The Blinn College dance team is an exciting group that performs at Blinn College athletic events, pep rallies, college and community events, as well as at a number of other special events. This team of student-athletes demonstrates its support for the Buccaneer and Lady Buc athletic teams with energetic and entertaining performances.
College dance teams tend to be smaller than high school squads; therefore the team each year averages 20 to 24 members.
Our team is more of a dance team rather than a drill team, so there are no military, high kick or prop routines. During football season our performances consist of field jazz and pom. During basketball season, the team’s style is a combination of jazz and funk.
Each person who makes the team receives some level of scholarship funding. Sophomores receive scholarships for room and board. Freshmen receive scholarships that provide for tuition, fees and use of books, but are eligible to receive room and board scholarship based on their tryout score. Team officers are on full scholarship.
All team members must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 1.75 the first semester and 2.0 the second semester. Their sophomore year they are required to maintain a minimum 2.0 for the entire year. The team holds mandatory study hall for all members 1-2 times a week. Members of the team can also earn credit towards the required physical education classes that all students must take.
The college supports the team through the college budget. The college pays for all uniforms, pom poms, warm-ups, ponchos, traveling accommodations and food. Dancers pay for their own summer camp outfits, performance shoes, performance tights and practice clothes which average $250. This past year, each member paid $325 to the Drill Team Account for all expenses – pictures, Christmas party, end of year banquet and all practice attire. Fund-raising helps each girl with other expenses they may acquire.
The college provides the team with professional advising and coaching. The athletic director and dance team director makes the final decisions on the dance team's performance schedule and travel plans.
Applicants for a position on the dance team should closely examine their priorities, their class and work schedules, and their academic abilities before trying out for the squad. Many of those chosen are successful in fulfilling their duties on the team while maintaining a full class load, a part-time job and personal commitments. Each athlete must have the heart and dedication for dance AND academics.
Based on past schedules, team members must be committed to a schedule such as the one below, which is subject to change.
•Attend one-day clinic in June and July.
• Attend a home camp one week before classes start in August.
• Attend NDA camp in July.
• Practice five days a week (Approximately 10 hours a week).
• Attend and perform at the football games, basketball games, and pep rallies.
• Practice five days a week (approximately 10 hours)
• Attend and perform at basketball games throughout basketball season,
along with other various special performances.
• Competition (NDA in Daytona Beach)
A typical Treasures’ practice begins with intense stretching. The bulk of the practice is usually spent learning new routines and/or perfecting previously learned routines. If you do not like to run, interval workouts and lift weights, then this is not the team for you. We work Hard!!
Candidates coming in for tryout practices will need to be able to perform the following skills on both the right and left side: leaps, switch leaps, center leaps, switch center leaps, tilt jumps, double and triple turns, axel turns, fouette turns and other skills across the floor. The Treasures will teach 30 seconds of a dance at each clinic which will be performed in groups of four at the end of each practice.
The team will host a number of tryout sessions each spring to assess the skills, abilities and potential of interested and qualified candidates for the various dance positions.
Tryout sessions are intended to be low stress events. For that reason they are conducted in a practice-like environment during which the level of each candidate’s skills and talents and their ability to work with current and prospective team members will be evaluated. A short interview with the candidate may be conducted at anytime during the sessions. The final practice session is by invitation only.
Actual attendance by candidates at one of the tryout sessions is highly recommended; however, persons who cannot attend any of the scheduled tryout sessions may submit a videotape for consideration. All videos must be submitted before the end of the last scheduled tryout session.
There will be three open practices and you may attend all three or just one. The final squad selections will be made by April 26. To schedule dates to attend, email kforsythe@blinn.edu
All practices and tryouts will be closed to the public.
• Saturday, April 4, 4-6 p.m.
• Sunday, April 19, 3-5 p.m.
• Wednesday, April 22, 1 - 3 p.m.
• Final practice by invitation only Saturday, April 25, noon – 3:00
Come ready to tryout. Candidates should wear sports bras and black pants/shorts of their choice. Bring both jazz shoes and tennis shoes. There will be an area for you to freshen up.
• New students must have already applied to Blinn College for the Fall 2009 semester in order to try-out.
• Blinn College students must have a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average and be in good standing with the college. Students cannot be on any form of academic and/or disciplinary probation.
• An application form (Word document), current transcript, and picture must be turned in on the day of tryouts. A $30 registration fee is required. Please make checks payable to Blinn Dance Team Club and please do not send cash through the mail. (Do not have pictures made especially for this application packet. A snap shot will be fine.)
• A Medical Release Form signed by you and your parent. (can be downloaded from our Web site)
Blinn College
Karry Forsythe
902 College Ave.
Brenham, TX 77833
979-830-4264
www.blinn.edu
kforsythe@blinn.edu