First Ever International Cheerleading Competition Brings World's best to Disney

More than 100 national teams from more than 50 countries will be on hand for the historic event.
www.Cheerunion.org

ORLANDO, Fla., April 22 -- For the first time ever, a world-wide cheerleading and dance team championship will take place, with national cheerleading and dance teams from approximately 50 countries descending on the Walt Disney World(R) Resort on April 23 and 24. The International Cheer Union anticipates 100 team performances over the two-day event.

The International Cheer Union (ICU) was developed in conjunction with more than 60 member countries. It is a non-profit governing entity for international cheerleading, with the goal of receiving membership applications from National Cheer Federations all around the world.

One of the key goals of the ICU is to promote and improve cheer programs worldwide, and this event will bring together the largest collection of international cheerleading groups ever assembled for one competition. The event is open to National or Provisional Cheer Federations.

"The United States is the birthplace of cheerleading but we have seen the sport blossom worldwide," said Karl Olson, secretary general of the International Cheer Union. "The ICU competition gives the world's best cheerleading and dance teams an incredible opportunity to serve as ambassadors for their countries in a sport that is grounded in pride, confidence and self esteem."

The United States has organized two National Cheerleading Teams, one coed and one all girl, as well as one National Dance Team, each featuring some of the best cheer and dance athletes in the country. The 60 American athletes that make up the USA Cheer Team were chosen at a tryout in December and announced in January. The USA Dance Team has 17 members

In addition to the teams from the United States, teams from as far away as Australia, Guatemala, Russia and China will be represented at the event, which will take place at the Wide World of Sports Complex.

"This is an amazing event for the global cheerleading and dance team community, and I am confident that this championship will enrich the sport's experience for the young athletes in each participating country," says Jeff Webb, president of the ICU. Jeff Webb is also the founder and CEO of Varsity, a global leader in cheerleading and dance team events, camps and apparel.

About the ICU

The International Cheer Union (ICU) was formed in 2007 as the non-profit international governing entity whose mission is to advance the sport of cheerleading on a global scale. With 60 member nations, the ICU represents the various geographical areas where cheerleading exists. Working with the International All Star Federation (IASF), the governing body of international all star teams, the ICU promotes healthy competition and rule development so that the sport can progress in a safe and organized way. More information can be found on www.cheerunion.org.

Hundreds Mourn Rebel Girl Killed In I-215 Crash

Lindsay Bennett died two days after a collision with a suspected drunken driver

By Jean Reid Norman
Las Vegas Sun

More than 500 friends and family members of Lindsay Bennett filled an amphitheater outside the UNLV student union Tuesday evening to remember the 18-year-old student who died Friday, two days after being hit in what police are calling a drunken driving crash on Interstate 215 at Windmill Avenue.

“I am in awe,” said her father, Mike Bennett, as he looked across the crowd.

“It’s incredible to know that Lindsay affected so many people,” said Talia Rothman, a Coronado High School senior who was on the school’s dance team with Lindsay Bennett. The team was selling T-shirts with Bennett’s photo and motto, “Follow Your Bliss” to raise money for a scholarship fund set up in her name.

Bennett was a freshman at UNLV majoring in architecture and a member of the Rebel Girls dance team. She graduated from Coronado last year and had been captain of the high school’s dance team her junior and senior years.

She would have turned 19 years old Monday.

Vladimir Lagerev, 45, has been charged in connection with her death. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on charges of death from DUI alcohol, involuntary manslaughter and no proof of insurance, according to detention center records.

The 1 ¼-hour memorial service included candlelight, a slideshow of photos of Bennett’s life, music and comments from UNLV Athletic Director Mike Hamrick, Rebel Girls coach Marca DeCastroverde, Bennett’s pastor and friends.

DeCastroverde called Bennett “everything I want my daughter to be like,” and fellow Rebel Girl Kristen Johnson was interrupted by her own tears as she sang “Held” by Natalie Grant.

Family friend Jo Velasquez, a clinical psychologist, described her visit to the hospital last week while Bennett was fighting for her life.

“I walk in and look at a dad’s face, and there’s a thousand pounds of stress. A momma looks washed over,” Velasquez said.

“This is the horror of every parent,” she said. “Every time you young people walk out of our house, we pray that you will come back safely, and this is why.”

Velasquez praised the family’s strength and generosity in the two days between the crash and Bennett’s death. They allowed scores of her friends in to visit, and then donated her organs.

“How many of us would have been so gracious to share the last hours and days with our child with so many people?” Velasquez said. “They were thinking in their darkest hour how they can help others.”

