2008 Woodie Awards
Emerson's Dance Team is alive and kicking
The group wants to gain more recognition at Emerson by working hard and winning competitions
David Carty
Issue date: 11/17/05 Section: Sports
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You see the 11 women stretching before practice. The mood is relaxed as they talk with each other. Before you know it, music is playing and the atmosphere has suddenly changed.
This is the Emerson College Dance Team. One-two-three-four and the team is in the air, back down sliding on the ground.
Five-six-seven-eight, back on their feet moving in unison.
First-year captain Danielle Boyle, the only returning member from last year's team, looks like an air traffic controller with her arms in the air, directing the rest of the group for the next routine and shouting out the numbers to follow the dance steps.
The dance team, as it has in the past, will continue to perform jazz and hip-hop numbers at many of the men and women's basketball home games at Pine Manor. Their first performance is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1 and will be followed by three more performances that weekend.
In addition, the dance team will attend the New England Regional Dance Conference at Boston University in February.
Despite the fact that dance is not a varsity sport, the team still prepares just like any other squad would.
"We break a sweat in there like any athlete would after a rehearsal or practice," Boyle said.
The dancers work hard to prepare themselves for their physically demanding routines.
"You need to have endurance, you need to have strength," Boyle said. "Dance requires an intense amount of strength."
Both stamina and speed are used in each of the team's dance routines.
"Dancers have to be as 'rough and tough' as any other athlete, on top of being graceful," said Billie Larson, a junior who has been on the team for two years. "Being flexible, agile and having focus is a must."
The team meets twice a week for 90-minute practices. Junior Emily Hapgood, who is in her first year with the team, said there is more to the routines then most students believe.
"We spend hours and hours learning and going over routines, and I think some people perceive it as just throwing some movements together," she said.
This is the Emerson College Dance Team. One-two-three-four and the team is in the air, back down sliding on the ground.
Five-six-seven-eight, back on their feet moving in unison.
First-year captain Danielle Boyle, the only returning member from last year's team, looks like an air traffic controller with her arms in the air, directing the rest of the group for the next routine and shouting out the numbers to follow the dance steps.
The dance team, as it has in the past, will continue to perform jazz and hip-hop numbers at many of the men and women's basketball home games at Pine Manor. Their first performance is scheduled for Thursday, Dec. 1 and will be followed by three more performances that weekend.
In addition, the dance team will attend the New England Regional Dance Conference at Boston University in February.
Despite the fact that dance is not a varsity sport, the team still prepares just like any other squad would.
"We break a sweat in there like any athlete would after a rehearsal or practice," Boyle said.
The dancers work hard to prepare themselves for their physically demanding routines.
"You need to have endurance, you need to have strength," Boyle said. "Dance requires an intense amount of strength."
Both stamina and speed are used in each of the team's dance routines.
"Dancers have to be as 'rough and tough' as any other athlete, on top of being graceful," said Billie Larson, a junior who has been on the team for two years. "Being flexible, agile and having focus is a must."
The team meets twice a week for 90-minute practices. Junior Emily Hapgood, who is in her first year with the team, said there is more to the routines then most students believe.
"We spend hours and hours learning and going over routines, and I think some people perceive it as just throwing some movements together," she said.
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