University Dance Team performs throughout the Mid-Atlantic Region and at Towson University Athletic Department competitions and numerous community events.

Almost 5,000 student athletes and 15,000 spectators convened for the Daytona Beach competition. The NCA/NDA Collegiate Championship is the largest College Cheer and Dance Championship in the world.

Penn State Lionettes To Attend Nationals

2010-04-04T14:25:00.000-07:00

By Jessica Wabara
Collegian Online

Friends and families of the Lionettes filled the stands of the White Building's gym Sunday afternoon to show their support for the dance team before they leave for a national competition.

The dancers will depart April 6 for Daytona Beach, Fla., to compete in the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Competition. The Lionettes will compete in the preliminary rounds April 8, and if they rank high enough, they'll proceed to the final round on April 9.

Last year, the girls placed fourth at the competition.

"I think the Lionettes are an awesome dance team," audience member Rene Garcia (sophomore-forensic science) said. "They put a lot of work into their dance routines, and they deserve to win."

Dressed in black-and-violet outfits covered in glitter, the girls entertained the crowd with jumps, twirls and flips in an energy-filled routine.

Kneeling down and cheering on the dancers was the Lionettes' national captain, Nicole Bautz (senior-crime, law and justice).

While the girls prepare for national competition, Bautz is in charge of costumes, make-up and making sure the performance is ready for competition.

"It's been a long, bumpy ride, so I'm excited to see it on the dance floor in Florida," Bautz said.

After their performance, the team captains, Alexandra Costello (senior-health policy and administration), Erin Zoch (senior-kinesiology) and JoAnn Esposito (senior-finance), told the crowd that they appreciated its love and support.

Sue Sherburne, the team's adviser for 12 years, ended the event by promising the audience that the team will rank at least fifth.

Unlike the other teams at the competition, the Lionettes will be the only team without a coach. Zoch explained that because the team has no coach, each of the girls has to push herself and her teammates.

"We like to look at what we have," Sherburne said, "rather than what we don't have."

Dance Spirit Magazine Features Towson Dance Team

2010-03-20T18:53:00.000-07:00

Dance Spirit Magazine features the Towson University Dance Team on the cover of its April issue. The dominant squad at National Dance Alliance (NDA) collegiate nationals, Towson has been taking top honors for 11 years. Last year, the team entered the open division competition to broaden their scope and placed first again. The Towson Dance Team is coached by Tom Cascella.

For Allison Feller's full article on the Towson Dance Team in Dance Spirit Magazine Click Here

For a feature on coach Tom Cascella in Dance Teacher Magazine by Lisa Traiger Click Here

To visit the Towson Dance Team official website Click Here

Dance Team To Represent Siena at NCAA Tournament

2010-03-14T16:54:00.000-07:00

By Pete Iorizzo
Times Union.com

The Siena dance team still is going to the NCAA Tournament instead of the cheer team.

But this time, the cheer and dance teams got to make the call.

Here’s what happened: This past week Siena announced that it would send the dance team instead of the cheer team to the NCAA Tournament. The decision was made because the cheer team had gone the past two years.

Siena’s president, the Rev. Kevin Mullen, acknowledged this selection process was flawed, because neither team was consulted. So on Thursday he decided to start the process from scratch — and allow the teams to decide.

Mullen met with the coaches and captains from both teams and empowered them to pick which should go. During that meeting, the students chose to send the dance team.

“I’m very grateful for the maturity, concern and sensitivity shown by the leadership of both teams,” Mullen said in a statement. “The students were dedicated to working toward a good solution. I’m confident that now our attention is correctly directed toward supporting the men’s basketball team as a united community.”

The NCAA allows each school only 12 “spirit” positions during the Tournament. Therefore, it is not possible for Siena to send both teams.

“We respect all the time and hard work the Cheer Team dedicates to Siena Basketball,” dance team coach Meegan Mostransky said in a statement. “We look forward to working with the Cheer Team on combined routines and events in the future.”

“My team and I fully support and respect the decision to send the Dance Team,” cheer team coach Kerry Spilman said. “We are very excited that those students get to experience this great opportunity, one we have been so lucky to have experienced the past two years.”

Feature: St. Benedict Dancer Kayelee Gill-Davidge

2010-03-14T16:48:00.000-07:00

Dancing is Kayelee Gill-Davidge's life
By JENNIFER STOCKINGER
Brainerd Dispatch

The 2009 Brainerd High School graduate has been dancing since she was 3. She took dance classes at Just For Kix and was on the BHS dance team. She competed at the state dance competition every year of her high school career.

"I had a lot of energy and I needed an outlet," said Gill-Davidge. "Dance was my outlet. When I was little, my sisters and I would dress up all the time and perform. I come from a dance family."

Gill-Davidge - who has done kick since age 3, ballet since fifth grade, jazz and lyrical dance since seventh grade - did not end her dance career after high school. Gill-Davidge, 18, tried out for the dance team at the College of St. Benedict, where she is a freshman.

"I wasn't sure at first if I wanted to dance," said Gill-Davidge. "I was going back and forth. I wanted to focus more on my school work, but then I thought if I don't try out I may regret it.

"I was really nervous at try-outs because there were girls from the Twin Cities who were on some of the top dance teams in the state. We learned a dance all day and then we tried out in small groups. It was hard because they shoved all these skills into a one-minute dance."

Gill-Davidge said about 100 girls tried out for the three dance teams at the college: The national team of 12 girls who compete in the national dance competitions; the regional team of 16 girls who compete in regional competitions; and the performance team, which is a combination of the two other teams, who perform for entertainment.

Gill-Davidge made the national and performance teams. Gill-Davidge said she participated in one performance team event and three competitions at Minnesota colleges. The national team also danced in the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in January in Orlando, Fla. St. Ben's took fourth place out of 27 teams in the open class division.

"This was the highest the college has even placed in the last couple of years," said Gill-Davidge. "We're pretty proud. The competition was pretty intense and intimidating because it was in the Milk House at Disney's Wide World of Sports and ESPN was videotaping the competition and backstage."

Gill-Davidge said the team danced to "National Women," a song remake that was performed to a lyrical dance. Gill-Davidge said the routine had a lot of high skills with a lot of turns. Before the competitions, Gill-Davidge said they practiced two hours a day, four days a week.

Gill-Davidge said competing on the college dance team was different from competing on the high school dance team. One of the main differences is the focus. Gill-Davidge said in high school the practices were more focused on running the routine many times and it was at a faster pace. On the college team, Gill-Davidge said it was a slower pace and the team focused more on endurance and strengthening.

Another difference was the college team doesn't have a coach, it's run by team captains, said Gill-Davidge.

"I feel there was more pressure at the practices on the high school dance team because the coach was watching you," said Gill-Davidge. "But being my first year on the college team, I didn't know what to expect so that was a little nerve-wracking."

Gill-Davidge, who is majoring in elementary education at St. Ben's, said being on the college dance team did not take away any of her time from her school work. In fact, she said it pushed her to do her homework on time.

Being in dance, Gill-Davidge said has helped her with time management, how to work with others and accept compromise and be supportive of others.

Gill-Davidge said during her school breaks she has helped with the BHS dance team. She said she also teaches two dance classes at the Just For Kix studio in St. Cloud.

Gill-Davidge said she also is interested in art, especially painting and drawing.

SI.com Features ASU Spirit Squad Member Nicole

2010-03-06T15:54:00.000-08:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Nicole from Arizona State as the "Cheerleader of the Week." SI.com features Nicole and several members of the ASU Spirit Squad in 32 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

Penn State Feature; Dance Team Becomes Second Family

2010-02-25T19:31:00.000-08:00

By Jocelyn Syrstad
PHOTO: Chloe Elmer
Daily Collegian Online

When Karley Chism first arrived in Spain for her semester abroad, she found she was missing something -- her sisters.

Chism is a twin, but that wasn't the relationship she was talking about. She was referring to the 26 other members of the Lionettes dance team.

Dance team members consider their bond with one another greater than just being friends. They see the team as a second family.

Senior Alexandra Costello even pointed out that nine of the dancers live together in a house off College Avenue, and many more are roommates elsewhere.

"It has been so difficult being away from the team and the girls this semester," Chism wrote in an e-mail. "Dance team has helped me create so much of who I am. My teammates are amazing. We are all like sisters. It's really tough not being able to dance and perform, which is such a passion of mine, and it's so difficult not to see all of my close friends everyday."

The dancers said the reason they have become so close is in part because of their tremendous respect for one another. The team is self-run -- meaning there are no coach -- so the Lionettes work together to ready themselves for performances and competitions.

At practices, one dancer will teach a dance to part of the team while the others sit against the mirror critiquing what they see, making sure the team is ready to perform.

All choreography and music is approved by the captains. The dancers are held responsible for cutting their own music and putting together their own moves and formations for every dance.

"We're all leaders on this team because we don't have a coach," senior captain JoAnn Esposito said. "When we all get in that room we all know we're there because we want to be there and not because someone's telling us exactly what to do. It's definitely shaped us."

While the dancers admit they work well together without a coach, it does come with some struggles and adjustments.

For freshmen or new members of the team, it can take some time to get used to taking direction from their peers. Nearly all of the Lionettes were members of their high school dance teams or danced for their hometown studio prior to making the team.
Coming from that background, the dancers are used to following the lead of a coach or an instructor. It is an adjustment nearly every team member needs to make their first season.

"It's a huge change in dynamic, because you don't have someone telling you what to do next," said junior Marisa Pollack, who joined the team after her freshman year. "It's all about your own motivation and determination to be the best dancer you can be."

Once the team members get over the initial shock of not having a coach, they are then faced with the struggle of having to discipline their own teammates.

The dancers don't see a lot of drama on the team, so disrespect and discipline isn't a huge issue -- but it is something that can take them out of their comfort zone.

"It's very hard being in a captain position, because that team is literally my best friends," senior Erin Zoch said. "You have to get to a level where they respect you enough not to fool around but also remember there's a line of friendship. We still love each other, and when you love somebody, you respect them."

Though the Lionettes are without a coach, they do have a mom. Sue Sherburne, an academic adviser to the Lady Lions basketball team, acts as a voluntary adviser to the dance team. She has volunteered with the team since 1998.

Freshman Melissa Diehl said Sherburne is helpful to all the dancers and wants to make sure they are all OK. The Lionettes know they can turn to Sherburne with any problem they have -- whether it's dance related or not.

"She's been a great go-between for them," said Penn State cheerleading head coach Curtis White, who is also a close friend to Sherburne. "She oversees it to make sure it's all working out well, but she also gives them a lot of freedom to make decisions on their own. She's great for them."

While the dancers feel honored to have Sherburne there for them, the adviser is also proud to work with them.

She often boasts about the Lionettes' cumulative GPA of 3.6, which has stood for the past three semesters. She also is quick to mention the dancers are great role models for other young women.

"It's a really rewarding experience," Sherburne said. "I feel very fortunate to work with them. They're a great group of girls. It's a valuable experience, and I'm pleased with the fact that they all have a great overall perspective and that it's not linear."

The women see their experience on the team as rewarding as well. The bond they share with one another has helped them see success even without a coach, which is unusual for a college dance team.

The result of their hard work was displayed at the National Dance Association (NDA) national competition last spring, when the Lionettes finished in fourth place. Pollack said that accomplishment, completed without a coach and as a family, brought instant tears and screams of pure excitement.

Doing everything on their own provides a sense of achievement for the dancers every time they step out to perform.

"We all come together and work," Zoch said.

"That's the most rewarding thing, just coming together and you feel the energy and want from every person on the team. We're all one big family, and everyone is dedicated to making us better and better."

Even those not members of the dance team admire the bond.

"I have two daughters who are 11 and 14," said associate athletic director for marketing and communications Greg Myford, who also works closely with the Lionettes. "When I look at these girls, I would like to think that I would be endlessly proud of my daughters if they turn out like these girls. I think that's the ultimate compliment you can give to someone."

Dancing Through Stag Life; Fairfield Dance Team Feature

2010-02-25T19:27:00.000-08:00

By: Renee Borghesi
The Fairfield Mirror

The buzzer echoes throughout the arena. Halftime. Ten girls run out to the middle of the court, getting into position. They have two minutes to show everyone what they can do, to put together what they have been practicing for two weeks and make it look effortless.

While the first strains of music blare over the loudspeaker, last-minute nerves are shaken off before the twirls, jumps, and intricate dance steps are performed perfectly synchronized to the lyrics. Shouts of approval from students are heard from all directions of the venue while fans wandering off to the concession stand stop to watch.

The Fairfield University Dance Team performs at all home men and women’s basketball games both on campus at Alumni Hall and off-campus at the Arena at Harbor Yard in Bridgeport. They perform during timeouts and do a longer routine at half time. During the game, the Dance Team cheers on the Stags from the sidelines.

“It took me awhile to get used to the fact that I was standing on the sidelines for every second of the game,” Deirdre Neubauer ’11 remembered about her first year on the team. “I remember being very nervous my first game because I wasn’t sure what I was doing and every timeout we were doing something different.”

Rachel Greco ’13 felt the same way the first time stepping out onto the court.

“Once I started dancing, the nerves went away,” Greco said. “Now when I go out there, it’s really fun.”

Unlike most other teams or clubs on campus, the Dance Team successfully takes care of itself and the girls are rewarded for their efforts with personal satisfaction and bringing entertainment to those who watch them. Being a member of the Dance Team is completely voluntary and members do not receive class credit. All of the dances are made up by the members, so everyone gets a chance to create a halftime or timeout routine and see it performed at the games.

“We put a lot of time and effort into the team, which shows our commitment and love to the art of dance and performing,” captain Hailey Conn ’10 said.

The team had been without a coach for some time until Marie Chaisson stepped in at the end of the 2007-2008 school year. Chaisson’s background is in cheerleading, so coaching both cheer and dance has been a hard balance to find. Chaisson acts as the liaison between the athletic department and Dance Team and helps with logistics like budgets, but the dance aspect is left up to the team, said Conn.

The Dance Team’s dedication has been met with success. They do more than entertain crowds at basketball games, these young women take Stag fever on the road to represent Fairfield University throughout the state and country.

The Dance Team was only three spots away from making the finals at the Universal Dance Association National Championship in Disney World and finished in the top 20, ranking 8 spots higher than last year.

“It’s only the second year that the Fairfield University Dance Team has been there, so every year we will grow even stronger,” Greco said.

