The FAU Dance Team 2007-08 Season Preview

By Ted Hutton
Sun Sentinel FAU Sports Blog

It’s time for the first semi-annual Dance Team Preview. (We’ll have to do another before basketball season, and maybe a football season wrapup, too).

Let’s meet the team.

Left to right, Amy Madill (fourth year), Olivia Holmes (captain, fourth year), Amanda Ritchie (co-captain, fourth year), Stephanie Webb (rookie), Ebony Henderson (second year), Jessica Smart (second year), Amanda Cohen (rookie). Not pictured: Valerie Gentile (second year), Brittany Rivera (rookie).

That’s six returning dancers, with three four-year starters, so the DT has solid senior leadership. The fall is really a warmup for winter, which is prime time for the DT. A tryout is scheduled for Sept. 8, where DT Coach hopes to add seven more members for a total of 16.

But quality is more important than quantity, and DT Coach said she can go with as few as 12.

“Nine girls will be at the first football game (eight on the sidelines--one new rookie still needs to learn the FAU Fight Song), and we hope to have the new additions (from September 8) caught up in time to perform at the third football game,” DT Coach said.

In addition to the uniforms that debuted at FanFest, DT Coach said there will be another for football season, with the remaining ones coming during basketball.

Here’s a taste of what to expect in the newly refurbished Arena: “This year, in addition to our regular basketball time-outs and half-times, we will be doing a James Bond spy theme, a Motown theme, a Hairspray theme, a seventies theme, another country-western theme, another reggae theme, a Caribbean theme, an old-school theme, and we will have "management" dancing with us for that last one (those who have TENTATIVELY committed include Melissa Dawson, Craig Angelos, Dexter Lamont, Katrina McCormick, Danielle Daniel, and Mr. and Mrs. Brogan).

(Note to DT Coach – You need to recruit LB Ed Bradwell for the James Bond gig.)

If you want to know more about the DT members, CLICK HERE to get to page with pics and bios of each dancer.

And while I know my photography has improved greatly, CLICK HERE for many more photos of past DT performances.

I know there is another uniform coming for football season, but it will be tough to top the ones that were unveiled at Fanfest. And if anyone else but DT Coach were in charge, I might worry. But she has proved herself worthy of our trust.

KNOW YOU’RE BMI

That’s Body Mass Index, another way of saying how fat you are.

According to the DT website, in order to audition for the DT, your BMI should be no greater than 22. Curiosity got the best of me, and since there is a link to a BMI calculator conveniently following that requirement, I clicked on it.

And you can to, HERE, but be prepared for a shock.

Those of you who have seen me know that while I am not buffed like Taheem Acevedo, I am not, let’s say, portly. So, I plugged in 5’ 8”, 162 pounds (I lost two pounds during training camp). And my BMI popped up – 24.6.

OK, not bad, right? Well, the normal range is 18.5 to 24.9, so I just slipped into that category. Yikes. To qualify for a DT audition, I would have to be at 148 pounds, meaning losing 14, and I can tell you that ain’t going to happen. I would have to eat less food AND drink less beer, and those are sacrifices I am not prepared to make.

So, I guess me and my lofty BMI will have to remain on the sidelines to appreciate those that are a bit more svelte.

Loyola Dance team Places 3rd at NDA Camp

(New Orleans, LA)—The Loyola University dance team received several awards from the National Dance Alliance Collegiate dance camp in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, held from August 12th to 15th. The dance team not only received 3rd place for the Dance I and II Combined Division, they also received Most Improved Team, a Superior Rating, and a bid to the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Nationals in Daytona, Florida in Spring 2008.

The 2007-2008 dance Team members who attend the national camp are team captain Sheri Burley, biology junior from Metairie, Louisiana, co-captain Kelleigh Spencer, political science senior from Grenta, Louisiana, Brittani McClain, psychology sophomore from LaPlace, Louisiana, Christen Rhody, music industry sophomore from Metairie, Louisiana, Michelle Fazende, business administration freshman from Lafitte, Louisiana, and Sheridyn Miller, psychology freshman from Mandeville, Louisiana.

The dance team is an organization that performs at university athletic events and is also dedicated to promoting pride and school spirit throughout the school. The dance team also performs at special university gatherings and at local and regional competitions and events. Membership is open to all full time students and tryouts are held each fall.

Two Newton Natives Named To Central College Dance Squad

Newton Daily News
Special to the Daily News

PELLA — Two Newton women have been selected as members of the 2007-2008 Central College dance team.

Newton Senior High School graduates Katie Eisbrener, a Central sophomore, and Paige Hansen, a Central junior, will perform with the team during all Central home football and three home basketball halftimes. They also will perform during the annual Central College Dance Classic on Feb. 23, 2008, in P.H. Kuyper Gym.

