The CWU dance team can often be seen during their halftime performances at basketball games, football games and even at the parade for those who are back in Ellensburg for it. But this year the team is gearing up to compete for the first time at the USA Nationals in Anaheim, Calif.
The team has been preparing for this competition since August, competing in both hip-hop and pop. “We’ve been running and cleaning… [these] routines ever since,” dance team co-captain Amy Sisson said. They’ve performed these routines at recent basketball games in order to practice their performance quality so that it is on the level they need it to be for the national stage.
“We drill the routines and clean them each practice. We’ve worked especially hard on getting our stamina up,” said dance team officer Presley Dejesus. “The routines we have prepared are nothing like our normal game day routines.”
This is a big moment for these dancers as the team has never been at this competition, or any national competition in the past. “We are most excited to make CWU history as being their first dance team to travel for a national competition,” Sisson said.
Dance team member Kieran Smythe said, “I’m excited to see the team put our best out on the floor and make history for the dance team and… [CWU]. I feel really good about the routines and everyone has put so much work in.”
The mainly self-choreographed team had their routines choreographed for them by University of Idaho dance team coach, Jordan French. “She choreographed for us two very complex and intricate routines that always have something going on. These routines show off our best skills,” Sisson said.
Dejesus said, “they’re the kind of dances you need to watch multiple times in order to fully see every little detail. They’re fun, they’re upbeat and they have really pushed us as a team and as individual dancers.”
The team is excited to be able to represent CWU and the dance team in this major way. By the time this issue of The Observer has been released the team will already have competed, so check in next week for an update on their standings.
