Penn State Lionettes To Attend Nationals

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.”