Velasquez challenged the crowd of largely young people to act in some way to honor Bennett’s death. She said when Bennett’s young friends think about going out for a night on the town, they should think about Bennett.

“Would you be willing to be a true and loyal friend to Lindsay and make sure you have a designated driver or not touch liquor?” she asked. “That would be your miracle.”

Jason Carter, who graduated from Coronado High School with Bennett last year, said Velasquez’s words hit home.

“This brought people together,” he said. “It changed people’s hearts.”

UALR Dance Team Coach and Choreographer Named

UALRTrojans.com

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.—The UALR Department of Athletics announces the hiring of Sara Beth Wyatt as the coach and choreographer of the UALR dance team. Wyatt is currently the coach and choreographer for the Sirens, the dance team of the Arkansas Twisters.

“We are thrilled to have Sara Beth join the UALR Department of Athletics family,” said UALR Director of Athletics Chris Peterson. “Her dance experience along with her coaching and choreographing experience should take our dance team toward the new direction we are seeking.”

The Little Rock, Ark.-native has had 20 years of dance training including the Little Rock School of Dance, Shuffles and Ballet II, Horace Mann and Parkview Arts Magnet schools, and Marymount Manhattan.

Before her stint with the Sirens, Wyatt was the movement instructor and choreographer at the Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theater from 2003-06. From 2006-07, she was the dance teacher at DFW Artistic Experience.

Tryouts for the 2009-10 UALR dance team will be held on Saturday, May 23 at 10 a.m. at the UALR Center for Performing Arts. Preparatory classes for tryouts will be held on Tuesday, May 5 and Tuesday, May 12 at 4 p.m. at the same venue.

For more information about the UALR dance team and about tryouts, please contact Wyatt at sewyatt@ualr.edu. Updates will also be posted at UALRTrojans.com.

Towson Dance Team Returns With Another Title

Future is unknown for TU team after 11th win from College Nationals
By Ashley Rabe
The Towerlight

An unexpected trip and dramatic routine led Towson University’s Dance Team to their 11th straight national title.

The team, consisting of 29 members, traveled to Florida for the College Dance Team National Championship last weekend, returning with a rather unexpected attitude.

“It’s the same. It’s hard to believe, but we really don’t go there to win,” coach Tom Cascella said. “We weren’t going to go back this year and around Thanksgiving we decided to go and made it something different and weird.”

According to Cascella, after multiple wins the team debated returning this year, wondering what was left for them there. After much discussion the team agreed to return, but with a goal to do something very different than years past.

“We did a song and a routine about the battle between good and evil. Some of our members wore hoods so you couldn’t see their faces and one didn’t wear a hood and at the end she was killed and one of the evil people became good,” he said.

Cascella called the theme of their performance, abandoned hope with the ultimate moral being that good always prevails.

“It was really good, it was a different style routine that we did so we took a chance and took it in a whole different direction. We went 180 degrees than what we normally do,” he said. “It was a big departure for us, it was a dramatic presentation.”

Cascella began the search for a routine by listening to countless tracks and meeting with some of the members of the team at the beginning of December. The group settled on Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana.

He describes the song as a classic that everyone has heard of and that it is dark and sinister, while still maintaining a strong theme.

According to Cascella, as choreography began, it did not go well, and that the end of the routine was not completed until about a month ago.

The future of the TU Dance Team is currently unknown.

“Were going to sit down in a couple weeks and figure out where we go from here. It’s a long time to win 11 years in a row and what do you have to prove?” Cascella said.

The team is only losing three members to graduation and will hold auditions this Saturday for interested students.

“I really don’t know honestly. We weren’t going back this year but we decided to go back. We’re just going to sit down and think about it and talk together,” he said.

According to Cascella, the questions that remain for him as well as the team is if they don’t compete at College Nationals, will they get high quality individuals to audition for their team? If they don’t compete what do they do? If they didn’t compete would they lose their competitive edge?

“We’re looking at the USO tour and other shops and clinics. We were thinking of maybe going to Japan. We have a lot of options,” he said.

Auditions To Be Held For EIU Pink Panthers

Daily Eastern News

Auditions for the EIU Pink Panther Dance Team will take place April 17 to 19 in the Student Recreation Center with registration beginning at 4 p.m. in the Lantz main hallway. All incoming freshmen, transfer and current Eastern students with jazz, lyrical, kick and hip-hop dance experience are encouraged to audition.

