Queen's Dance Team

The Queen�s dance team earned some much-deserved international recognition two weeks ago, when they won both the University Cup and the coveted Ultimate Gold ranking at one of the Canadian stops of the American Dance Awards (ADA) competition tour.

Performing at Guelph�s River Run Centre against teams from other Ontario universities such as York, Guelph and McMaster, the Gaels acquitted themselves well with their polished and exciting routine.

Each team was evaluated by three judges who recorded their commentary, and the Gaels received a lot of positive feedback when they listened to their tapes on the bus ride home.

�We were all really happy,� co-coach Sam Baxter said. �We got a lot of really good feedback [including technical stuff], so we were really pleased.�

Baxter choreographed the team�s routine along with co-coach Katie Robinson�the Advanced Jazz instructor for the Queen�s Dance Club (QDC)�Laura McKenna and Lauren Thomson, both members of the team and Robinson�s jazz class. All four were commended for the unity of their number.

They and their teammates were very pleased to have the opportunity to compete in a tournament as large as the ADA event. The competition drew dancers of all ages from all over, and the various routines were spread out over three days of competition rather than grouped together by age categories. That way, all the participants had the opportunity to watch a range of performances.

�It was really, really fun to watch, and really nice to see so much interest from other schools,� Baxter said.

The Gaels and the other Ontario university participants had kept their eyes on the competitions hosted by the ADA�a well-known and well-established institution�for a while. This year, they all arranged to enter the Guelph event, initiating the formation of the University Cup component of the challenge.

Since the event drew such a wide range of participants, the Gaels also received a lot of attention from potential future Queen�s students. These younger serious dancers were happy to see they won�t have to give up their passion when they go away to university.

�Doing so well at the competition was really good publicity for the school,� Baxter said.

During the year, the dance team performs at Queen�s basketball games and they also practice three times a week. In first term, the group focused on choreographing routines for the basketball time-outs and Baxter said that members other than the co-coaches were very helpful in contributing steps.

The second term was all about the competitive routine.

�It kind of evolved,� Baxter said. �We picked the music and then it came together in pieces, like Katie did the jazz and I did [some of the] hip-hop.�

The team also had to think about fundraising. They were moved from competitive to recreational club status this year�since they don�t often compete�and this change left the team short of funds to cover their travel costs and expensive event entry fees. Baxter was philosophical about the switch, and proud of her team�s efforts in fundraising.

�It is what it is,� she said. �It�s a very slow process for teams to get established. We raised about $1,200, which was pretty awesome. It covered our expenses.�

Baxter said she is very hopeful for the team�s future. Though she herself is graduating, she thinks the ranking and the newly-elected co-coaches Angela Cescon and Sarah Rainboth will make for a great season next year.

�I feel we�ll have a good chance,� she said. �[Angela and Sarah] will do great things.�

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