Although Nationals is a highlight experience for members of Dance Team, it isn’t all fun and games, said Neubauer. The dances for Nationals are more intricate than the ones performed at games; the team performs one contemporary and one hip-hop dance. They start learning the two routines by the end of September and work continuously until Nationals, which are held in the second week of January. This year, the team came back to school a week early before Nationals for three or four hour practices twice a day and spent almost 24 hours together each day of that week.

“Spending all of that time together as a team has bonded us in ways not everyone will find in college,” Conn said. “The team has made lifelong friendships, and when we perform together you can see how close we all are.”

Minnesota Spirit Squads Light Up Nationals

2010-02-06T08:32:00.000-08:00

GopherSports.com

The University of Minnesota spirit squads turned in a dominating performance at the recently completed UCA/UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

The squads took a timeout from cheering on the Golden Gophers from the sidelines on Jan. 15-18 and claimed five top-7 performances, including a double national championship by the dance team.

Traditionally one of the nation's strongest programs, the Gophers were once again on top of their game led by the dance team's first-place finishes in both the jazz and pom categories.

"The entire squad was just unbelievable and I could not be more proud of their performance," said head coach Sam Owens. "This competition was extremely fierce, but the overall performance the team turned in was one of the best I have seen and the results really speak for themselves."

After taking third in last year's competition in jazz, the Gopher dance team took their performance to another level to capture this year's national title. The squad then doubled up by taking the top spot in the pom competition.

"Once again the dance team was simply outstanding," Owens said. "Their routines were crisp and clean and the scores reflected just how good the performance was. They were on top of their game."

Goldy Gopher also turned in a stellar performance as the precocious rodent nabbed third place in the mascot completion.

No to be outdone, the Gophers All-Girl and Co-Ed teams turned in top-7 finishes as well. The Co-Ed squad captured sixth place in just its second appearance ever at national, up from ninth last year. The Co-Ed Squad, meanwhile, placed seventh to make Minnesota the only Division IA squad to post top-10 finishes in all divisions.

Teams from 43 states and 152 universities and colleges competed in the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship, which celebrated its 26th year of competition.

Creighton Dance Team: All Smiles

2010-02-06T08:26:00.000-08:00

By Patrick Marshall
Whiteandbluereview.com

Think for a moment of a young adult proudly wearing a university’s colors while performing out on a court in front of more than 15,000 screaming fans. The spotlights are focused squarely on their every move, and they fear they will not be in sync with their teammates. Any mistakes they make are scrutinized.

You’re correct if you pictured an athlete. But it isn’t a basketball player. It is a different type of athlete. It is a member of the Creighton Dance Team.

The members of Creighton’s dance team are an integral part of promoting Bluejays athletics. They show up to the school’s sporting events wearing bright smiles and White and Blue uniforms, often performing from the opening tip, through game time, during timeouts, and even halftime and intermission. And these student-athletes commit even more time and preparation outside the fields and courts of play to put the best possible dance team together each year. Here’s an inside look at the Creighton Dance Team.

History
While cheerleaders and pep squads inspiring school spirit at college campuses is a long-standing tradition in collegiate athletics, the modern iteration of Creighton’s cheer squad dates back to 1979. That’s when longtime Creighton Education Department employee Judy Streitz organized the dance team, which isn’t to be confused with the co-ed cheerleading squad that the school disbanded in the early 1990s due to liability issues. The dance team is separate, has survived through the years, and is a University-sponsored spirit team.

The squad consists of 12-18 young women who work throughout the season at all home events, starting with volleyball games and a select number of men’s and women’s soccer matches in the fall. They perform at all home men’s and women’s basketball games, they travel to both the Men’s and Women’s Missouri Valley Conference basketball tournaments, and then end the school year performing at some baseball and softball home games. That adds up to roughly more than 100 sporting events as well as other appearances on campus and throughout the community.

The Dance Team is registered as a student activity on campus. They are partially supported by the Athletic Department and the Creighton Student Union, but they still seek outside sponsorship. Currently, Superberries is their major sponsor and the team helps find minor sponsors for the basketball programs. The dance team holds several fund raising events to help pay for their uniforms — the most expensive part of being on the team. The captains receive a plethora of catalogs to piece together uniforms. Then they meet with the moderator to narrow down some appropriate choices, taking cost into consideration. Then it is up to the team as a whole to approve the outfits.

Putting the Team Together
But forget about putting together the clothing; how does the team come together? It all starts with Alynne Wize who serves as moderator for the dance team. In her role, she oversee tryouts (recruiting, securing location/date/time, hiring judges, tallying scores, and posting the final team selections), elections for officers, guiding the officers in their roles, ordering uniforms for the team, scheduling appearances in the public, and the team’s in-game management.

That’s right, tryouts. Wize works with Creighton’s Admissions Department every year and speaks to any incoming freshmen about their interest in the team. She’ll speak to interested students’ parents and answer any questions they might have about Creighton’s dance team.

There are audition guidelines, which include the tryouts in early April. Members already on the squad have to tryout from year to year and are not guaranteed a spot on the next year’s team. There are stringent requirements as defined in their bylaws to stay on the team as well, including maintaining a certain grade point average and completing a strength and conditioning program. In fact, the dance team works with the same strength and conditioning staff as the other Creighton student-athletes, and separate circuits are developed for the team and then altered as needed.

A lot of the women on the dance team participate simply because they enjoy the performances and have danced all their lives. There is not a scholarship system in place to help the dancers with financial aid. However, there is a small pool of money members can earn from based on the team’s Constitution:

Monies provided by CU Athletics will be distributed fairly amongst members. The distribution will be based on the following criteria, in order:

1. The member’s need
2. The member’s eligibility
3. The member’s attendance record
4. The member’s grade point average

Often the biggest challenge the dancers face is juggling their participation in the dance team with other opportunities. Dance team practice and performance takes priority over any other university or non-university event (other than classes or class-related activities). Thus, the team must work around academic schedules and the spring tryouts to organize practice time before and between the squad’s actual appearances.

The Performance
The Jays Dancers practice in the Old Gym or sometimes at the Kiewit Fitness Center. They get together over the summer to practice one day each month, but then also spend several hours in the fall and in the spring practicing. This doesn’t include, of course, the hours they spend together during the events at which they perform. The music, the choreography, and the practices are organized by the different officers in the group. They work with the CU Pep Band and the Blue Crew to coordinate in-game operations. A lot of effort on behalf of these groups goes in to providing Bluejays fans the best possible atmosphere at Creighton sporting events.

To get ready for each event, the team arrives one hour before the game. So in most cases, each sporting event they participate in, they dedicate about 4 hours of their day to be a part of the group. Everything sounds pretty serious about the dancers, but they do have a lot of fun and get a little crazy at times. Team Fundraising Officer, Abbie, says:

“The dance team shares many crazy moments, but some of my favorites are all the funny things that happen in the locker rooms at games. We all get each other and our senses of humor, so if people from the outside would hear about it they wouldn’t get it.”

There is a big difference between doing some dance activities in high school compared to doing the same in college. “Although it is somewhat similar to high school dance team, there are certain differences. For one, we are more involved in the games. Also the amount of time we spend together as a team practicing and attending games and events is much more involved and a larger time commitment,” Abbie says.

They need all that practice because each night the dance team performs, fans see a different routine. Some dance teams across the nation perform the same number over and over, but Creighton’s squad brings a different performance each game. Still, the dancers have their favorite routines. “The team’s best dance would have been from last season, Bridget and Catherine’s routine, Calabria,” Abbie says. “We got many compliments not only from fans but also from those who work for Creighton.”

Playing up the Crowd
As much as the dancers enjoy performing for crowds at Creighton sporting events and getting everyone involved in the action, they also want to help create the future of the Creighton Dance Team. Every year the team hosts the Lil’ Jays Dance Clinic, which brings anywhere between 75 and 150 kids the chance to learn some dances and routines from the dancers they idolize.

This year’s clinic is Saturday, February 13, from 8:00-10:30 a.m. The clinic is open to little dancers ages 3 through the 8th grade. For a $25 fee, the kids get:

- Instruction from current Creighton Dance Team members
- A Lil’ Jays Dancer T-Shirt
- A Valentine’s Day treat bag
- The opportunity to show off their new skills during a halftime dance at that afternoon’s Creighton women’s basketball game vs. Evansville (It is a “Pink Out” game, so wear your pink!)
- Complimentary tickets for their parents to watch them perform at halftime of the 11 a.m. game

The deadline to register for the Lil’ Jays Dance Clinic is February 5.

But the dance team doesn’t pick Lil’ Jays Dancers just once a year; the dance team and the Creighton Promotions team offer fans at men’s and women’s basketball games the chance to sign up to be selected as the Lil’ Jays Dancer of the Game. You can see how much fun these kids have by the size of their smiles on the big screens at the Qwest Center and Sokol Arena.

The Creighton Dance Team has continued its long tradition thanks to the talented young people that come to CU and give their effort and time to represent the school so well. The current Jays Dancers hope to see more talented, fabulous young women continue the team in the future.

Solid Gold: UNI Dance Team Brings Home National Title

2010-02-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

By AMIE STEFFEN, amie.steffen@wcfcourier.com
Photo: MATTHEW PUTNEY / Courier Photo Editor
WCFCourier.com

CEDAR FALLS - The next time you check out a University of Northern Iowa basketball game, take heart knowing you're watching champions perform.

Not necessarily the women's or men's basketball teams - although the season's not over yet.

Nope, it's the team waving pompoms, doing complicated dance routines and smiling the whole time.

UNI dance team members just came back from a weekend in sunny Orlando, Fla., with a big trophy and gold medals around their necks for winning first in the nation among collegiate dance teams in the pom division.

"Lots of tears" is how UNI junior Emily Hauser describes the squad's feeling after its name was announced as the champion at the Universal Dance Association College Nationals two weeks ago.

It was the first time in school history that the UNI dance team has claimed a national title.

The highest the team had ever gotten at nationals was fifth place, said squad adviser and recent UNI grad Jessica Fuller.

Videos of the team on UDA's Web site show the 14 student-athletes rapidly work their two-minute routine with precision.

They also entered the jazz division, where they placed eighth overall.

"People say, ‘How do you get first and eighth?' It's a completely different style," senior Amanda Miller said. "(Nationals are) continuously getting harder and harder. Our goal is to excel in our team as best we can."

Though Fuller handles administrative aspects of the squad, the women on the team choreograph and practice on their own.

Some months, Miller said, that means practicing 30 to 40 hours per week - all for routines that amount to no more than a couple of minutes during a football or basketball game or wrestling match.

They credit that work ethic for their win in Orlando.

"We told the girls, ‘This isn't going to be handed to us,'" senior Holli Rutherford said.

Qualifying for the UDA College Nationals at a camp last summer, the squad also elected to send in a tape. It was rewarded with an all-expenses paid trip.

Once there, the dance team ran away with the pom championship, besting the second place team by 60 points - "which is unheard of," Miller said.

"We really overcame our division," she said. "Hopefully, the division gets better and better."

The team was honored for its accomplishment during a break in play at Wednesday night's men's basketball game against Drake.

College Prep Clinic
The team will host a College Prep Clinic Feb. 20.
The open clinic is designed to get people familiar with what a college dance squad does and try some routines.
For more information, e-mail uni-dance@uni.edu.

Orange Coast College: Give the squad a W-I-N

2010-01-30T18:08:00.001-08:00

College’s dance squad took first and second place in competition in Florida. They say their secret weapon is ‘practice, practice, practice.’

By Tom Ragan
Daily Pilot

As though choreographed, the girls gather around the pair of shiny trophies at the Fitness Complex at Orange Coast College, falling in lock step to something they’ve grown accustomed to over the years: winning national titles in Orlando, Fla.

It’s not the first time the OCC Dance Squad has returned with a first and second place trophy — and it certainly won’t be the last. The 16-member squad has won 14 national titles in the last 15 years, and some of the girls have gone on to bigger things — like dancing for the Los Angeles Lakers, the Los Angeles Clippers or the San Diego Chargers.

The key to their success isn’t just about pretty looks, dazzling smiles and swirling hair. As corny as it sounds, they say it’s all about “practice, practice, practice” — mixed in, of course, with Coach Dan Sapp’s eye for originality and his 25 years of coaching experience.

“The girls are very disciplined, and they know what to expect when they come into the program,” Sapp said. “We have a goal and we reach for it. I try to come up with something new and innovative and then we drill and work on it — mentally, physically and emotionally.”

By the time the national competition rolls around, they’re more than prepared, Sapp said. But even then the girls don’t sit back and rest. Over Christmas break, for example, they did nothing but practice, they said, some of them waking up as early as 5 a.m. to begin their moves.

“For three hours a day, for two weeks straight, we got together every day and practiced,” said Stephanie Yonkovich, 20, one of the squad’s captains. “The coach reminds us that we have a reputation to uphold, and we try to uphold it.”

And that’s exactly what the team did on the East Coast. They took first place in the “Pom-pon” category and second place in jazz before a 4,000-plus crowd at the Orlando venue earlier this month. In all, 30 dance teams competed and 15 made it to the finals.

It was quite the moment when judges announced OCC as the first- and second-place winners among the smaller universities and junior colleges across the country.

“What’s special is that we never won first place in ‘the pom’ before,” said Taylor Winston, 19. “It was something we set out to do and we did it. That’s what we’re all about: setting higher standards for ourselves.”

For those who don’t know the difference between cheerleading and dance squad, there’s a distinction. The OCC cheer squad, a formidable unit in its own right, performs all sorts of acrobats and pyramids while the dance team, well, dances. While the cheerleaders are “more athletic,” the dance squad is more “more artistic,” Sapp said.

Both, however, work beautifully together as a team, said Mike Reynolds, cheer coach and advisor for OCC’s Cheer and Dance Program.

“These days, they’re starting as early as 6 years old,” Reynolds said. “You have to if you want to be really good.”

If anybody would like to see the two teams perform together, Sunday is your chance.

Both will be performing inside the Pyramid at Cal State Long Beach, starting about 11 a.m.

Delaware Dance Team Win Big In Nationals

2010-01-30T16:16:00.002-08:00

By Jerry Rhodes
Newark Post

The University of Delaware dance, cheerleading and mascot teams turned in award-winning performances at the 2010 United Cheerleading Association and Universal Dance Association national championships, held Jan. 15-18 at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Fla.

The UD dance team took first place in the hip hop competition and third in jazz, while the UD cheerleaders finished in second place overall in Division I.

