Fairfield University’s dance team takes their sexy hip-hop moves from Harbor Yard Arena to Walt Disney Resort in Orlando, Fla. for Nationals.
The dance team sent in a videotape of their performances to enter the 2006 College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship.
If the judges like what they see, the dance team can get a bid to surpass the preliminary round and go directly to the semi-finals.
If they get the bid they will then only have to compete in the semi-final round and possibly the finals.
The all-woman team has been practicing every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday night from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., unlike their normal rehearsal schedule of two nights a week.
“When we were taping on Sunday, I kept running into the bathroom and throwing up,” said Alicia Haraksin ’06, co-captain of the dance team.
Choreographer Liz Piccolo came in to put together their dance number, which consists of a compilation of songs including “Pour Some Sugar On Me,” “Candy Girl,” “Peaches and Cream,” “Tootsie Roll” and “Goodies” which all correspond to their theme: sweet.
The theme is a requirement of the competition, according to Nicole Jordan, coach of both the dance team and cheerleading squad.
The top three teams in each division and category receive a trophy and the champions receive a trophy as well as the title for the year, according to Jordan.
The women are very optimistic about the competition.
“I think we have a pretty good shot at this competition,” said Haraksin. “We watched the tapes from nationals last year, and we have been working really hard.”
Danielle Smith ’07, who has been a member of the dance team for three years, feels the same way.
“If we stay confident we really have a good shot at this competition,” she said. “Everyone on the team has the ability.”
Smith feels that their group dynamic makes them stronger as a team.
“We are awesome together,” she said. “We are all friends, and we make each other better because we push each other very hard.”
The women have already begun their fundraising for the event by selling candy and they plan on having raffles. The school is not providing funding for the competition, according to Jordan.
The competition will be held on in January from the 13 to the 16 at the Walt Disney World Resort where the girls will compete in Division I against other NCAA Division I schools.
Other members of the dance team include co-captain Jen DeNapoli ’06, Katie Ryan ’08, Kate Hebl ’09, Celeste Pennacchio ’08, Logan Carr ’08, Erin Kennedy ’07, Jacquelyn McDonough ’09, Samantha Taffarelli ’09, Melissa Vallone ’09, Rachel Brean ’08, and Jeannette Symmanas ’09.
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