Losing senior members leaves Cobbers to look for new talent in the 2013-2014 season
As last year came to a close, Concordia’s dance team lost several of their members due to graduation. Despite this disadvantage, the team is looking forward to the upcoming season. Their main mission is making it to nationals again in the 2014 dance finals.
With their numbers down, the dance team has currently been in the process of looking for new members. According to head coach Nicole Heide, the team is currently looking to create a diverse group of individuals with exceptional talent.
“We are currently in the rebuilding stage,” Heide said. “We are interested in members with the whole package.”
The team set up a booth at the Cobber Expo in order to promote their organization and gain interest from passers-by. Senior dancer Catrina Schneider said several individuals seemed interested and signed up for tryouts.
According to Schneider, the team has a very rigorous practice schedule.
“On practice day we warm up, run the side lines, stretch, do some technical stuff and dance,” Schneider said. “On workout days we work out for a half hour, stretch and end with abs and planks, which we do while listening to music from ‘Pitch Perfect.’”
Since the team will have several new members this year, the captains and coaches will be focusing on teaching the newcomers different dances.
“At the start of the year we just learn the different dances,” Schneider said. “We also focus a lot on the technique at the start of the year.”
Throughout the school year the dance team does several fundraisers to cover traveling expenses. Some of the events the team helps with include: WE-Fest clean up, 81 on 81 Run, car washes, working at concession stands at different venues and participating in the Pizza Corner events throughout the year.
Junior dancer Abby Berglud said the money earned through participating in fundraisers allows the team to take part in on- and off-campus dance events.
“We dance during the homecoming game and take part in a dance competition at the Mall of America,” Berglund said. “We also go to Florida for Nationals.”
When the dance team is off the stage, they take part in a lot of team-bonding activities.
“We have movie nights as a team,” Schneider said. “This year we are also getting together with Cobber Nation and having a ‘guac’ party one night.”
When it comes to creating new dances, the whole team gets involved.
“The captains choreograph the guy and girl dance and the coaches choreograph (other dances),” Heide said. Last year they also got help from the Crash Dance Productions from the cities to prepare for nationals, she said.
Since the team currently has fewer members than last year, they are trying to recruit more members so they can make it to nationals this coming spring.
“We need eight to ten dancers to compete in nationals,” Heide said. “Last year we made it to nationals and were .08 points away from making it to the finals.”
The team loves performing in front of fellow Cobbers; however, Berglund feels that performing in front of other dancers gives her the best satisfaction of all.
“I love dancing in front of people who know dance and know what you’re doing,” Berglund said.
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