YoUDee, a Mascot Hall of Fame member and defending national champion, took second place in the open mascot finals. Performances and results of the mascot, dance and cheerleading team competitions can be found at the Varsity.com Web site.

The UD dance team won its second consecutive first place award in the hip hop competition, and its third title in the genre's seven-year history.

Pamela Leary, a senior communication major from Newtown, Pa., and a three-year veteran, said coming back to campus with another first place trophy was on the minds of everybody on the dance team.

“Hip hop has not been around as long as the jazz category and after winning it last year, we really wanted to make it two years in a row,” Leary said. “We try to pick a song that is familiar to the judges and the fans, and this year we chose 'Bad Boys for Life' by P. Diddy.”

Getting ready for the two-minute performance, the 14 members who were on stage created a circle to get comfortable while adding a visual complement to the music, Leary said.

“Each dancer has her own place, and we usually do 13 formations, something which energizes our performance and keeps it from seeming flat,” Leary said. “We knew second place is still very good but we really wanted to show that that we were the best, and we did. A lot of teams came up and complimented us on our performance.”

The dance team also proved that it has a diverse repertoire by taking third in the jazz competition this year.

Marissa Lewis, a freshman University studies student from East Brunswick, N.J., said it is hard to believe that a routine that took months to prepare goes by so quickly in a two-minute performance.

“It was like a blur,” Lewis said. “I was nervous but all the girls were there and we calmed each other down.”

For high school and college students interested in becoming a member of the UD dance team, a college preparatory clinic will be held Feb. 21, in the Carpenter Sports Building, and auditions are slated for April 17-18. For more information, visit the dance team Web site.

Benjamin Schreiber, first-year head coach of the UD cheerleading team, said that the team came together and performed well against a group of highly competitive rivals.

“We're getting closer as a team,” Schreiber said. “We are excited to work the rest of the basketball season and then to take a break and plan for the future.”

Michael Martinez, a sophomore quantitative biology major from Saddle Brook, N.J., said that the skills required as a member of the UD cheerleading team are different than those associated with the sports he played in high school.

“I played football, wrestling and baseball in high school, but this is different,” Martinez said. “A friend of mine made the team, and I became interested. I came to the trials and made the team, as well.”

While the mascot performance in competition at the national level lasts just about 90 seconds, each skit and prop represents countless hours of preparation in getting things just right, said Kenneth Siebold, a freshman sports marketing major from Newark, Del.

“It was a lot of work to prepare for it, but it paid off in the end,” Siebold, a first-time nationals participant, said. “Designing and building the props is tedious, and for the newer members of the team, it involves a lot of grunt work, but it's also a lot of fun.”

Chavez Eaton, a sophomore computer science major from Felton, Del., and first-time mascot team visitor to Disney World, described the performance as phenomenal. “It was my first time flying and going to Disney World,” he said. “The hard work paid off and I certainly would do it again. I also liked hearing students from other schools say how much they respected all of our spirit teams.”

Andrew Macleary, junior accounting and international business major from Wilmington, said returning to the nationals as a veteran made it somewhat a less-intimidating and more enjoyable experience.

“I went last year, but going this year was even better, because I knew what we had to do,” Macleary said. “This year the skits were better and the bar was raised for all of us.”

Kevin Di Girolamo, a junior organizational and community leadership major from Hockessin and returning mascot team member, said, “Once you know what it's like at the competition, it makes it better.”

Chad Mills, a junior biology major from Bear, Del., also said that returning members have a better idea of what needs to be done and that it's great to follow a project through, from an original idea to the final performance at the competition.

SeattleU Dance Team to Host Clinic February 27

2010-01-30T16:09:00.001-08:00

GoSeattleU.com

The Seattle University Dance Team invites all aspiring young dancers to the Collegiate Dance Team Clinic and Halftime Performance on Saturday, Feb. 27, at KeyArena at Seattle Center.

The clinic will take place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will involve technique instruction as well as a seminar on preparing for college dance team tryouts. Campers will learn a halftime routine, sideline movements, and stingers, and a Q&A with the Seattle University Dance Team will close out the session.

At halftime of that night's men's basketball game between Seattle University and Cal State Bakersfield, the campers will join the SeattleU Dance Team in a special performance. Each camper will receive two tickets to the game as well as a clinic T-shirt.

The cost of the clinic is $50 per student, with teams of eight or more dancers receiving a 10% discount off the registration fee per person. The registration form can be downloaded by clicking the link above, or for more information contact Hayley Quinn, head dance team coach, at (206) 948-5116 or quinna@seattleu.edu.

UALR Dance Team to Host Clinic

2010-01-30T16:05:00.000-08:00

UALRTrojans.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The UALR Dance Team will host a kids clinic Saturday, February 13 at the Jack Stephens Center. The clinic is open to kids age 6-12 and costs $25 per dancer.

Each participant will get to perform at half-time of the UALR Trojans game against Western Kentucky that night and will also receive a UALR dance t-shirt and tickets to the game.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with the clinic starting at 9 a.m. and ending at 12 p.m. Participants must wear tennis shoes and gym clothes to the clinic.

For more information or to R.S.V.P., please contact Andrea Nunez at (501) 569-3393 or at alduc@ualr.edu.

Two National Titles Come Home With The Minnesota Dance Team

2010-01-30T16:02:00.000-08:00

GopherSports.com

The University of Minnesota Dance Team brought home the National Championship in both Division 1A Jazz and Division 1A Pom. The team was the first dance team to capture the coveted double title within the Division 1A College National Championship.

The UDA College National Championship is held in Orlando, FL. The championship involves three steps of competition all of which the Golden Gopher Dance Team finished in 1st. The first step is when each team submits a video to qualify for the National Championship which results in national rankings leading into the weekend. Upon arrival in Florida, each team competes in a semi-final round to determine the qualifying teams for finals. The final round of competition was held on Sunday, January 17th in the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex with teams representing the Big 10, Pac 10, SEC, ACC and Big East Conferences.

When asked how to describe what it felt like when they called Minnesota for the title in both divisions, Senior Captain Toni Gabrielli said, "It was a feeling of disbelief. Oddly enough, it was a humbling experience to hear Minnesota called after three years of being on the other side of things. Our team already felt like champions because of the work we put into our routines before even arriving in Orlando. Having our drive and passion acknowledged and appreciated by people we respect is just icing on the cake!"

The University of Minnesota Dance Team won the National Championship in 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2006. The 2010 Championship is the 5th Title in the program's history.

CSUF Dance Team Wins National Title

2010-01-30T15:58:00.000-08:00

By Katelin Paiz
DailyTitan.com

The Cal State Fullerton dance team beat out dancers from around the country to win this year’s UCA Division college national title, which was hosted in Orlando, Florida on the Jan. 17. The win gave the team its ninth title in 11 years.

“It was very intense,” said Chelsea Horn, a member of the team for the past two years. “There were a lot of teams there, but we were able to focus throughout the whole experience, which I think really helped us do well.”

This win follows what the team’s advisers call a disappointing third place finish in last year’s competition.

“To not only lose our title but to get third place, it was just a hard loss,” said adviser Jennie Volkert, an alumnus of the team. Volkert added, however, that “to come back this year and be there with the girls and actually take our title back and get the win, it was amazing.”

The team was able to beat out local rivals Cal State Long Beach by over 13 points.

“This year was probably the best competition I’ve ever seen. I mean it could have gone a lot of different ways. We, fortunately, just had an amazing performance,” said Volkert.

The team credits its win to the incredible amount of work the team put in. During competition season, the team practices every day.

“They’re 100 percent devoted, that’s for sure,” said adviser Sam Shen, who, like her colleague, is an alumna of the team.
Only 10 of the 11 dancers were able to compete following an incident last month in which one of the dancers hurt her thumb, an injury that required surgery, during a performance at a basketball game.

Team captain Sarah Ellman said she felt that the team was driven.

“We just pretty much did everything we could to really focus this year and we were determined to win,” said Ellman.
In a bonding effort, the dancers were paired up in a big sister/little sister fashion in which one of the teams veterans adopted a newcomer.

“We quickly bonded with them by having little sister/big sister,” said Ellman; adding, “some of us even room together off campus.”

For 11 years, the team has been a fixture on campus, starting as a club under ASI. The team was adopted by the athletics department five years ago and has been an integral part of the CSUF Spirit Squad, made up of cheerleaders, dancers and mascots, ever since.

The team mainly performs at men’s and women’s basketball games but also attends volleyball, soccer and baseball games.

The tryouts for the team will likely be held between mid April and early May.

An airing of the performance will be made available on ESPN and ESPN2 within the month.

The team will be performing its national-winning routine at the homecoming game this Saturday.

UNI Dance Team Wins National Title

2010-01-30T15:54:00.000-08:00

WCFCourier.com

CEDAR FALLS --- The University of Northern Iowa dance team captured a national championship at the 2010 Universal Dance Association (UDA) National Championships in Orlando, Fla.
The dance team received first place in the Pom division, marking the first time in school history that the UNI dance team has claimed a national title.

The squad also took eighth place in the Jazz division.

The dance team arrived in Orlando on Jan. 14. After practices on Thursday night and Friday morning, they performed in the Jazz semi-finals on Saturday and advanced to the finals. They performed in both the Jazz division and Pom division finals on Jan. 17, coming away with the school's first title.

Dance team adviser is Jessica Fuller.

"The UNI Dance Team has progressively been making a name for themselves not only at the university but in the nation. Their hard work, dedication, and passion for dance have gotten them to where they deserve, which is winning the national title," she said.

The significance of winning a national championship was not lost on the team members. Holli Rutherford, a senior, said, "At the moment they announced our name as national champions it was the most amazing feeling. There are not words to express how happy and how proud I was to be a part of history. My senior year as a UNI dancer could not have had a better ending. I will forever be proud of the hard work that our team put into making our dream come true."

Results
Division I Pom - 1st Place
Division I Jazz - 8th Place

LSU Tiger Girls Take Top Spot At Nationals

2010-01-30T15:48:00.000-08:00

By Lauren Hendrix
TigerWeekly.com

While most of the nation was focused on the Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, the LSU Tiger Girls Dance Team and the LSU Cheerleaders were battling it out on the mat at the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships at the Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla.

Both spirit teams moved up a spot in their categories. LSUSports.net reported this time last year that the Tigers Girls placed second in the Hip-Hop category and took seventh place in the Jazz category. The LSU Cheerleaders landed the fifth place spot, which was "a spot up" from the 2008 competition.

That is all in the past this year. Under the direction of Pauline Zernott and the superior coaching of Denise Dicharry and Alisha Andrepont, the Tiger Girls took the top spot in the Hip Hop National Championship and placed sixth in the Jazz competition.

The LSU Cheerleaders placed fourth in the nation. According to LSUSports.net that was "only 15 points behind 18-time national champion Kentucky."

Director Pauline Zernott's pride at all of her teams' achievements was evident when she boasted that she is, "very proud of how we represented LSU. We are an outstanding spirit team and all of our hard work paid off. We are well respected in the cheerleading and dance world, and I think that is a great thing for our University. To have other schools look to us to model their spirit programs after is awesome!"

According to Zernott, the Tiger Girls' win was, "a great feeling to know we went out and represented our University and came out on top. We were second last year so it was a goal of ours to win!"

Zernott explained what propelled the teams to win was that, "We have great coaches, and the team is motivated to represent LSU in the best possible manner. They also enjoy doing what they do."

Next year the team is aimed for another win with 11 freshmen on its roster.

To see the spirit teams in action all you have to do is attend the LSU women's and men's basketball games or watch the cheerleaders at every home gymnastics meet.

To watch the 2010 The Tiger Girls award winning performance log onto www.lsusports.net or www.varsity.com.

2010 UDA College Nationals Results

2010-01-30T15:42:00.000-08:00

Finals results for the 2010 UDA Collegiate Nationals...For complete results including galleries and video Click Here

JAZZ

Division IA Jazz Final Results
1. University of Minnesota – Minneapolis
2. University of Tennessee
3. Florida State University
4. University of Cincinnati
5. Arizona State University
6. Louisiana State University
7. Michigan State University
8. University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
9. University of Mississippi
10. The Ohio State University
11. University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
12. Rutgers University
13. University or Illinois – Champaign
14. University of Louisiana – Lafayette

Division I Jazz Final Results
1. California State University – Fullerton
2. California State University – Long Beach
3. University of Delaware
4. Hofstra University
5. University of South Alabama
6. North Dakota State University
7. Southeastern Louisiana University
8. University of Northern Iowa
9. Idaho State University
10. St Johns University
11. Missouri State University
12. University of Illinois – Chicago
13. University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee

Open Jazz Final Results
1. University of Saint Thomas
2. Orange Coast College
3. Lindenwood University
4. College of Saint Benedict
5. The College of New Jersey
6. Northwest Missouri State University
7. University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire
8. Avila University
9. St Cloud State University & University of Puerto Rico - Bayamon
10. Wagner College
11. West Chester University
12. Grand View University
13. Queens College

HIP HOP

Division IA Hip Hop Final Results
1. Louisiana State University
2. University Of Memphis
3. University of Cincinnati
4. University of Nevada – Las
5. University of Tennessee
6. University of Oklahoma
7. Florida State University
8. Michigan State University
9. University of Wisconsin –
10. University of Illinois – Champaign
11. University of Louisiana - Lafayette
12. University of Kansas
13. Rutgers University
14. University of Michigan – Ann
15. University of Alabama
16. University of Oregon

Division I Hip Hop Final Results
1. University of Delaware
2. University of Illinois – Chicago
3. University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
4. Temple University
5. Missouri State University
6. North Dakota State University
7. Hofstra University
8. Southeastern Louisiana University
9. The George Washington University
10. University of Central Arkansas
11. St Johns University

Open Hip Hop Final Results
1. Lindenwood University
2. University of Saint Thomas
3. Avila University
4. University of Puerto Rice – Bayamon
5. St Cloud State University
6. The College of New Jersey
7. University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire
8. West Chester University
9. Georgia College & State University

POM

Division IA Pom Final Results
1. University of Minnesota – Minneapolis
2. University of Memphis
3. University of Colorado –Boulder
4. University of Oklahoma
5. University of Kentucky
6. University of Iowa
7. The Ohio State University
8. UCF

Division I Pom Final Results
1. University of Northern Iowa
2. University of Central Arkansas
3. University of New Hampshire
4. Loyola University

Open Pom Final Results
1. Orange Coast College
2. Grand View University
3. Millikin University

UDA Collegiate Nationals 2010!