Anyone with questions can contact Lisa Dallas at lmdallas@eiu.edu or at 581-3716.

Hopefuls Crowd Into WSU Dance Team Tryout

Saturday’s all-day tryout featured 57 dancers with hopes of joining the Crimson Girls.
By Charles Westerman
The Daily Evergreen

Fifty-seven hopeful dancers showed up to the one-day Crimson Girls tryout Saturday at the Hollingbery studio. Eleven of the 16 slots on the roster were filled by returning members, leaving just five open to newcomers.

“We’re looking for well-rounded dancers,” WSU Dance Team Coach Erika Boruff said. “Someone who can do different styles of dancing, as well as represent WSU in a positive way.” Boruff is going into her second year as coach of the Crimson Girls. Last year, she saw her team place eighth out of 29 teams at the Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Fla. The Crimson Girls competed for the first time at the national championships in the 1A Hip Hop Division.

The team puts in at least 20 hours a week practicing, working out and performing during a nine-month period. In addition, members have to solicit donations to fund the program and perform well academically.

The Crimson Girls perform at a variety of events including football, basketball and volleyball games, as well as pep rallies, alumni gatherings and charity events. Members of the team are expected to be well-rounded and responsible.

Girls who make the team are given a small stipend for their participation, but they are not rewarded with an athletic scholarship. Dancers trying out for the Crimson Girls are looking to fulfill their fervor for dance, develop a strong work ethic and be a part of a team.

“Dance has always been a passion of mine,” said Jessica Garcia, a senior at Hanford High School in Richland who attended tryouts. “I’m really excited to have the opportunity to continue and be a part of the Crimson Girls program.” Tryouts lasted from eight to 12 hours, during which three cuts were made. Dancers who reach the final stage of tryouts learn and perform three routines throughout the day and also participate in interviews with the coaches. This year’s tryouts saw a competitive spirit with plenty of talented dancers.

“It’s nice to see girls who really want to support WSU, because being a Crimson Girl is definitely a supportive role,” said Ivy Wang, spirit program coordinator and assistant coach. “There’s not a lot of perks. It’s a lot of hard work, so it’s refreshing to see so many girls who want to commit to that.” This years Crimson Girls will attend a summer dance camp and will start practices a week before classes begin. WSU cheerleader tryouts will be held Saturday.

Wisconsin-LaCrosse Dancing To Fight Cancer

The Racquet

Mark your calendars. This weekend is your chance to see guys in tights and girls shaking it all for a good cause.

The UW-L dance and football teams have once again teamed up to present the 3rd Annual Rob Wagner Dance Benefit. The entertainment takes place this Saturday, April 18th at 7pm and Sunday, April 19th at 4pm. This year's proceeds are going to Gundersen Lutheran Medical Foundation's Steppin' Out in Pink event.

The show was originally organized to raise money for UW-L student Rob Wagner who was diagnosed with cancer in 2006. The first show took place in spring 2007 and was a huge success. The turn out was great and around three thousand dollars was raised for Rob.

Everyone had a lot of fun, and because of the support from students and the community the group was excited to continue the tradition. At last year's show one large organization alone donated eighteen thousand dollars and overall the dance benefit raised twenty three thousand.

The dance and football teams were excited to tackle the challenge again this year and began practicing in early February. Practices have increased throughout the semester especially in the last few weeks before the show. The group currently practices three nights a week to put the finishing touches on the routines.

The dance team choreographs most of the dances but get a little collaboration, input and creativity from the guys.
Practicing for the show is a great change of pace for both teams who have an intense fall semester of games, competitions and rigorous practices.

"Practice is really entertaining, all the guys are hilarious and they're fun to work with," said freshman dance team member Kristen Burke. She went on to add that "working for the show really strengthens the team and its great to know our hard work is going for a good cause."

Despite the time commitment organizing and practicing for the show is fun and fulfilling according to dance team members. Past support from friends and family has helped raise a lot of money for a great cause.

Do not miss this wonderful opportunity to see football players strutting their stuff and shaking it to "Single Ladies." The show is interactive, fun, and very entertaining, the guys really get into each of the dances and show what skills they have off the football field. You will be surprised at how well some of them can move.

Senior and dance team captain Molly Koch added that each year the show is unique, "we try really hard to pick songs everyone will know and like." "We also try to add new tricks and lifts to all the routines to keep things interesting for us and the audience."

The entire group puts a lot of time and hard work into the show and hope that it is as successful this year as it has been in the past. The dance team and football team thank you for your support and hope you enjoy the show!