FINDING THE PERFECT UNIVERSITY SERIES: THE COLLEGE DANCE TEAM EXPERIENCE

College dance teams have become very popular in recent years. There are some amazingly talented teams out there! But what are they really about? What do they have to offer you? What is required during the audition process? As my "Finding the Perfect University Series" continues, I reached out to some kind and fantastic people who are, or were recently, members of university dance teams to answer questions such as these. A big thank you to Megan, Parker, and Taylor for taking the time to participate in this series.  It is my sincerest hope that their insight into these SEC, PAC 12, and BIG 10 programs provide answers to questions you may have, gives you guidance into things you might want to ask during your search for the perfect university, as well as leads you to the determination if the dance team path is right for you. And who knows. This post just may lead you directly to your future alma mater.

Dance hard. Dance smart.
Meredith

Megan Carciopolo - UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

My name is Megan Carcioppolo. I attended the University of Arizona where I was on the dance team there for three years, and served as captain for two. I wanted to be more involved on campus and be apart of something more. This is exactly what I was looking for! Dancing for 50,000 fans at football games, and dancing on the court for a ranked basketball team was just a small part of what we did. We traveled to the Elite 8, competed at UDA Nationals in Florida, and even performed in a Super Bowl Halftime show with Katy Perry. These were just a few of the many highlights of my college experience.

Auditions are right around the corner for most college dance teams, and it is time to do some research. When you are looking at teams that you are interested in, first thing you want to do is visit their website to see what they are all about. Most teams like Arizona allow you to pre register and send in your application or register at the door when you arrive. If you are very serious about wanting to be apart of the team, I recommend you send it in as early as possible. Doing this shows you are interested and have prepared for auditions. As dancers, we have all been on a few auditions here and there. It’s all about being confident, and bringing your best to the floor. At Arizona, there are four different cuts that you go through before the team is announced. You learn an across the floor combination, a jazz routine, a pom routine, and then have a panel interview with the judges. This all happens within a day and a half. The team is announced that night. It’s a very fast process but it shows who can pick up choreography quickly and adapt to style well, which is always something a dancer strives for. Before heading to auditions, I recommend taking as many dance classes as possible, and always having some sort of improv set that shows off your best skills. You never know what they might throw out at you!

The Arizona Pomline gave me everything I dreamed about and more! Friendships, memories, and a second home. Thanks to this program and the experiences’ I had, I was able to continue my dancing career in the NFL. So I thank this program everyday.

Parker McCarron - UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE

The easiest way to find out when to apply to the university of Tennessee dance team is by following their Facebook page. There, they will post updates about upcoming important dates! Tryouts are usually held in late April. It is mandatory to be in attendance for tryouts. There is no online auditioning. It's really nice to also go to a university of Tennessee dance clinic that they hold to get used to what to expect when going to the actual tryouts.

Some of the things that they look for at the University of Tennessee dance team tryouts are how you work with other girls, how you will blend as a team, how strong your technical skills are, including leaps and turns. They also look for how you can support other people. It's important to have a positive attitude when you come to practice and when you're trying out. There's always a lot of support, and the girls are always cheering for each other at tryouts, at practices, and on the stage! It's a very positive and team oriented atmosphere. At tryouts, they usually do a rocky top portion where you will learn a Pom combo to Rocky top. They have a hip-hop portion. They also have a portion where they choreograph a little combo that would usually be a jazz or lyrical piece. Both times I tried out, it was a two day process. Sometimes, they've made a cut in the middle of the first day and at the end of the first day. The second day they usually make one final cut. They really look for how you will blend with the other girls. It's a very team oriented so you can't be shy especially, when it comes to doing the Rocky top portion! You cheer things like, "Let's go Vols! and "Go big orange!" At the beginning of the routine, it took a lot of getting used to but after a while it becomes second nature.

Taylor Valadez- UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN

The University of Michigan Dance Team(MDT) is recognized as a sport under athletics at U of M. This is currently our fifth year under athletics. MDT performs at all home football and basketball (Men’s and Women’s) and at some away games (usually against MSU and OSU). MDT also goes down Florida every day to compete at the UDA College Dance Team Competition.

MDT hosts a pre-audition clinic a week prior to tryouts. Auditions start on the Thursday of the following week and go until Sunday. At auditions, you can expect to learn several across the floor combinations as well some turn combinations in the center. You also will learn a jazz, contemporary, hip-hop, and pom combo. Throughout the audition process, you will show these combos in front of a panel of judges in groups of three. Cuts will be made at the end of each day.

If you cannot make auditions, you can also send in a video. If you send in a video, you will be asked to execute various technical movements, and show three combos in the styles of jazz, hip-hop, and pom. You will also need a video of you in a group routine.

The best thing you can do to prepare for auditions is make sure you have strong second turns and regular pirouettes. These are very important in the jazz routine for nationals. You should make sure you have a headspring and kip-up because these are basic movements in any hip-hop national routines as these movements will be executed as a team in unison. Pom skills are always nice to have but are not required, because those can be taught pretty easily.

Some perks of being on MDT are….. all the gear you get, book money, trainers, doctors, strength coaches, and so much more. In the beginning of the year, you will get showered in Nike gear from running shoes to backpacks to parkas (which are so nice in the winter). You also get an endless amount of booty shorts, leggings, bra tops, and t-shirts. Also when you are on MDT, you do not have to pay for anything. Athletics covers everything from traveling to away games to traveling to Florida. Sometimes you even get paid for performing in games over school breaks. We also have trainers who keep us healthy, and help us deal with all of our injuries. We also have strength and conditioning workouts made for us. Strength coaches are provided at the lifting facility to help us lift, and get us looking good for nationals. On top of all of that, we also get money for out text books! We do not have to purchase any of those! Although dance scholarships are not offered, we are hoping they will be offered in the near future.

Facebook: The Competitive Edge by Meredith

Instagram: competitiveedgebymeredith

Twitter: @the_comp_edge

For class, choreography, or booking information, please email: meredith@thecompetitiveedgebymeredith.com

You can also read The Competitive Edge by Meredith on Dance Apps Inc's app with NappyTabs, Dancer's Toolbox under Dancer's Dish.