2010-01-15T20:53:00.001-08:00

The UDA Collegiate Nationals take place in Orlando this weekend and Dave Sanchez from the Dance Team Competitions Yahoo! Group has once again provided College Dance Team Central with predictions and the most thorough preview of this weekend's competitors around. Can Tennessee take the top spot for a fourth straight year in Division IA dance? Will Long Beach State repeat in Division I? Will Orange Coast College (above) take the Open Dance Division again? We'll find out this weekend!

For full online coverage of this weekend's events including video, please visit Varsity.com

Division 1A Blind Prediction: My totally blind prediction: 1) Minnesota, 2) Tennessee, 3) Wisconsin, 4) Florida State, 5) Cincinnati, 6) Michigan, 7) LSU, 8) Arizona State, 9) Kentucky, 10) Louisiana, 11) Central Florida, 12) Michigan State, 13) Kansas, 14) Ohio State, 15) Iowa, 16) Rutgers, 17) North Carolina.

For full capsules on all the competing Division 1A squads Click Here

Division 1 Blind Prediction: 1) Idaho State, 2) Cal State Fullerton, 3) Long Beach State, 4) North Dakota State, 5) Missouri State, 6) St. John's, 7) Hofstra, 8) Northern Iowa, 9) Delaware, 10) SE Louisiana, 11) UC-Santa Barbara 12) Central Michigan, 13) George Washington, 14) South Alabama, 15) Illinois-Chicago, 16) Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 17) Northern Arizona, 18) Murray State.

For full capsules on all the competing Division 1 squads Click Here

Open Division Blind Prediction: 1) Orange Coast College, 2) Lindenwood, 3) St. Thomas, 4) Avila, 5) Harvard, 6) NW Missouri State, 7), (Wisconsin Eau Claire), 8) (St. Cloud State) 9) College of New Jersey, 10) Wagner, 11) St. Benedict, 12) West Chester, 13) Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 14) Grand View, 15) Concordia, 16) California Lutheran.

For full capsules on all the competing Open Division squads Click Here

Division 1A Hip Hop Blind Prediction: 1) Memphis, 2) Cincinnati, 3) Tennessee, 4) Wisconsin, 5) LSU, 6) Oklahoma, 7) Florida State, 8) Louisiana, 9) Kansas, 10) Arizona State, 11) Michigan, 12) UNLV, 13) Mississippi, 14) Washington State, 15) Michigan State, 16) Alabama.

For full capsules on all the competing Division 1A squads Click Here

Division 1 Hip Hop Blind Prediction: 1) Hofstra, 2) Illinois-Chicago, 3) Delaware, 4) (Long Beach State), 5) Idaho State, 6) St. Joseph, 7) George Washington, 8) North Dakota State, 9) Missouri State, 10) SE Louisiana, 11) South Alabama, 12) Temple, 13) UC-Santa Barbara, 14) St. John's, 15) Central Arkansas, 16) Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

For full capsules on all the competing Division 1 squads Click Here

Open Division Hip Hop Blind Prediction: 1) Lindenwood, 2) St. Thomas, 3) Avila, 4) (St. Cloud State,) 5) (Wisconsin Eau Claire) 6) College of New Jersey, 7) Puerto Rico-Bayamon, 8) Parkland, 9) West Chester, 10) Nassau Community College, 11) Westfield, 12) Scranton, 13) LIU-CW Post, 14) Nassau Community College, 15) Northern Kentucky.

For full capsules on all the competing Open Division squads Click Here

Nothing But the Best; Tennessee Dance Team Feature

2010-01-15T20:49:00.000-08:00

By Drew Rutherford, UT Media Relations
UTsports.com

Two minutes. That is all the time given to the 18 women on the Tennessee dance team to perform a routine that has taken them weeks to master. But that is all the time they need.

These Vols have owned the jazz category of the College Dance Team National Championships, winning a remarkable three consecutive titles.

"The eight seniors on our team haven't known anything other than championships since they have been at Tennessee," UT Spirit Coordinator Joy Postell-Gee said. "They are going for their fourth title in four years this year."

Being the best dance team in America draws a lot of attention and offers many unique opportunities. The UT dancers performed alongside Hank Williams, Jr., in the Monday Night Football intro on ESPN.

They also showed their skills in the Eric Berry for Heisman music video starring Berry as well as Tennessee basketball player and hip-hop artist Renaldo Woolridge.

While the dancers always look sharp--whether on the big screen or entertaining Vols fans at a UT sporting event--there is a lot of work put in leading up to those performances.

"We may practice one eight-count portion of our routine for two hours," head dance coach Kelley Eidenmuller said. "Over Christmas break when all the other students go home, we stay here and practice eight or nine hours a day to prepare for nationals."

Eidenmuller joined the UT dance team as a team member in 2000 and served as the captain her senior year. After earning her diploma from Tennessee in 2005, she stayed on The Hill to serve as the head coach. In her first three seasons, Eidenmuller has had the Midas touch. Her first three campaigns have ended with her Tennessee dance team standing above the rest as the national champion.

"She is three for three--Pat Summitt better watch out!" Postell-Gee said.

For the women who have put in the hours in the dance studio, the experience leaves a lasting memory of their time on Rocky Top.

"Being a part of this team and a part of UT Athletics has been like nothing I have ever experienced before," senior Emmy Bibliowicz of Winter Park, Fla., said. "Even students that sit in the front row of the student section don't get the view that we get on the sidelines. There is nothing like it."

Like many children in Big Orange country, Knoxville, Tenn., native Alyssa Surrett spent her childhood in the bleachers of Neyland Stadium, Thompson-Boling Arena and other great UT athletics venues. For her, being part of the dance team has been a dream come true.

"I grew up here and have been coming to games all my life," Surrett said. "When I was a little girl I used to watch the dance team and think that someday I would be out there, too."

No matter the circumstances, the three-time reigning national champs are guaranteed to be together. Even after spending countless hours together in the dance studio, the women of the UT dance team never tire of each other.

"The girls on the team have been my best friends throughout my college career," senior Joanna Salmon, Peoria, Ill., said. "You never see just one of us walking around campus; there are always four or five of us. We really are a very close group."

The Tennessee dance team practiced more than 150 hours in preparation for the 2010 College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championships. On Jan. 17, they will represent the Big Orange Nation at the competition and try to fend off rival Minnesota to win their fourth-consecutive crown.

Warner University Adding Dance and Spirit Squad for 2010-11

2010-01-14T21:49:00.000-08:00

LAKE WALES, Fla. – Warner University’s growing athletics program will add a dance and spirit squad for the 2010-11 season.

The addition will create new opportunities for dancers seeking a quality education to continue to perform at the collegiate level. Earlier this school year, the NAIA took steps toward being the first collegiate governing body to host Cheer and Dance as a National Championship sport when they named it one of their emerging sports.

The fan-friendly program should add to the excitement that the other Warner athletic programs already bring to the Warner campus and create more opportunities for involvement in the Lake Wales and surrounding area communities.

If interested, please contact Courtney Hall, the current cheerleading coach at courtney.hall@warner.edu

Michigan Dance Team Preparing For Run At National Title

2010-01-14T21:44:00.000-08:00

By Michael Rothstein
AnnArbor.com

In a brick-lined room with blue mats on the side, the 21 women were mostly silent. Instructions and criticism from the coach cut through the still air inside the dance studio at Michigan’s Central Campus Recreation Building.

Two days remained until their departure for the only competition the University of Michigan dance team would compete in all year, nationals, an annual chance to dispel the pom-pom label and show a wider audience their skills.

They finished practice late on Tuesday night with one hip-hop routine, two minutes of sweat and flying through the air like Cirque de Soleil minus the trapeze.

Behind the easy cheers and routines performed at games, nationals are what it's all about for members of the Michigan dance team.

They are not on scholarship and usually shell out between $4,000 and 5,000 a year to participate. Some take second jobs for this. Others have sacrificed spring break because they could pay for one trip, and dance team took precedence.

All for this week.

The national championships at Disney World, where Michigan will head Thursday for this weekend’s competition, are the culmination of a year’s worth of work.

The routines are as intricate as a football play, the synchronization as critical as a race car driver hitting all of his marks along a track, the rhythm as important as tempo to a golfer striking a perfect iron.

Over and over, they work on tricks. This particular day they have been struggling with handstands and a difficult maneuver requiring two dancers to interlock arms, one to jump on another’s back and then fly into the air still attached to their partner. They jump 3-to-5 feet. All that’s missing is a skateboard or snowboard to qualify it as an extreme sport maneuver.

“That’s one thing,” 21-year-old captain Kimberly Lehnert said. “I think we’ve gotten so used to trying new tricks and trying new things that we’re not afraid to just throw ourselves. And we’ve had people get hurt.”

In that moment, as your bones and ligaments scream just watching, it’s an easy realization.

These women are athletes. No question about that.

“Say that louder,” Lehnert said.

Then she laughs.

Throwing T-Shirts into the crowd and waving the pom-poms and yelling ‘Let’s Go Blue’ is a small part of what they really do. More visible, for sure, but there’s a reason the 21 team members - only 14 compete in nationals - show up two weeks before school starts for intense two-a-day practices, complete with three hours of conditioning and technique to go with learning the actual routines from the Los Angeles-based choreographer Dee DeFillipio.

It’s because this stuff is hard. Painful. And the long hours are the only way they can improve on last year’s sixth-place finish in jazz and 11th in hip-hop.

“I’ll dance with a broken wrist,” one dancer said Tuesday night as she walked and then sat along the mirror on the far side of the studio. “It’s no big deal.”

With no trainer available and the routine and intensity growing as each week progresses toward this one, Michigan’s coach, Valerie Stead Potsos, says she averages a couple of hospital visits a year with her athletes.

Slipped discs, injured backs and in the case of the one dancer, a potential
broken wrist.

Nothing that a normal team on scholarship at school doesn’t go through.

“A lot of us have been doing this since high school, middle school,” said the team’s other 21-year-old captain, Olivia Dunn. “Back then, nobody was like ‘Oh, those are the national dance championships.’ No one cared what Kimmy did outside of school, that she won a solo competition for dance that weekend. I’m sure she didn’t walk around screaming it.

“Now that you’re at a bigger university, you wish, at times, it was more known because you hear all these other sports teams doing so well.”

Instead they settle for this: When they show up at nationals, many opposing teams marvel at how Michigan’s athletes balance intense course loads with an intense practice regimen. Dunn is going into engineering when she graduates. Lehnert is visiting a New York City law school in two weeks.

That’s for a few weeks and months from now. Right now, their concentration is placed in the wood-floored room in the CCRB with the glass wall overlooking the entrance to the facility, the one where crowds have sometimes gathered unsure what they were watching.

Inevitably, someone recognizes them as “those are the girls on the court. What are they doing,” Lehnert said.

The answer is simple. Trying to win a national championship.

TCU Dance Team Shines At Fiesta Bowl

2010-01-14T21:37:00.000-08:00

The TCU Dance Team definitely made an impression in front of a national television audience at the Fiesta Bowl. Below is an article on the squad from the Thaindian News and the team was featured in a photo gallery on SI.com as well.

For the full gallery, including the photo here, visit SI.com

The TCU Dance Team Added More Color To The Fiesta Bowl
By Meena Kar
Thaindian News

The crowd at the University of Phoenix Stadium was in high spirits cheering for their respective teams. The battle between the TCU and Boise State fans could be felt as there were loud cheers echoing among the gaggle of people. The TCU dance team were boisterous and backing their team. The sprightly, animated group of girls were all there to provide the needed support and encouragement to their team. The frenzied crowd were inspired by the TCU girls to add more excitement to the game.

The stadium was looking flamboyant with the purple color predominant on one side. The other side of the noisy stadium looked equally colorful in a patch of blue and orange. The young beautiful ladies of the TCU dance team added an extra aura to the Fiesta Bowl and turned out to be one of the much talked about aspect of the night’s game.

The mother of one of the three TCU girls went to the extent of buying tickets on both sides of the stadium to get a glimpse of her daughter over a wide range. She had to spend a good amount for buying the tickets though. The encouraging mother was sitting amidst the Boise fans at one point of time too, but to be able watch her daughter prancing and backing the TCU team from all possible angles.

With the presence of the TCU team, the excitement and entertainment quotient was present in equal dosage in the Fiesta Bowl. Even though TCU didn’t end the night on a winning note, the TCU dance team rather managed to carve a niche for themselves among the crowd present at the venue.

Akron Dancer is Miss Ohio Teen USA

2010-01-01T15:46:00.001-08:00

Green resident new Miss Ohio Teen USA
By Kathleen Folkerth
Akron.com

GREEN — Bridget Linton is no stranger to competition.

The Green resident, who has competed internationally as an Irish dancer and now is on The University of Akron (UA) Dance Team, was crowned Miss Ohio Teen USA in October and will represent the state in national competition next summer.

Linton said she competed against more than 60 Ohio girls in the state pageant, which took place in Portsmouth.

“It didn’t really hit me until the next day that I won,” she said.

All the contestants competed in swimsuit and evening gown rounds Oct. 9. The following day, the contestants went through a round of interviews with judges, and then the field was narrowed to 15.

During the final day of competition Oct. 10, the semi-finalists competed again in swimsuit and evening gown competition before five finalists were announced. The five were asked a random question, with Linton’s being about what life lessons are learned through athletics or competition.

Linton said she had no idea the question would be about something she is so familiar with. She has been an Irish dancer since the age of 4 and has competed in the United States as well as in Ireland and Scotland, she said.

Her background as a competitive dancer helped contribute to her success at the pageant, she said.

“It taught me what hard work means,” she said. “You really have to work to be successful, so I learned I have that competition feeling inside me. It also taught me the poise and elegance you are supposed to have.”

Linton is the daughter of Kathie and Darrell Linton, a Green Middle School science teacher and track coach, and a 2009 graduate of Green High School. She is a freshman at UA and is majoring in broadcast journalism.

It wasn’t until this past year that Linton explored the world of pageants. She participated in the Queen Pageant at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton last spring and loved the experience.

“I was one of the princesses, and I got to escort (Hall of Fame inductee) Bruce Smith into the ceremony,” she said.

She looked into other pageants and found out about the Miss Ohio Teen USA program, which is a stepping stone to the Miss Teen USA pageant.

