The Florida Atlantic Dance Team performs at all football games, as well as all men’s and women’s basketball games. In addition, the team performs at various functions such as pep rallies, charitable and community events, and fundraisers.

2007-2008 FAU Dance Team Photo by Aaron and Aruna Gilbert

Beginning in 1997, the team competed with the National Dance Association (NDA) and participated in the NDA "Danz" camps held in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. From 2001 to 2005, the team held private camps with choreographer Tony Gonzalez and then Kim Alexander. In 2001, the team was ranked tenth in the nation in Division I Dance; in 2004, they placed twelfth in Division I. On April 7, 2005, the team again attended the annual NDA competition held in Daytona Beach, FL where they placed second in the nation in Division Open Dance.

In 2007, FAU Dance overcame many obstacles and injuries and once again entered the national competition; although they were only able to compete with ten girls against teams twice their size, FAU Dance won second place in NDA's Open Division Challenge Cup (tenth place overall). In 2006, the team attended camp at Universal Dance Association (UDA), and since 2007, FAU Dance has attended ProDance Collegiate--the nation's most phenomenal and exciting dance camp for collegiate dancers.

Beginning in 2006, the FAU Dance Team has been featured in articles by Sun Sentinel sports writer Ted Hutton as the "#1 reason to attend FAU basketball games," and the team has also been noted for their exciting, contemporary, entertaining costumes and choreography on the College Dance Team Central news blog.

FAU DANCE 2008-2009 AUDITION INFO

When: September 13 and 14 (tentative)
Time: 12 - 6 PM both days (tentative)
Where: The Burrow (FAU's on-campus arena): upstairs balcony practice area

Requirements

• a current FAU student ID card
• You must be enrolled full-time at Florida Atlantic University (some PBCC students also attending FAU are welcome; e-mail FAUDance@aol.com for details).
• You must be able to attend all practices, games, promotions, and events for the entire season.
• Your GPA must remain at 2.0 or higher.
• You must be physically fit in both appearance and health (FAU Dancers are required to obtain medicals).

What To Wear

• Any flattering cropped dance/athletic top that shows your midriff (mandatory)
• Black boy-shorts (mandatory)
• Flesh-colored tights (mandatory)
• No baggy or loose clothing allowed
• Dance shoes or sneakers
• Please come to the audition with hair and make-up performance ready.

The Audition Process

1) Registration and Pictures

2) Warm-up

3) Dance
Candidates will learn and review two short dance routines (4 eight counts each) taught by the coach/choreographer. The first will be a jazz dance, and the second will be a pom routine. Some or all of the following technical elements will be observed:

• a clean double or triple pirouette
• chaine' turns
• pique turns
• a la seconde turns
• toe-touch
• grand jete leaps (R & L)
• axle leaps
• switch leaps (R & L)
• tilt leaps
• calypso leaps (R & L)

4) Audition/Interview
Dancers will audition, in groups of three or four, the first routine taught by the coach. A first cut may then be made, and semi-finalists will audition with the second routine. Judges will rate each candidate on general dance ability, technique, showmanship, level of fitness, and overall performance. We are looking for professionalism and maturity, the ability to learn quickly, a positive attitude, and ladylike comportment. After candidates audition with the last dance, results for those who have made it to finals will be posted. These candidates will need to remain in the gym for a post-audition meeting.

Finals will take place on the subsequent day; a hip-hop routine will be taught and evaluated. Interviews will also occur on this day. New additions to the 2008-2009 FAU Dance Team will then be announced. All 08-09 team members (rookies and veterans) will need to remain in the gym for a post-audition meeting.

COACHING STAFF

Dyanne K. Loput
Head Coach, FAU Dance
E-mail

WHAT IS THE COST TO BE A PART OF THE FAU DANCE TEAM?

The cost to be on the team includes travel expenses for camp (plane ticket or bus fee) and fees for Nationals. Attendance at Nationals is contingent upon team readiness and dancers' abilities to raise the necessary funds. The coach will advise the team as to what specific fees will be associated with each upcoming season. Dancers are responsible for obtaining the proper dance shoes and boots (designated by the coach) and their own make-up. Stipends are awarded each semester to FAU students enrolled in 12 or more credits.