By Maggie Wilson
Student Contributor
This year opens the door for many different things such as another breaking enrollment, new projects being added to campus and a different type of athlete. We do not use baseballs, basketballs, or even lacrosse sticks. What we do use is our bodies to express our athletic abilities to dance and provide spirit for our other teams associated with Tennessee Wesleyan.
Yes, that’s right. TWC has a dance team consisting of 11 girls from the surrounding counties and nearby states. All these girls come from different backgrounds, but have one major thing in common. They are all dedicated and love dance. Many would say dance is not a sport but if you ask any of these girls they will quickly tell you that it is not easy. We practice for hours a day three times a week and even pull weekend practices to learn new and fun dances from highly experienced choreographers. That does not include how much practice is spent outside of scheduled team practices.
Future performances will be at basketball games during halftimes and timeouts. This is not the first time Tennessee Wesleyan has had a dance team.. A few years back there was a team that was very experienced but sadly the team faded away. Until now, Dance is back and we are fighting to be seen and heard on this campus full of athletes. Our goal is to be a collegiate level varsity team and represent our team, school, and community in an exemplary manner, also to develop good sportsmanship, self confidence, and self discipline through our practices and performances.
Being only eleven strong it is going to be difficult, but with the help from our wonderful coaches, Jessica Edwards and Laura Carr we are going to make a difference. We are small in number but big in achievements. Many of the girls have walked into many dance competitions and came out winners, and the soles of their jazz shoes prove it. With awards and honors such as 1st place Regional Champions, Overall Grand Champions of Bourbon County Classic, Best Pom Routine at the Music City Challenge three years in a row, Top Team at the Soffe Open, and also receiving an invitation for The National Dance Competition in Disneyworld.
We ask that the students, facility, and staff give us a chance and support our team like any other sport on campus. We are currently having a fundraiser ending at the end of this week. We are selling fudge $10 for a pound from the Old Fashioned Fudge Factory downtown. You can either have one flavor or up to four different flavors.
With over 91 years of combined experience dancing we are more than dedicated. We are the new sport at Tennessee Wesleyan. Please come out and support us!