“I thought, I could do this,” she said. “It seemed like a great experience.”

She submitted an application and was named Miss Uniontown for the competition. To prepare, she worked out to stay in shape and also practiced possible interview questions with her mother, she said.

While she’s pleased with the outcome, it wasn’t all about winning, Linton stressed.

“Mainly I was just going in to have fun,” she said. “But it turned out in my favor.”

After the first of the year, Linton will begin to prepare in earnest for the national competition, which will take place at the Atlantis resort in the Bahamas in late July or early August. The pageant has been televised in recent years, but Linton said the decision as to whether this year’s event will be telecast has not been decided, which is why the date is not definite yet.

The pageant provides Linton with training and transportation. She does have some required appearances around the state in 2010, and she said she’s looking forward to that.

“One thing I want to do is travel to different schools to promote pageants and tell younger kids to have self-confidence and stay true to themselves,” she said.

Linton said she is taking the year off from Irish dance competition because of the pageant, but she is working as an Irish dance instructor for the O’Hare School of Irish Dance.

“It was hard balancing both of them,” Linton said. “I decided I will take one thing at a time.”

With the UA Dance Team, Linton performs at every UA men’s and women’s basketball game. The Dance Team also is preparing for national competition this spring.

She said the pageant officials will work with her and her school schedule.

“I’m keeping busy,” she said.

SI.com Features SMU Pom Squad Member Amanda

2009-12-28T19:15:00.000-08:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Amanda from SMU as the "Cheerleader of the Week." SI.com features Amanda and several members of the SMU Pom Squad in 32 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

From The Hornets Nest To The Royal Court

2009-12-22T21:01:00.000-08:00

Feature on former Sacramento State Hornet Girlz Dancer Laura Sieglitz

By Nick Hunte
The State Hornet

Laura Sieglitz, senior math major, began dancing when she was 3 years old. By the time she was a teenager, she knew what she wanted to be: a Sacramento Kings dancer.

Sieglitz began auditioning for the Kings when she turned 18 and finally earned a spot on the team after her fourth try last year.

"I knew even before I turned 18 that I wanted to become a Kings dancer," Sieglitz said. "If I had the chance, I would do it all over again anytime in my life."

The former Hornet Girlz Dance Team member has an extensive background in dance. In high school she attended the Natomas Charter Performing and Fine Arts Academy and majored in dance. While there, she performed in many shows, such as "Guys and Dolls" and 42nd Street."

After high school, she continued to study dance at American River College before transferring to Sacramento State in 2006, where she joined the Hornet Girlz Dance Team. Sieglitz left the team in 2008 due to a knee injury.

Sieglitz's mother, Valinda Frost, said she remembers when her daughter began dancing in preschool. She said it has been a joy to watch her daughter grow and progress as a dancer.

"I still have a videotape of her dancing to the Nutcracker Suite when she was 3 years old and she had her pink tutu stuffed in her diaper," Frost said as she laughed. "I was every bit as proud of her then as I am now."

Sieglitz first described her experience as a Kings dancer in one word: amazing. When asked to elaborate her experiences, Sieglitz just gushed.

"Everyone is so supportive. Performing on the court has been amazing, the fans are excited, fun to talk to and fun to perform in front of. I love it," Sieglitz said.

Sieglitz said that her schedule as a full-time student and a Kings dancer is demanding. She wakes up around 6:30 a.m. every day and spends four to seven hours studying in between classes.

After her school day, she heads to Arco Arena for a 5:30 p.m. practice that sometimes lasts until 11:30 p.m.

Sieglitz said that being a Kings dancer and a full-time student is a balancing act. She said that keeping her priorities straight and having a supportive family are the keys to her success.

"I have a lot going on in my life, but having a supportive family at home helps keep me going," Sieglitz said. "I always try to stay constantly busy and constantly getting things done, which ensures that I'm able to do it all."

Frost believes that Sieglitz is very motivated, sets goals for herself and works hard at achieving them.

"She never gives up," Frost said. "She might fail at times, but she will never give up until she succeeds. She is an exceptional young woman. She's definitely the one in a million."

Preschool teacher Jenica Thompson, a close friend of Sieglitz, said she is very driven and motivated as a person and feels that she can accomplish almost any goal in life.

"She pretty much tackles anything she wants to do and she has proven that with the Kings," Thompson said. "That is a pretty high goal to set for yourself and she accomplished it. I look forward to seeing the things that she wants to do in her life."

Following her graduation in December, Sieglitz plans to pursue her teacher credential through Project Pipeline to become a high school teacher. She hopes to earn a full-time teaching position by next fall.

Sieglitz said although she plans to start her teaching career next fall, she would like to continue on as a Kings dancer for at least one more season.

She said she has never felt awkward when her fellow students and professors find out she is a Kings dancer.

"Whenever students or professors find out that I'm a dancer for the Sacramento Kings, they have all been very supportive," Sieglitz said. "They all ask me questions, they want to know what it's like being a dancer. It's been a very positive experience and it's a way for me to get to know my fans more."

Frost said she enjoys watching her daughter perform at Kings games and is proud of her accomplishments as a student and a dancer.

"She dances like nobody dances," Frost said. "I get to see her perform and shine in front of all those people and I know that there's a brain that goes along with it. I couldn't be prouder."

Sieglitz said one of her favorite moments performing as a Kings dancer are the tunnel chants that the dance team does every time before they run onto the court.

"Before I go out to the floor, I start getting nervous like, 'Oh my gosh, will I forget the first move?'" Sieglitz said. "We do this chant and then we come together as a team, which gives me confidence, and we go out there and kick some butt."

Sieglitz said beyond performing for thousands of fans at games, one of her favorite parts about being a dancer is reaching out to the community.

She said the most touching moment for her as a member of the team was when the dancers participated in a run to benefit a girl battling leukemia.

"That alone was the biggest thing for me as a Sacramento Kings dancer. That touches me the most because we were able to not only be there for the fans and the Sacramento Kings basketball players, but to be there for the people who we can really make a difference with," Sieglitz said.

Nick Hunte can be reached at nhunte@statehornet.com

Racer Girls Fundraiser A Success

2009-12-22T20:57:00.000-08:00

GoRacers.com

The Murray State Racer Girls Dance Team recently conducted a fund raising event called Racer-I bingo, which raised over $2,500 to help the team with expenses.

"We really appreciate all the support we received from this first-time event," said Tori Tomasino, the 2009-10 Racer Girls captain. "The money raised will significantly help our team."

The funds help the team pay for registration fees and travel to their national competition in Orlando, Fla., Jan.16-17 at Walt Disney World.

The fundraiser was a fun event called Racer-I Bingo and conducted at the MSU home football game Oct. 31.

A large grid measuring 20X20 yards was divided into 400 one-yard squares. Bingo tickets were sold for $10 each, with all tickets placed into a random drawing, which was held prior. Each of the 400 squares was assigned a ticket number.

Racer-I, which is present at all MSU home games, roamed inside the grid area during the game and the lucky winner of the contest was the ticket holder whose square received the first 'road apple' from Racer-I.

The winning square was ticket 273 and located six rows from the top and six squares from the left on the grid.

The Racer Girls perform at all home athletic events and assist with other community relation activities. To contact the Racer Girls or to assist them in their fund raising efforts, please contact Tori Tomasino at victoria.tomasino@murraystate.edu.

College Dance Team Central Turns Four!

2009-11-27T21:00:00.000-08:00

Four Years ago this week, College Dance Team Central was started on blogger as a way to inform coaches, dancers and fans alike of news relating to spirit squads around the nation. Thanks to the help of numerous coaches, advisors and dancers, CDTC has become the top College Dance Team news blog on the web and even earned mention in the 2007 edition of the Dance Team Director's Survival Guide published by McFadden Performing Arts Media (publishers of Dance Spirit Magazine).

Exciting new changes are in store for College Dance Team Central beginning in 2010, so stay tuned to the blog and please send along any questions, suggestions, comments or story ideas to collegedanceteamblog@yahoo.com. In the meantime, take a look at our new logo above and Click Here for the first ever CDTC news post featuring the Ole Miss Rebelettes on November 27, 2005!

UNH Club Roundup: Dance Team Spreads Spirit

2009-11-27T20:42:00.001-08:00

FROM STAFF REPORTS
Fosters.com

DURHAM — The University of New Hampshire dance team recently performed during halftime at the UNH Halloween football game against Northeastern University. Despite the overcast day the girls did well and showed their spirit. Later that day they also performed at the opening of the UNH men's and women's basketball tip off party. The UNH Dance team will be appearing at all Men's home basketball games for the rest of the season. Please come out and cheer them on as they prepare for their National Competition in January.

UNH Dance Team Official Site

SI.com Features FIU Golden Dazzler Vanessa

2009-10-28T20:48:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Vanessa from Florida International as the "Cheerleader of the Week." SI.com features Vanessa and several members of the FIU Golden Dazzlers in 35 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

Former Montana Dancer With NFL's Cardinals

2009-10-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

Passion for dance carries Conrad woman to career worth cheering for
BY Patrick Douglas
Great Falls Tribune

It's a bit like something out of a Hollywood script. A young farm girl from a tiny Montana town tries out and ends up being chosen for an NFL cheerleading squad.

But that's reality for Callie Yeager and her family after the Conrad native made the Arizona Cardinals' cheer team last summer.

"I thought it was neat that she would at least give it a shot 'cause she's always been real brave that way in going and trying out for something," said Callie's mother, Bobbi Yeager. "I thought 'It'd be great if it happens,' but I was always thinking 'Wow, I don't know.' "

Callie's passion for dancing began when she was 3 years old and first took classes for fun. She attended college at the University of Montana where she was a member of the Sugar Bears dance team and then went on to Las Vegas where she danced in the Tournament of Kings show.

In between, she decided to try out for the pinnacle of NFL cheerleading squads — the Dallas Cowboys.

"There's over 300 girls and they're all beautiful, they're all talented and they're all pencil skinny," Callie said of the initial tryouts. "It is intimidating but you've just gotta hold your own and be confident."

While Callie didn't make the final cut for the Cowboys in the spring of 2007, she took what she learned from the experience and used it to land the job with the Arizona Cardinals this past summer.

The tryouts required that the women showcase their talents in front of a panel of judges.

"They usually do it in groups of five and usually the first round is introducing ourselves," Callie explained. "They put the music on, and we just freestyle dance which is just moving on your own. No choreography. Then they do their first cuts.

"In the second round, they teach you a choreography portion, like something they performed at their games last year. That's a fast process. We had to learn and perform within an hour."

The second round of cuts comes the next day, followed by an interview process.

"We have to dress in business attire and that's the scary part," she said. "Then we do our final dance. They post the results on the Internet a week later and ... you're just sitting by the computer waiting for it to pop up."

Then the good news came.

"I couldn't even believe it," Callie said with a laugh. "I had to refresh the page to make sure it was me. Then I started crying. (It was) a roller coaster of emotions. Then I call everyone I know and they're screaming. It's so exciting, but then you realize that you have to move. It's nuts."

Growing Up In Conrad

Callie's mother Bobbi was a high school teacher and her dad Gary is a barley farmer. Callie was a four-year varsity cheerleader for Conrad before heading to Missoula. Even though her parents supported her love of dance, they took a sensible approach to Callie's future.

"I kind of wanted her to be a nurse or something more practical," Bobbi said. "She was always dance, dance, dance and I was always thinking 'Go for something practical.' Her older sister's a banker, her older brother is a paralegal and those are both pretty staid and true occupations and here comes Callie dancing her way through everything."

Now that Callie has made the Cardinal cheerleading squad, her path has taken a different turn. Her parents, avid Grizzly fans, didn't have a favorite NFL team but of course that's changed, and they plan to attend a Cardinals' game in December.

"She always did really well with (the Sugar Bears) and I thought 'Wow, if anybody could do this, she could.' I'd see the girls on the NFL teams and she looked just as good to me as they did," Bobbi said.

"When she was majoring in dance, I thought she could go all the way with it. I think that's about as far as you could go in cheerleading."

Down the road

Callie has aspirations to one day own her own dance studio, a dream that seems much more likely considering what she's accomplished so far.

Knowing that young girls look up to her the way young boys admire professional football players is something Callie doesn't take lightly.

"It's very special. I love it because I want to eventually open my own dance studio and teach young children. I looked up to even just the high school cheerleaders when I was little, and I wanted to be them and I know how it feels," Callie said. "It's just special to make their day and make them smile and make them dream and be able to think that they can do it, too."

Making the transition from small-town farm girl to big city cheerleader has been surreal, but rewarding, she said.

"I really miss home. I'm always still gonna be the small-town farm girl. There's 6 million people in Phoenix and there's 3,000 in Conrad with one stoplight. It's hard to even wrap your head around it," she said. "When you leave, you really appreciate what you had."

"Moving here, I knew no one and now I have 32 great friends," she continued.

"(Callie) was always just one of those easygoing kids," Bobbi said. "She always loved anything to do with dance and was good at it. I guess I should've known. I kept thinking 'She'll get tired of it,' or 'She'll outgrow it,' but she never did."

Idaho Dance Team Sees Resistance

2009-10-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

By Cari Dighton - Argonaut
The Argonaut

After holding tryouts, finding an advisor and getting a team together over the summer, the University of Idaho dance team discovered their funding had been severed.

Because of this unexpected cut, the dance team has been struggling to get a start this year.
“I think they are doing a good job and I think the students should be behind them,” said ASUI Sen. Koji Moy. “When we have a dance team full of girls who want to participate, I think we should back them and give them air time.”

Moy, along with ASUI senators Zach Arama and Samantha Storms, has been working to make the dance team a reality.

“I think (the dance team) really does impact the school in a great way,” Arama said. “They are performers who honor our athletics program.”

ASUI senators started debate Wednesday with a resolution in support of the team’s quest to seek funding through the UI Athletic Department.

After the team failed to find support from the Activities Board, senators have now written a bill that, if passed, will allocate funds to the team from the ASUI general reserve.

The bill will be up for discussion during next week’s meeting.

“I really support the bill,” Arama said. “I think it’s a worthwhile cause and I think it’s worth supporting. It’s a case where the money we use to support the team is actually given back to the students.”

According to the bill summary, the money allocated by ASUI would help the dance team to purchase costumes, workout gear, dance tights and help out with other miscellaneous expenses.

“As far as where the funding is going to come from in ASUI, I don’t know, and we probably won’t know for a couple more weeks,” Arama said.