The dance team also will compete Nov. 30 through the Iowa State Drill/Dance Team Association at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines. The squad is under the direction of head coach Cindy Wilson and assistant coach Mary Phifer, both of Monroe.

The team’s first performance will be at halftime of the home opener Sept. 1, as the Dutch football team takes on St. Thomas (Minn.) at 1 p.m. at the Ron and Joyce Schipper Stadium.

Two Prairie City-Monroe graduates — Kassi Adams and Morgan Wilson, both Central sophomores, also have been selected for the team.

Official Central College Dance Team Site: Click Here

Images Dance Team Schedules Summer Car Washes

Rochester, Mich. – If your car is dirty from a lot of summer time driving then the Images dance team at Oakland University has a solution. The squad has scheduled a number of car washes over the summer months that the team uses as a fund raiser. For a donation you can get your car washed and meet members of the team. All of the car washes will be held at the Mobil and Shell stations on the corner of Adams and University Drive in Rochester Hills with the exception of the July 28th date. On that day the event will be held at the OU Golf Course.

Images Dance Team Car Wash Dates

Saturday, June 23
Saturday, July 14
Saturday, July 21
Saturday, July 28 (OU Golf Course)
Saturday, August 11
Saturday, August 18

Visit the Oakland Images Official Site

Lifelong Dancer Qualifies For UNM Team

By Nat Holland
El Defensor Chieftain

Hard work and dedication send 20-year-old one step closer to dream career

Amy Valles started dancing at age 3 in Socorro and has continued ever since. In May, she took one step closer to her dream of becoming a professional dancer when she qualified for the Chaparrals, the University of New Mexico's dance team.

To qualify, Valles competed against more than 50 other girls and was one of only 20 that qualified for the team. Dancers had to learn a one-minute routine and perform a series of technical moves during the audition.

"It was kind of intense," Valles said. "I didn't think there would be that many there."

Valles began her career at Julie Cottom's School of Dance, and continued taking classes — up to 11 classes at one time.

Valles participated in the local Charisma Blue dance team of past years, and also on the No Limits competitive dance team from Cottom's.

Competitive teams are usually judged on creativity, execution and technical difficulty, and results are compiled into an overall team score.

During her time on the No Limits dance team, they beat teams from larger schools in Albuquerque and Santa Fe to compete in national competitions.

"I don't really know how I got so involved, I guess I wasn't coordinated enough to play sports." Valles said modestly.

Only 20 years old, her skill in dance has taken her around the country and overseas.

Valles performed with dance teams in the Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York. The highlight so far, though, was dancing in London's New Year's parade.

Currently Valles works as an instructor for the Universal Dance Association, where she trains younger dancers from high schools around the country. Her goal is to eventually become a professional dancer for perhaps a basketball or football team.

"For basketball, perhaps Miami; or football, maybe the Chicago Bears," she said. "Anyone but the (Dallas) Cowboys."

The Chaparrals frequently perform at UNM Lobo events and dance competitions. Chaparral team members are required to be full-time UNM students and maintain at least a 2.5 Grade Point Average.

Team members are required to fundraise at least $375 each toward a team goal of $20,000 that pays for uniforms, warm-ups, summer training camp and travel to competitions. Valles said that anyone who is interested in donating to her or sponsoring the team should contact her at 505-517-9783.

ProDance Collegiate Announces Dates

ProDance, which has been holding camps for professional dance teams since 2000, has announced this year's dates for ProDance Collegiate. The camp will run July 26-28, 2007. Below is a letter from ProDance founder Rosalyn Jones about ProDance Collegiate.

Do you want to know where University of Memphis, BYU, Cal State Fullerton, UCSD, UTEP, UTSA, USC and other College Dance Teams get their training? It's ProDance!! And now for the first time more college dance teams have the opportunity to get the ProDance advantage!

Dear Dance Team Coach!

It's that time of year again. You are in the midst of making a decision concerning what camp your dance team will attend this summer. I want to encourage you to take a BOLD step and choose ProDance Collegiate!!!

It is my hope that ProDance Collegiate will fill a void. We are offering YOU an exclusive opportunity to inject new energy into your existing program by providing exclusive access to the choreographers, choreography, industry experts and key innovators who are influencing the incredible surge in collegiate sports dance! I've spoken with many directors who are seeking MORE out of their camp experience. Some want to increase their success at Nationals. Others want to go to a camp where the focus is on learning and acquiring enough choreography to get them through their season. Still others want to have a more polished look for their fans. You may fall somewhere in between.


