Dancing queens
photo courtesy Lauren Langille
Dance dance evolution: The U of O dance team will be hosting their biggest showcase yet on March 7.
Watch that scene at their 2010 showcase on March 7
IF YOU’VE NEVER heard of the University of Ottawa dance team, you’re probably not alone. Dominic Andersen, now a fifth-year arts student and four-year veteran of the squad, wasn’t even aware the competitive club existed until after her first year at the U of O.
“I didn’t even know about the team in my first year,” she said.
As a competitive club, the dance team receives very limited funding from the university and only five hours of studio time per week. As a result, it’s been a struggle for the club to inform the community and the school about its existence.
“The team was much smaller in my first year,” said Andersen. “We didn’t know how to publicize and [let] people know about us. Through the years we’ve learned how to better tell people that there’s a dance team at this university and now there are so many more people auditioning,” said Andersen, who added that almost 200 people came out this year—compared to 80 in her first year.
Several initiatives have helped the team increase its presence on campus.
“We performed at the Capital Hoops Classic (Jan. 27) and other basketball games,” said Andersen. “We have a Facebook group now. We’re just trying to get more people involved with the dance team.”
The club has also participated in a number of fundraising activities. Open classes, workshops, private donations, and pub nights have been the most successful methods of earning money for the team, according to co-coach and fourth-year Telfer student Lauren Langille.
“We hold open classes on Fridays (from 3–5 p.m. at Montpetit Studio) and charge $10 for the class,” she said. “The money goes to the team and whoever teaches does so for free. We’ve had guest choreographers come, including Danny Lawn from So You Think You Can Dance Canada.”
The workshops are similar to open classes but are three or five hours and take place in various studios across Ottawa.
“Every [member of the team] volunteers to teach for free and students get to learn acrobatic, lyrical, jazz, and contemporary dance at a discounted rate,” said Langille.
Volunteerism has been a key part of the dance team’s success. Lisa-Marie Burka, an alumna from the team and former U of O student, was singled out by Langille as an example of a great volunteer.
“Every Sunday for seven hours, she helps with the choreography for our routines,” the co-coach said. “She’s with us all the time, coming to any competition or the showcase, and it’s all [on a] volunteer basis. We get volunteer help from everyone, which shows that it’s really a team effort.”
Much of the work put in by volunteers goes toward preparing the dance team’s annual showcase, which is a major fundraising event.
“The main goals of the showcase are to raise money and show the athleticism and talent that the dance team brings,” said Langille.
“The Showcase is much bigger this year, and that’s thanks to our coaches,” said Andersen. “We usually held it in the Alumni Auditorium, and about 100 people would come. This year we get to perform on a big stage with potentially 462 people watching, and we’re having two shows. I’m sad because this is my last one, but I’m happy at the same time because it’s come so far.”
Performances in the showcase will include solos, duets, small groups, large groups, and the full 20-member team dancing to lyrical, jazz, hip-hop, and acrobatic styles.
Anne-Catherine Robert is a rookie on the team and will be performing an acrobatic solo at the event.
“I’ve been doing gymnastics since I was four, and to have that background is unique because I can incorporate [it] into dance,” she said. “I am very excited.”
The money the dance team raises from the event goes towards balancing out the heavy costs of competitions.
“Solos are $140 for five minutes on stage,” said Langille. “Groups cost $25 per dancer for three minutes [at competitions]. Plus individual costumes range from $50–150, and that does not include shoes, makeup, as well as buses, hotel fees, and food for out-of-town competitions.”
The team hopes to raise $3,000 from this year’s showcase.
“We hope for the best outcome, of course,” said Robert. Andersen hopes the event will help the team gain some publicity, so that students avoid being in the dark like she once was.
“We want to show that if you come to the [U of O], we do have a dance team,” she said. “And we’re not small and uncompetitive; we’re intense and we work hard at what we do.”
The U of O dance team will be hosting their 2010 showcase at the Ottawa Little Theatre (400 King Edward Ave.) on March 7. Tickets are $10 and shows will be running at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. To purchase tickets in advance, email dance.tickets.uottawa@live.com.
look at dem thighs....ohh