Arama said there is a certain amount of university supplied funding that goes toward the Spirit Squad each year. The squad consists of Joe Vandal, the UI cheerleaders and the dance team. Arama said since a portion of the funding for the squad had to be cut, the dance team got the short end of the stick.

“We are going to try to help them with that,” Arama said. “That’s our duty, you know. The students are what we care about. Even if they don’t manage to get money through (the bill), we are going to try and help them through the Activities Board to get money. We are going to do all we can to make sure they are funded.”

Another concern to senators is that UI is now the only team in the Western Athletic Conference without dancers.

“We are one of the only NCAA Division I schools in the nation that does not have a dance team,” Moy said. “We are the only one in the Northwest without a dance team. When everyone else has one and we don’t, we kind of look like a joke.”

Storms also emphasized the importance of the team to UI athletic events.

“Their sole purpose is entertainment,” Storms said. “They only exist to support athletics and entertain at athletic events. We need to help them get started.”

Former TCU Showgirl Creates Competitive Dance Team

2009-09-26T16:40:00.000-07:00

By Anna Waugh
DailySkiff.com

When former TCU Showgirl Megan McDonald was forced to take time off from the team when she injured herself last year before tryouts, she didn't stop dancing. She started planning.

McDonald, a junior biology major and a dancer since age 2, decided to create a competitive dance team called TCU Elite. The team will focus on studio dance techniques and go to local and national competitions, McDonald said.

"I wanted to be a part of something and dance again," she said.

The idea came to McDonald in April.

Cristie Carpenter, assistant director of programs, said McDonald went through the Office of Student Organizations, which requires clubs to write a constitution and fill out paperwork. Carpenter said once TCU Elite became classified as a sports club, McDonald had to fill out more paperwork, attend monthly meetings and a manual training about risk management and hazing policies.

Whitley Leiss, a senior early childhood education major and TCU Showgirl captain, said the team and Showgirls are two different entities since TCU Elite is a sports club and Showgirls is backed by marketing, although she said Showgirls could compete if they raise the funds.

McDonald said 32 people auditioned this past Saturday, and 18 were selected. Auditions consisted of learning a one-minute-long jazz routine that McDonald taught, and performing the routine in groups for outside judges, McDonald said. The judges were Brian Stevens, a local choreographer who will work with the team after it is formed; Tara Roberts, a former Dallas Cowboys cheerleader and friend of McDonald's and Rachael McCoy, director of the University of Texas' dance team, McDonald said.

Leiss said she is proud of McDonald for creating the team and following her passion for dance.

"Megan's extremely talented," Leiss said. "She knows what she's doing."

McDonald said this year is mostly trial and error, and having a strong team bond will help teammates learn from their mistakes.

"It's everybody's collaboration," McDonald said. "It's got to be all these girls helping and helping one another and all of us working together in order for it to work."

Annie Cummins, a sophomore entrepreneurial management and marketing major, was selected as a member of the team this Saturday.

"(Dance) is a very passion-driven activity," Cummins said. "It's one of those things that you have to love doing it, or there's no point at all."

McDonald said that while taking a year off was difficult because she missed dancing with a team, she said she did not try out this year because the team was not for her anymore. She said things fell into place because Showgirls focused more on cheer, and now she can focus more on the competitive side of dance with TCU Elite.

She said she wants this year to go well because she has put so much of herself into the creation of the team, though its reality has not hit her yet.

"Never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that I started a team," McDonald said. "It's kind of surreal."

UK Dance Cats Name Walters Head Coach

2009-09-26T16:36:00.000-07:00

By Katie Jeffries
KYKernel.com

Dawn Duncan Walters, a veteran of the dance program, was named head coach of the UK Dance Cats over the summer.
A graduate of the class of ’87, Walters was on the UK Dance Cats and cheerleading team when she was an undergraduate at UK, including the first ever Dance Cats team in 1984. The Dance Cats said Walters has already made many changes to the way the team runs.

Junior Tara Kleinhenz, a member of the varsity dance team, is excited for what Walters has prepared for the year. The dance team will now not only dance at halftime of basketball games, but football as well. This will give the team more performance practice than in the past.

“Dawn actually creates the choreography rather than having us make it up ourselves,” Kleinhenz said. “We now get choreographers to come in and help with our routines as well as making sure they are sharp enough for performance.”

Walters has created a Facebook fan page for those interested in the dance team. The page is steadily updated with pictures and descriptions so people can follow exactly what the team is doing through the year.

“The biggest change that we made this year is that the entire team came to camp over the summer,” Walters said. “The junior varsity (white team) and varsity teams (blue team) now practice together and hopefully next year we will be able to take both the blue and white teams to camp.”

The team is currently working on halftime performances but will soon be preparing for the Universal Dance Association National Competition in January. With Walters, the team hopes to be led confidently into UDA Nationals this year.
Walters said the band director and herself are working on a performance for the halftime of the Louisville game set to “Super Freak,” by Rick James, for the band’s Motown theme this year.

“I’ve already had a good friend of mine come in and do some choreography,” Walters said. “His name is Ryan Maag and I feel that it is very important to have outside choreography coming in so that we can do the best we can at nationals.”

Most team members agree Walters has created a stronger bond between the team with her exhilarating personality and motivational mindset. She will continue to unite the team with each other as well as other members of the UK Spirit Group. The members of this group include the cheerleaders, band and dance team, and Walters has already started planning events to unite this group even more.

“Dawn has a great personality,” Kleinhenz said. “She not only is a very caring person for the team, but also for people outside of the dance community. She has an uplifting attitude that encourages everyone to do their best.”

Spotlight On Chico State Expressions Captain

2009-09-26T16:30:00.001-07:00

Campus Spotlight: Q&A with Expressions Dance Team captain
The Orion

Chico State’s Expressions Dance Team has a new team captain. Haley Clement, 21, is a senior studying agriculture with a life-long devotion to dancing. She is currently preparing for the upcoming team tryouts in September.

How long have you been dancing?
14 years now, but this will be my fourth year with the Expressions Dance Team.

What is Expressions all about?
We’re technically a recreational sport, student organization. There are about 16 to 17 people on the team and we try to perform at as many Chico State functions as possible. We perform at basketball and baseball games, at Up ’til Dawn, the Fun Without Alcohol Fair and just about anything else we have time for. We produce a show at the end of the year, and that’s our baby. We perform about 20 dances in many different styles.

What is your favorite type of dancing, and why?
Right now, it’s probably a tie. I’m really into contemporary and hip-hop. I think contemporary dancing is my best because it really focuses on a theme or an emotion and I think that brings home what dance is all about.
It is, after all, an art. I like hip-hop just because it’s fun and I can escape and be someone different.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Will you still be dancing?
I’m going to school to be a high school agriculture teacher. It is hard to proceed because I want to do dance. Agriculture is the more practical choice for me in the long run, so I’ll probably at least try to dance on the side. I’d love to get a master’s degree. I just don’t want to be done with school or dance yet.

What are tryouts like?
Tryouts are Monday at 8 p.m. but we’re not exactly sure where yet. If someone wants to try out, then they come and fill out a form. There isn’t a warm-up, but they dance a few times across the floor doing different things like turns and such so that we can get an idea of everyone’s technique. We teach four eight-counts of a routine and then watch everyone perform it. If you make the team, those four eight-counts are the beginning to the first dance you learn.

–Compiled by
Patty Conover

St. Thomas Dance Team Steps It Up With Top Honors And ‘Most Collegiate’

2009-08-25T19:52:00.001-07:00

By: University of St. Thomas News Service
St. Thomas.edu

The UST Dance Team placed first overall and also won “Most Collegiate” honors in the Open Division at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Camp held Aug. 1-4 at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. The dancers also received a Superior Trophy for receiving the highest honors in their individual evaluations. The Open Division includes Division II and III schools.

The UDA camp is the largest collegiate cheer and dance camp in the United States, attended by approximately 1,400 student athletes, mascots, coaches and advisers from schools across the country and Puerto Rico.

Throughout the four days, teams compete in a competition with a routine prepared prior to attending camp and take classes where they learn new routines and technique for the upcoming season.

The “Most Collegiate” award encompassed representing the University of St. Thomas to the fullest with a positive work ethic, good sportsmanship, respect and attentiveness.

“Camp for us is the perfect way to begin our season. We only practice a few weeks prior to prepare for the competition so it is not only a nice way to ease back into dancing after the summer break but also a great way to bond as a team. Even though we came home with several awards, I think our greatest accomplishment was the connections we made as teammates and the positive way the girls represented themselves and the university,” Alysia Ulfers said.” As their coach, it makes me so proud to receive compliments about our team. They are not only known as talented dancers but also as respectful and mature young adults.”

The team is preparing for the football season, where it can be seen on the sidelines and at halftime. The team also will be working toward attending the 2010 National College Dance Team Championships next February in Orlando, Fla., where they hope to compete for the program’s third national title.

Sam Houston State Dancers, Cheerleaders Named All-American

2009-08-22T10:14:00.000-07:00

By Raegan Castillo, SHSU News Service
Huntsville Item

Sam Houston State University student Melissa Compian has been performing dance routines on stage since she was just a little girl.

Dancers that have years of experience, dedication and hard work like Compian make up the Sam Houston State University Orange Pride dance team.

“This year starts my eighth year of training and performing with a team,” Compian said. “Orange Pride has been wonderful! We are an extremely dedicated team made up dancers with different styles, each with a talent to contribute to our group as a whole.”

Compian, four other members of the dance team and two members of the co-ed cheerleading squad were awarded All-American statuses at the National Cheer Association/National Dance Association Cheerleading and Dance Collegiate Camp July 24-25 at Southern Methodist University in Dallas.

The All-American Collegiate Dancers awarded from Orange Pride were Gloria Smith, Hillary Villman, Compian, Hannah Shields and Everest Guerra.

Awarded All-American Collegiate Cheerleaders were Nick Woodward and Holly Vonderau from the co-ed squad.

Both the dance team and the squad worked to improve their dance and cheerleading skills over the weekend at the NCA/NDA SMU College Camp with schools from across the region.

“The camp provides us with a chance to work around other teams and to show the collegiate dance world what we have to offer before nationals,” Compian said.

In order to receive an All-American award, the NCA/NDA judges nominate the dancers to perform a short choreography and the cheerleaders to successfully perform a set of six or seven skills that include tumbling, stunting and a jump.

“The camp staff watches everyone the entire weekend,” Shields said. “The last day when everyone has performed, they announce the All-American nominees. We then had to learn a short dance in 20 minutes and perform it while the whole camp watched us.

“At the final award ceremony they announced the All-Americans from all of the cheer and dance teams,” Shields said.

Last year, Orange Pride received a “half paid silver bid,” where they advanced to the NDA National Competition in Daytona Beach, Fla., and placed second. The team returned this year to receive a “gold full bid,” and will again compete in the NDA National Competition in 2010.

“This year was so much fun,” Villman said. “Although the camp is very intense and tiring, I got to share it with the girls that I love and achieve our ultimate goal of winning a full-paid bid to nationals.”

The co-ed cheerleading squad came back home with a bronze bid and new techniques.

“Being able to see all of the NCA staff showing us different techniques and stunts really helped out,” Woodard said. “I’ll be able to come back and apply it to our squad.”

NCA/NDA camps have served generations of cheerleaders and dancers around the world, according to the National Cheer Association. They teach leadership, strong support of school athletic teams, the pursuit of skills excellence and safety, and teamwork.

“Being able to go to this collegiate dance camp is a huge accomplishment in itself,” Shields said. “Not many can say they have taken their sport or hobby to this level.”

Orange Pride was also awarded the “Most Spirited Team,” the all-girls squad received third place in the All-Girl Cheer Off competition in their division and was awarded a bronze paid bid. The co-ed squad also received first place in the Co-Ed Cheer Off competition within their division.

“Being on Orange Pride has been an amazing experience. It’s allowed me to be more involved with SHSU, make a bunch of life long friends, and to compete in a collegiate national championship,” Villman said. “And being awarded All-American dancer, I was very surprised and very, very excited. I feel honored to be able to represent SHSU in this way.”

Drexel Dancer Named NDA All-American

2009-08-22T10:12:00.001-07:00

DrexelDragons.com

Philadelphia - The National Dance Alliance has honored Drexel Dance Team member Ashley Nuel as an All-American. Nuel, a junior majoring in fashion design, was recognized by the national organization after competing in an intensive three-day audition. The Drexel Cheerleading and Dance Teams were also honored with Bronze Bids to compete in the NCA/NDA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla. this coming April.

The National Dance Alliance, one of the preeminent national dance team organizations, has sponsored camps and national interscholastic competitions since 1976. Teams from across the country compete for a place in the national championship in April.

ISU Dance Team Washing Cars To Connect With Community

2009-08-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

By Wes Horrocks
KIDK.com

POCATELLO - The Idaho State University Bengal Dancers are raising money by cleaning cars.

The group held a fundraiser car wash at Potelco Credit Union Saturday.

They planned the event as a way to interact with the community.

The money they raise will be used to help them go to national competitions. Brittney Udy, a Bengal Dancer said, "The past couple of years we've been doing really well at nationals, and to keep doing that is going to bring more people to our school which I think will make our community better."

The Bengal Dancers have won two National Championships, and have been ranked in the top three since 2004.

HPU Cheer And Dance Teams Win Paid Bids At Camp

2009-08-22T09:19:00.000-07:00

Teams will Attend National Competition in 2010
Honolulu Advertiser

The reigning national champion Cheer and Dance Teams at Hawai'i Pacific University recently attended the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) and National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Camp at the University of Nevada – Las Vegas. At camp, the HPU Dance Team, and Large Coed, Small Coed, and All-Girl Cheer Teams, competed against other schools winning full-paid bids for all four teams to attend the National Competition in Daytona Beach, Florida in 2010.

Other honors earned at the NCA/NDA College Camp included Sharky the Sea Warrior being selected as "Most Collegiate," and 24 HPU cheerleaders were honored as "All-American." Three of HPU's dancers were also chosen as "All-American," and the HPU All-Girl Cheer Team was honored as "Most Collegiate." The HPU Large Coed Cheer Team was named "Best All-Around Team" at camp, and all the cheer teams swept the Rally Routine Competition.

The HPU All-Girl stunt group including Savanna Sibley, Lauren Loeb, Emily Myers and Hilary Dartford won the "Top Gun Group Stunt" competition, and HPU Coed Partners Neessa Cappolla and Steven Johnson won the "Top Gun Partner Stunt" competition.

