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

Pre-Audition Clinics & Team Auditions

Pre-audition classes are Thursday, March 20 and Monday, March 24

- The same clinic is being offered on two separate days for those who are unavailable for one or the other.
- The classes will be held from 6:00 - 8:30 P.M. in the FAU Arena (balcony area).
- The registration fee for each class is $25.00; any dance attire is acceptable.
- Registration on the day of the clinic will begin at 5:30 P.M.
- The clinics are open to junior high and senior high students, as well as students currently enrolled in college. The Pre-Audition Clinics will include:

• Audition tips: hair, make-up, what to wear, etc.
• Dance technique
• Pom technique
• Stylized hip hop
• Meet the coach and current FAU Dancers; ask lots of questions!
• You will learn the styles of dance that will be taught at

FINAL AUDITIONS!

When: Prelims and semi-finals: Sunday, April 13; training camp: April 14, 15, & 17; finals: April 20
Time: Sunday: 12 - 7 PM; Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 5:30 - 8 PM; Sunday: 1 - 4 PM
Where: The Burrow (FAU's on-campus arena): upstairs balcony practice area

Requirements

• Letter of acceptance from FAU (for incoming freshman or transfer students) or 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) Technical Elements (Review)
This part of the audition will showcase the dancer's kicks, leaps, and turns; overall dance ability will be considered when final decisions are made. Skills observed will include:

• 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) 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 hip-hop routine.

5) Audition/Interview
Dancers will audition, in groups of three or four, the first routine taught by the coach. A first cut will 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 into training camp will be posted. Training camp candidates will need to remain in the gym for a post-audition meeting.

Training camp will take place on the subsequent Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Candidates must be available for those three 5:30 - 8:00 PM practices. Interviews will take place during training camp. The final audition will take place on Sunday, April 20 from 1-4 PM. The 2008-2009 FAU Dance Team will be announced at that time.

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.