We have formulated a strategic plan designed to benefit the 200 collegiate dancers who will attend the inaugural ProDance Collegiate! We are limiting the number of participants because we want to give you and your team the attention you deserve. You are making an effort to seek out the best possible camp experience for your dancers and we will make the effort to deliver it! I can tell you that you will not find another camp who puts more thought into each and every aspect of its program than ProDance! No detail is overlooked in order to enhance your experience with us. From the location (full-blown resort/spa), to the choreographers/choreography (the best out there), to our competitive pricing--this is an opportunity you don't want to miss! We present choreography that is visually appealing, technically challenging and totally unique. You can rest assured you won't see these routines being performed en masse across the country.

ProDance Collegiate will take place July 26 –28 at the prestigious LaQuinta Resort & Club near Palm Springs, CA.


I want to let you in on a little secret--ProDance Collegiate will dramatically and immediately impact your program!!! The teams who have attended ProDance have raved about its benefits. The atmosphere we create is a catalyst for action, inspiration, growth, and success. You can't help but want to BE YOUR BEST after having been immersed in an environment that nurtures it. Being surrounded by brilliant minds and passionate people is so stimulating. The energy at ProDance is palpable! Believe me--you'll want to be a part of this. Bring your whole team or just send a few members. You won't be disappointed. "Some experiences simply do not translate. You have to go to know."

GET HERE AND GET IT!!!!

Rosalyn Jones
CEO/Founder
ProDance
2638 Kerrybrook Ct., Ste. 101
San Antonio, Texas 78230
Ph: (210) 344-5990
ProDance.net

Register online now!

Northeastern Graduate Chose Pom-Poms Over Work-Study

By Megan Jicha
The Northeastern News

Whether it's waiting tables, swiping cards at residence halls or working in retail, many college students rely on part-time jobs as sources of income. Recent mechanical engineering graduate Alyssa Caddle is no different.

"My job just happens to be at Gillette Stadium," said Caddle, a New England Patriots' cheerleader.

She has danced since she was 3 years old and was a member of the Northeastern dance team before she began cheering for the Patriots last year.

Getting paid to dance sounded like the perfect gig, she said.

Last year, Caddle and two of her friends from the dance team tried out for the Patriots' squad. Going in with the expectation of a fun day of dancing and meeting people, Caddle said she didn't expect to make the team.

With two additional Northeastern girls beside Caddle and her friends at the tryouts, she was the only Husky out of the five to be chosen for the squad.

Being a Patriots' cheerleader required her to balance cheerleading, a full course load, squash team and a social life, she said.

Caddle said she takes on a new challenge this year: balancing her second year of cheerleading with a full-time job in supplier quality engineering.

As a Patriots' cheerleader, Caddle attends practices twice a week, including six hours of it on Saturdays. Once the season begins, practice continues twice a week with games on the weekend. The cheerleaders do not travel to away games.

"Alyssa works very hard at practice to stay in shape and learn the routines, which is evident when she performs at appearances and on game day," said Tracy Sormanti, Patriots' cheerleader director and choreographer.

However, there is a lot more to cheering than practicing and games.

"While first and foremost a performer, Alyssa's outgoing personality makes her a fan favorite," Sormanti said. "She is very personable and has a great sense of humor. She is very engaging ... and people enjoy meeting her at promotional appearances."

These promotional opportunities can vary from parades to bar appearances. One of the most recent events was the team's 2008 calendar photo shoot earlier this month in the Dominican Republic.

"It was paradise," Caddle said. "But this year's shoot was harder. Last year I got to do a cute, smiley picture. This year they threw a lot more at me."

Although the team was in the Dominican for a week, Caddle had to leave early for graduation.

Beyond promotional events, the cheerleaders take part in charity work, like working with their junior cheerleaders and visiting different military bases. It is this type of off-the-field work where the cheerleaders' experiences differ, Caddle said. For example, she and five other cheerleaders recently had the opportunity to pay a visit to a military aircraft carrier.

"All 24 of us get to go to games, perform, but this was something only six of us got to do," Caddle said. "I'll probably never get to go on an aircraft carrier again and that was like a playground for an engineer."

Caddle said she receives a lot of attention and support from fans, family and companions.

"Every time I see her on the field, I feel like a proud parent," said her friend Kara Gilhooly, also a recent mechanical engineering graduate. Gilhooly and Caddle were on the dance and squash teams together.

Next year, if Caddle is in Boston, she said she plans to tryout for the squad for the third time. However, it would be her last year on the team because each girl is allowed a three-year cheering contract for the Patriots.

"It keeps the team fresh," Caddle said. "Fans like seeing new faces."

But whether she is on the team or not, she will always be cheering for the team.

"I always have and always will be a Patriots' fan," she said.