The HPU Large Co-ed Cheer Team has won seven straight national titles (2003-2009). The HPU Small Co-Ed Cheer Team has won four consecutive national titles (2005-2008). The HPU All-Girl Cheer Team won its first national title at the 2009 competition, and the HPU Dance Team has won four consecutive championships, totaling five titles overall (2004, 2006-2009).

Hawai'i Pacific University is the state's largest private university with more than 8,000 students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries. HPU is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, the Council on Social Work Education, and the National League for Nursing Accrediting Commission.

Minnesota Dance Team Hosts 3rd Annual Alumni Event

2009-08-22T09:13:00.001-07:00

GopherSports.com

The 2009-2010 Dance Team hosted a potluck for the alumni at the Williams Arena club room. We began the night by greeting the alumni and looking through old scrapbooks and national's photos. We could not deny the overwhelming presence of the TCF Bank Stadium through the floor to ceiling windows. You could feel the excitement from the alumni for us and yet a hint of envy that they wish they too could perform at the new stadium this fall.

After dinner, we watched videos from previous teams dating back to 1960 along with national's performances with rare moments without commentary. My favorite part of the evening was a question and answer session with the alumni. Their sincere passion for the team couldn't help but excite the new team. We were surrounded by a group of remarkable women that truly inspired me to strive for success in the coming years on both dance team and in life. They stressed the importance of setting goals and making plans of how to achieve those goals. I tried to soak up all the helpful advice that they all shared.

After the potluck came to a close, the current team wrote our mission statement for the upcoming year. Our evening with the alumni motivated us in writing our mission statement. We value the legacy that our alumni have created for us, and we want to carry on that legacy and live up to the standards they have set. Thank you to all the alumni who came on Friday, we are so thankful to have you as such an active part of our current program. We hope to see much more of you!

-Sarah Bucka, 1st year member

All Dancing And No Play: Feature On Johnson County CC Dancer Brittany

2009-08-11T19:52:00.000-07:00

Tonganoxie Mirror

Some people dance for fun — to cut loose, escape and enjoy themselves.

For Brittany Watson, dancing is serious business. The 2008 Tonganoxie High graduate has been moving to music since the age of 3 and has done so all over the map — from right here in Kansas, to Florida and even Paris, France.

As she works toward earning an associate’s degree at Johnson County Community College in Overland Park, Watson has taken her dance career to another level on the school’s dance team, the Golden Girls.

The squad’s name occasionally conjures up thoughts of the 1980s sitcom with the same title about four older, single women.

“Isn’t that a TV show from a long time ago?” some have asked Watson.

Having never seen the hijinks of the series, though, Watson only knows the hectic schedule of being a JCCC Golden Girl as she enters her second year on the team.

Even in the summer, the dancers practice twice a week. And practice involves much more than going over steps. Team members stretch, run a mile, do some abdominal work, practice technique and work on specific routines. During the school year, those practices last three hours and come three times a week.

It’s a physically demanding activity and it can take a toll.

“We do it all year long,” the former Chieftain Stars dancer said. “We never really get a break.”

Managing schoolwork with dance, work and other activities requires discipline. Watson said she gets sore and often feels tired. And commuting to the campus from her Tonganoxie home everyday adds to that busy schedule.

“It’s kind of hard to stay motivated but this is our job,” Watson said.

Some of the job requirements for Golden Girls include performing at basketball games, pep rallies and other JCCC functions. But their main focus throughout the year is the national competition held each spring.

The dance team works exhaustively on a routine in preparation for the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Championship, critiquing it and cleaning it in hopes of wowing the judges with a perfect performance.

“It’s really stressful,” Watson said. “You eat, sleep, breathe nationals the whole year until you get there.”

This past April, the Golden Girls traveled to Daytona Beach, Fla., for the competition. They just missed out on making the showcase stage, which is televised nationally.

“It wasn’t as good as we wanted to do but it’s really intimidating,” Watson said of the event, which involves nearly 5,000 dancers and cheerleaders each year.

With that in mind, she and her teammates already are working toward next year’s nationals, even though the event is about nine months away. This week, they are attending a camp on the Kansas University campus in Lawrence. They will have three days to learn and perfect a dance, and their performance at the camp’s conclusion is critical. The team is given a ranking and if it is high enough, the dancers can earn a trip to next year’s nationals.

That trip is important to each dancer but Watson will have an even more vested interest after becoming the team’s co-captain this summer. She will be working with captain Chrissy Birkholz of Paola to make sure the Golden Girls are on top of their game and improve throughout the year.

JCCC dance coach Erin Fine said, as co-captain, Watson will work with Birkholz and the coach on a daily basis.

“Her main duty as co-captain,” Fine said, “will be to take charge of the team motivation throughout the year, inside and outside of practice activities.”

For Watson, who said she may one day open her own dance studio, all the work and responsibilities are worth it. Besides, it isn’t like she doesn’t have some fun.

“I enjoy doing it a lot,” Watson said. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t be dancing.”

Seton Hall Dance Team Earns Honors At UCA/UDA Camp

2009-08-11T19:38:00.000-07:00

SHUPirates.com

SCRANTON, Pa. - The Seton Hall cheerleading and dance team enjoyed a successful trip to the UCA/UDA Camp 2009 at the University of Scranton, with both teams earning awards for their performances.

The cheerleading team brought home four trophies, including first place Camp Champion in the Fight Song Competition. The Pirates took third place in the Sideline Cheer Competition, while also earning the Most Improved Squad Award and a Superior Squad Award.

The dance team also earned the Most Improved Squad Award to go along with a Superior trophy in the Fight Song Competition.

Seton Hall competed against fellow BIG EAST members Georgetown, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova at the camp, in addition to numerous other schools.

Islander Dancers Have Strong Camp, Chosen For UDA Nationals

2009-08-11T19:32:00.000-07:00

KrisTV.com

CORPUS CHRISTI - The Texas A&M-Corpus Christi Islander Dance Team attended UDA College Dance Camp at Texas State University this past weekend not only claiming several awards but qualified for a spot at the UDA College Cheer and Dance Nationals in Orlando, Fla.

The national competition will be held at the Walt Disney World Resort on Jan. 15-18. The completion is aired on the ESPN family of networks. The Islanders won several other awards including first place in fight song, superior performance trophy, and over 36 individual awards to become one of the top teams at camp.

"The team worked amazingly hard all summer to prepare for camp and walked away with several awards," said coach Melanie Lowry. "The girls are looking forward to a great year and would like to compete at nationals if the funds can be raised."

UCA Honeybears Take Top Honors

2009-08-11T19:09:00.000-07:00

UCAsports.com

The UCA Honeybears Dance Team recently returned from attending collegiate camp at Missouri State University. The team of eleven beat defending champ MSU to bring home first place honors.

"It's such an exciting thing to win first place," said team captain Jennifer Gattin of Bryant. "UCA's dance team is finally being noticed. We've worked hard for several years to make this happen."

In addition to winning the home routine award, UCA also was recognized with the Most Improved Program award and a superior evaluation in fight song.

Watch for the Honeybears on the sidelines and at halftime when UCA kicks off its football season in a few weeks. The Honeybears are hosting a dance clinic for junior high and high school dance teams on Saturday, September 26. Younger girls can get in on the action at the Little Girls Clinic on Saturday, November 7. E-mail coach Susan O'Keefe at sokeefe@uca.edu for more information.

Second Round of Tryouts for UALR Dance Team Announced

2009-07-26T16:42:00.000-07:00

Courtesy: UALR Sports Information
UALRTrojans.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The UALR Dance Team will host a second round of tryouts for the 2009-10 squad on Thursday, August 27 at 6 p.m. at the UALR Center for Performing Arts dance studio. Auditions are open to all UALR students as well as incoming freshmen.

Tryouts will consist of floor work, across the floor exercises, and a jazz, hip hop, and pom routine. Dancers will be judged on image, skills, memory, and dance performance.

Skills that the judges will be looking for:
· Single, Double, and Triple Pirouettes
· Fouette Turns
· A La Second Turns
· Illusions
· Straight Leg Leaps
· Open Side Leaps
· Switch Leaps
· “C” Jump

Dancers are recommended to wear dance shorts, nude tights, and a sports bra to auditions. Black ankle jazz shoes will be required throughout the season.

For any questions concerning tryouts or for more information, e-mail coach Sara Beth Wyatt at sewyatt@ualr.edu or contact the UALR Department of Athletics at (501) 569-3393.

SI.com Features KU Rock Chalk Dancer Claire

2009-07-20T19:35:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Claire from Kansas University as the "Cheerleader of the Week." SI.com features Claire and several members of the KU Rock Chalk Dance Team in 17 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

FIU Cuts Cheerleading, Golden Dazzlers To Stay

2009-06-28T10:18:00.000-07:00

By Jorge Valens / Asst. News Director
FIU Student Media
Additional Miami Herald Article

Cheerleading program: Few alternatives to survive

The FIU cheerleading program has been eliminated as part of Athletics’ $1 million budget cut for the 2009-10 fiscal year.

“This economy has forced us to make some very tough choices,” said Athletics Director Pete Garcia in a written statement to Student Media. “The decision to discontinue our cheerleading program was one of them."

The decision to eliminate the program comes after the University’s move to cut all funding to the Golden Panther Band. Athletics is currently reaching out to local high school marching bands to perform at football games.

According to Richard Kelch, director of media relations for Athletics, the department would save $45,000 annually by eliminating the program.

However, head cheerleading coach Maria George told Student Media that the budget for the cheerleading program is in fact $25,000.

George said she offered Athletics to coach the program for free and without an operating budget, but Athletics declined the offer.

Kelch said the department would still need money to run the program, even without George’s salary and operating budget, and that Athletics would be open to keep the cheerleading team if they were able to secure a recurring sponsor.

“The key word is recurring,” Kelch said. “We don’t want to find ourselves in the same position next year.”

The Golden Dazzlers, the University's competitive dance team, will continue to be funded and will fill the void left by the cheerleading team during games.

The Golden Dazzlers have 18 members and perform at all basketball and football games as well as events such as Midnight Madness and Freshman Convocation.

Their style, however, is more focused on hip hop and jazz dance routines rather than traditional cheering routines.

George said she thinks that Athletics wanted to go in a different direction.

“Athletics is trying to move toward a more professional cheerleader, which is a dance-type program such as the [Miami] Heat,” she said.

Athletics would not comment on why the Dazzlers were chosen over the cheerleading program.

George said she now must contact students who have committed to FIU specifically to be a part of the program.

“A lot of my student-athletes, they chose FIU because of our cheerleading,” George said. “I’ve got kids all around the country coming in to cheer here, that I’m making calls right now to tell them we don’t have a program.”

“I was so proud to say that I was an FIU cheerleader,” said cheerleader Sasha Velasco, a newcomer to the team. “I was looking forward to progressing [in the program] and being on a team that would push me to my limits and now they just pulled that right from under me.”

The cheerleading team has been the recipient of much success, most notably placing fourth in the Small Coed I-A division for the 2009 NCA/NDA Collegiate National Championships in April.

“We go to Daytona, Florida for college nationals every year, which is like the Rose Bowl of our sport,” George said. “They’re cutting a program that produces award-winning cheerleaders.”

The team is currently exploring alternative options to raise funds.

“We’re looking into other avenues to see if we can perhaps get enough support throughout the FIU community and the community in South Florida to help us stay as an organized sport,” George said.

The cheerleading team is currently seeking corporate sponsorships and has organized various fund-raising events on and off campus.

On June 24, the team set up in the Graham Center Pit to collect donations and create awareness about their situation.

They also partnered with the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity the following day for a fundraising party.

Lastly, on June 26, the cheerleaders organized a car wash.

Fliers have been posted in various spots throughout the Graham Center, informing students the different ways they can help and a schedule of their fund-raising events.

Student government has become aware of the cut and is discussing options with Athletics.

“We are looking at all alternatives in helping maintain the cheerleading program,” said Student Government Council at Modesto Maidique Campus President Anthony Rionda. “We understand the position the Athletic Department is in in cutting their budget but [we] are working our best to help this program continue.”

The cheerleaders, both veterans of the program and newcomers, are responding to the cuts with surprise and disappointment.

“I’m still in shock,” said co-captain Jenny Mesa. “We weren’t prepared for it.”

According to veteran cheerleader Erika Otero, however, this is just a minor setback.

“We really are title hungry,” she said. “This is going to be a stepping stone but we’ll get there.”

The final option for the team is to limit the amount of competitions they attend and become a student club, which receives funding from the Council for Student Organizations.

Role of College Cheerleading Becoming Controversial Issue

2009-06-28T10:14:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) explores the role of competitive cheerleading in college athletic departments.

HAMDEN, Conn. (AP) -- They jump, tumble and work the crowd. They also bristle at being called cheerleaders.

"We don't even use that word anymore," said Tori Maynard, a senior on the University of Oregon's competitive cheer team. "It's a stereotype. People don't understand what competitive cheerleading is."

Maynard and others involved in competitive cheer say it is a sport, similar to gymnastics. A smattering of colleges agree, some seeing it as a cheaper way to help comply with Title IX, the federal law that requires schools to offer equal athletic opportunities to men and women.

To continue article Click Here

SI.com Features ASU Spirit Squad Member Logan

2009-06-11T20:24:00.000-07:00

Sports Illustrated (SI.com) has featured Logan from Arizona State as the "Cheerleader of the Week." The ASU Spirit Squad was formed after the school combined the cheer team and dance team into one organization last year. SI.com features Logan and several members of the ASU Spirit Squad in 33 photos this week. For the full photo gallery Click Here

Redhawk Becomes Sea Gal

2009-05-31T13:58:00.000-07:00

By Katie Farden
SU Spectator
Media Credit: Courtesy Sea Gals

With four wins and 12 losses last season, the Seattle Seahawks ended 2008 leaving most of their fans with dim hopes for next year. Seattle U students and alumni still have cause to head down to Qwest Field, however, even if it is only for the half-time show.

Senior criminal justice and forensic psychology major Pia Gillan recently earned a spot on the Sea Gals, a professional dance team that performs at Seahawks football games.

When Gillan first found out she made the team, she was in disbelief.

"You have to wait for an hour to find out, and that's the worst part," she said. "When they first called my number I was in shock, I had to double check to make sure it was me."

