Queen's Dance Team

The Queen�s dance team will make history this spring as the first Canadian team to compete at the U.S. National Cheerleading Association and National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla.

The competition will take place April 4 to 8. In order to qualify, the team submitted a video of their performance. "In the video we had to have 30-second routines in hip-hop, jazz, technical skills and pom" dancer Paige Cooper said.

Dancer Maital Falkovitz added that the Gaels qualified for Division 1A, the highest level of competition. Both Falkovitz and Cooper are in their second year, and are two of the six second-year dancers on the team. "I don�t think many teams have considered going," dancer Lauren Thomson said. "We�re definitely initiating something, so you may see more Canadian teams in the future."

She added that the cost of the event is likely a deterrent for some schools. Queen�s is currently fundraising for the trip.

The Dance team includes 16 members and is led by two student coaches, Angela Cescon and Sarah Rainboth, who are also dancers on the team. Thomson said all the girls on the team contribute to the routine that they perform.

"We have more of our personality in our dance, a little bit more of a progressive style. It�s something new, something fresh," Falkovitz said. Cooper and Thomson said that Queen�s will differ in style from their American counterparts, which may help them.

"What we�re trying to do is find a balance," Cooper said. "We�re trying to keep our individuality and our style, but be as precise as we can.

"Basically we just want to go down to Daytona and hold our own and just do the best we can."

The Gaels will also compete at the University Dance Challenge in Guelph on March 10. "[Two years ago] we won the interuniversity championship which was amazing, and last year we placed third overall," Thomson said. "We want dance to become a more popular sport in university."

For Thomson, this will be her last year on the team. She is a history major in the fourth year of her program and is one of seven graduating dancers on the team.

Thomson added that the Daytona Beach competition will be a big focus for the team, especially for the graduating dancers.

"For a lot of us, this is our last chance to do something big, so we just want to go out and do our best and have a blast."

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