Gillan has been a member of Seattle U's dance squad, SU Dance Team, for the past two years.

Her dance coach, Kate Kelly, wasn't surprised with Gillian's success at the Sea Gals tryout.

"She is one of the best performers I have ever coached," Kelly said. "She just has that air about her."

Performing in front of a large audience is one aspect of her new job Gillan says she is most excited to take on.

"I'm really excited just to be in the stadium interacting with the crowd," said Gillan who was born and raised in Guam and danced competitively in high school for Skip Entertainment Studio.

Before dancing on the SU Dance Team, Gillan spent her freshman and sophomore year playing rugby for Seattle U.

"Rugby was a lot of fun, especially because we played it a lot in Guam," she said. "But I really missed dancing. It's not that I didn't like rugby, but I do wish I had tried out for the dance team earlier."

The most unforgettable moment of her two years on Seattle U's dance squad, she said, was her initial audition.

"I had never really auditioned before, and I was nervous choreographing my own dance," she said of her 2007 tryout. "But I got through it."

Gillan auditioned for the Sea Gals in late April at Qwest Field. The try outs, which held three rounds of cuts and personal interviews, proved to be far more overwhelming than the Seattle U dance team auditions.

"At the SU audition, there are about eight girls there, and everyone knows your name," she said. "At the Sea Gals audition, there were over 200. You're just a number."

Granite Bay Grad Dances From Grizzlies to Hornets

2009-05-31T13:54:00.000-07:00

By Megan Wood- The Press Tribune
Granite Bay Press Tribune

Ali Bryant will soon swap her Granite Bay cheerleading uniform for Sacramento State’s dance team duds.

Bryant, a dancer since she was 8 years old recently auditioned for the Hornet Dance team and was notified last week that dance would definitely play a part in her college career.

Bryant has been in the advanced dance class at Granite Bay High School all four years of high school. She danced on the Emerald Dance team her freshman and sophomore years before joining the cheerleading squad her junior year. Her senior year, Bryant was voted captain of the cheerleading squad.

Bryant begins practice with the Hornet Girlz this summer and will attend several community events with the dance team.

Next year, as a freshman at Sacramento State, Bryant will perform at home football and basketball games with the Hornet Girlz and will make appearances at Raley Field.

Before graduating next month, Bryant will travel to Disneyland to perform and attend a workshop with the cheerleading squad. Bryant will dance one last time on the Granite Bay stage in the spring dance show May 21 and 22. The show takes place in the Granite Bay High School Theater at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $10.

Spotlight: Alabama Crimson Cabaret

2009-05-31T13:52:00.001-07:00

Taylor Daily Press

Jennifer Jan Tocquigny has been a member of the nationally ranked Crimson Cabaret college dance team at the University of Alabama for four years. Her team performs at each of the Tide’s basketball games, as well as, for 98,000 football fans. Each year the Crimson Cabaret competes at the UDA College Dance Nationals in Orlando, Fla., where they have consistently placed in the top 10 college dance teams. Tocquigny was on the Fairview High Pom Squad for four years, captain of the team her senior year and a professional cheerleader with the Colorado Rapids while in high school. She is the daughter of Carla and Rick Tocquigny of Boulder, Colo. Her grandmother is Janell Rohlack of Taylor.

Rice Spirit Squads Stepping It Up

2009-05-16T14:23:00.000-07:00

Despite lack of funding, student-run spirit groups are rising to the challenge of a growing athletics department
The Rice Thresher

Two Bowl trips, a $27 million dollar renovation of the basketball facilities and the signing of one of the winningest basketball coaches in the nation are all just parts of Athletic Director Chris Del Conte's vision for the future of the Rice athletics. Simultaneously, with neither the resources of a full-time staff nor the ability to raise six-figure alumni donations, students leading the Rice spirit squads have been working to move their teams in a direction parallel to Del Conte's vision.

The Owls' cheerleading and dance teams have both been through many changes in recent years after making concerted efforts to improve the quality of their performances. Their goal has been to significantly bolster student support on the sidelines.

"Both of [the squads] have improved tremendously," Megan Dodge, director of marketing, said. "I think a lot of it has to do with the passion of their leaders."

Since the beginning of the academic year, Dodge has been assigned as the liaison between the athletics department and the spirit squads. The seemingly arbitrary addition to the director of marketing's work description exemplifies a confusing trend in the relationship between the groups.

There exists a long-standing gray area when it comes to categorizing the spirit squads as either clubs or parts of the athletics department. In the past, this self-imposed relationship worked well for both parties. But a concerted effort has arisen from the leadership of the student groups to improve their on-field performance, and when added to the current financial troubles, the students feel as though their efforts have been stifled by an inefficient system.

Balancing act
For the cheer squad, there is one piece of the system in particular that brings the most challenges: The coaches of the squad are students taking on an extreme additional burden.

"Athletics sees cheerleading as our job, as our number one priory," said senior co-captain Nina Xue. "But we don't get treated like that's our number one priority."

Xue and junior co-captain Darren Arquero were central figures in pushing for a squad with improved skill. To get the team where they wanted them to be, the captains arranged for the team to train every week at a gym located in Sugarland, Tex. While the move has manifested itself in strong on-field performances, problems arose when it came to deciding how to pay for these kinds of endeavors.

"Darren and I have to talk to athletics, run a team, do all the administrative stuff and we are in charge of fundraising," Xue said. "And then we work, and we have school."

The presence of a full-time coach, she claims, would significantly lighten the burden on the students and increase the squad's ability to raise funds. But the team is stuck in an enigma. While a coach would ease the burden of fundraising, they do not have up-front money to pay for a coach.

"Chris Del Conte said throughout this year, 'Prove to me that you guys do deserve a coach,'" Russ Dean, Associate Athletics Director, said.

Xue believes that they have done just that.

"[Del Conte] thinks that we would be more legitimate if we were really coed, but that is because he doesn't understand the sport," she said. "Just because we don't have huge guys launching us in the air doesn't make us less legitimate."

But the fact that they are the only cheer squad with no full-time coach in the conference has implications beyond the quality of their performances. The athletics department pays for one of the members of the squad to be certified by the National Cheerleading Association every year, as conference regulations require there to be a certified coach present at every practice for safety reasons.

Cheerleading has one of the highest rates of injury of any sports - ESPN has named it the most dangerous sport for girls - and the burden of keeping the squad safe falls on the shoulders of the on-field captain.

"I am the one that is legally responsible if people get hurt on the team," Xue said. "If we had a coach, they could watch everything. [But] when Darren and I are involved in all the stunts, we can't see everything that is going on."

While safety in the practices is left up to the members of the squad, the medical resources that are available to any varsity athlete are given to the cheer squad, as well. But the gray area makes it difficult, at times, for the system to deal with the cheerleaders. For example, when Arquero was injured last year though cheerleading, his request for a motorized scooter from health services was repeatedly denied, because he was not classified as an athlete.

"Going through that process is very difficult," Arquero said. "It is basically [saying] that we are not being appreciated."

Owning the squad
While the two squads carry many of the same responsibilities, the dance team has responded to their unique relationship with athletics in a different manner.

"We are highly self-governing," senior Jennie Wilburn, captain of the dance team, said. "People take up their responsibility. It is a lot of work, but people do a good job of trying to spread it out."

The members of the dance team take turns creating choreography for their performances, a point in which the squad takes great pride. Without the safety hazards associated with some of the cheerleaders' routines, the dancers have been able to place that same emphasis on constantly improving without seeking out extra help. Instead, Wilburn said, the members have simply been putting in more time and effort.

Many other dance squads dedicate themselves to traveling for competitions in addition to supporting their teams. While this may be a potential direction for the team, they are currently focusing on raising the bar for their game-day performances.

"I think that as we slowly take our steps to make ourselves more serious, the student body takes you more seriously, and athletics will too," Wilburn said. "It is something that will happen over time as long as people remain committed. I don't think people realize how much time we put in. We put in as much time as some varsity sports."

Wilburn says that despite the team's recurring problems with funding, she understands the difficulty that the athletics department has when it comes to defining the position of the spirit squads.

"I would say it is not because they don't want to help," she said. "I think they want to do everything that they can for us."

When it comes down to it, the most important issue for all parties is supporting Rice athletics. The spirit squads saw the models put forth by the highflying connections between Chase Clement and Jarett Dillard, and they have been trying to raise their level of performance to coincide with the increased national recognition.

"I would never want to say that I am comparable to Dillard or Clement," Wilburn said, "But at the same time, when we do a lot for a team we don't feel the same appreciation."

And they intend to bolster the resurgent basketball programs as signs of support for the immense amount of money and resources placed into those programs, as well.

"Our team can do things that would have been impossible in previous years," Xue said.

But the reshaping of an entire department cannot happen overnight. There is a mutual recognition, though, that the process will have to take a great deal of effort and communication.

"We will try our hardest to give them all the tools to be successful that we can," Dean said. "Now, every sport will probably want more, but of course we will sit down with them."

Penn State Lionettes Take Fourth

2009-05-16T14:21:00.000-07:00

Lionettes' best finish in recent history
Gopsusports.com

University Park, Pa. - The Penn State Lionettes Dance Team went from the sidelines of football and basketball games to the spotlight after placing in fourth at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) competition in Daytona, Fla. earlier this spring. It is the first time in the Lionettes' history that they have placed in the top five in the NDA championship and they did it in an incredible fashion by coming in fourth place.

Dance team advisor Sue Sherburne has been a leader and mentor for the team since her arrival in the spring of 1997.

"It's a huge accomplishment without having a full-time coach," said Sherburne, who is also an Assistant Director, Academic Counselor & Coordinator of the Nagle/CHAMPS Life Skills Program in the Morgan Academic Center at Penn State.

Sherburne continued to say that between herself, the choreographer and the team captains, they work together to ensure that the void from the lack of full-time coaching does not keep the talented team from excelling.

There are 26 girls on the dance team and trials for the competition squad began in October. Sixteen girls and two alternates were selected, with 15 actually competing in the competition. Senior Sydney Klein, who competed in the NDA all four of her collegiate years, was the Lionettes' Nationals Coordinator this year. She was responsible for scheduling flights and getting the team where it needed to be to compete.

Despite all of the preparation it wasn't always smooth sailing for the team, though, as there were obstacles all the way up to the final event with three girls becoming injured in separate incidents. One of the injured was senior Ashley Herbick, who broke her foot during basketball season. Despite being upset that she could not perform in her senior year, she remained a motivational and inspirational person for the team to go on and win. The two alternates joined the competition team and worked together to incorporate the changes that occurred on such short notice. Another alternate had to be added to the competition team just in case any other accidents happened.

The fourth place finish in Daytona was exciting and very rewarding for everyone, and Sherburne added that she was especially proud for all the effort they put in since the majority of the year is spent performing at football and basketball games, leaving only about a month that is fully devoted to preparing for the nationals.

Aside from performing at the games, the team was actively involved with THON, and maintains a 3.6 team GPA.

"It's not just about winning," Sherburne said. "It's about everything else they've done to get there."

Both the dance team and cheerleading squad compete in the NDA championships. A total of 220 schools competed and the Lionettes were one of 17 dance teams competing in the Division I Athletics group.

UC Dancers On Top Of The World

2009-05-01T19:43:00.000-07:00

By Lauren Bishop
Cincinnati.com
Also: UC Dance Team Sweeps Dance Championship, WLWT.com

Best in the nation, and now best in the world.

That’s what the University of Cincinnati Dance Team can claim after winning gold medals in jazz dance, hip-hop and freestyle dance at the first-ever International Cheer Union’s World Cheerleading Championships in Orlando over the weekend, three months after the team won its fourth national hip-hop title in six years.

“They were unbelievable,” said Lisa Spears, who is in her 11th year as the team’s head coach. “They put on an outstanding performance.”

The International Cheer Union chose the UC dance team to represent the U.S. at the world cheerleading championships after the team took first place in hip-hop and fourth in dance in January at the Universal Dance Association – College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship at Walt Disney World.

The team held four-hour practices four to five times a week for two months to prepare for the world championships, lengthening and refining the hip-hop and dance routines they performed at nationals and learning a new freestyle routine, Spears said. The team’s varsity squad is made up of 17 students from all over the country, who have an overall grade point average of 3.4, she said.

Team members knew little about their international competition, which included teams from more than 40 countries competing in the dance and cheer events. The event was also part of a campaign to make competitive dance and cheer part of the Olympic Games.

In the end, the UC Dance Team’s greater experience compared with teams from countries that were new to competitive dance and cheering won out, said dance team captain Julie Dota, a 23-year-old senior math major from Youngstown. Still, they were stunned when they heard they swept all three categories.

“We really couldn’t believe it,” she said. “I would have never expected any of this to happen.”

The world championships ended the dance team’s season, but auditions for the 2009-2010 team take place May 30.

Information: http://gobearcats.cstv.com/spirit/cinn-dance.html

Towson Dance Team Takes Home 11th National Title

2009-05-01T19:36:00.000-07:00

WJZ.com

Towson, MD "We Are the Champions" could very well be the theme song for the Towson University Dance Team. They're just back from Daytona after winning their 11th straight National Collegiate Division l title.

Ron Matz has more on the 27 women who make up this amazing dynasty of dance.

The Towson University Dance Team has done it again, winning the Collegiate National Championship Division l title.

They took a chance with a new routine, depicting a battle between good and evil.

Coach Tom Cascella is proud that the girls took a chance.

"It was difficult for them to take a chance with this routine, so I was happy that we won. But I was happier they were willing to take a risk and do a routine no one else has ever done," he said. "We could have lost, but they didn't let that influence their decision of what they wanted to do and how they wanted to take our team in another direction.

They defeated 20 other teams in the competition in Daytona, bringing home a big trophy.

Their intensity is shaped in practice.

"We work very hard in practice--Tuesdays and Thursdays three hours usually after classes and then on the weekends pretty much all day," said junior Jennifer Maletto.

Practice does make perfect. At least 150 young women auditioned this year and only eight made the team.

But for the seniors looking ahead, it's been a bittersweet moment.

"I can't believe I'm finishing up. It has been a lot of hard work but all the girls, we've become so close. So it's really great. It becomes emotional when you're a senior and you're out there for your last time and it hits you that it's done," said senior Dana Richmond.

"It never gets old. I was really happy for them because they worked so hard," said Cascella.

More than 15,000 people watched the competition in Daytona. The 2009 Collegiate Championship is the largest college cheer and dance championship in the world.