Dance Team

Tryouts for the McKendree PomCats are coming up!

The McKendree PomCats are a talented and dedicated group of dancers who support McKendree through their spirit, skill, and presence at campus events. As members of the Marching Bearcat Band, the dance team maintains a rigorous schedule throughout the year, performing at football games, parades, events and band functions as required during the fall.  Practices and performances continue into the spring, when the team appears at home basketball games and Team Dance Illinois Collegiate competitions.

Practices are held 3 times a week on campus, which include learning new choreography, practicing technique, and working on strength, endurance and flexibility.  Because of the large amount of routines performed every year, practices are mandatory and classes/other activities should be scheduled around dance commitments. Fundraising will take place throughout the year to keep costs low, to supplement our University funding.  The team attends a collegiate-level camp in the summer, and part of the Marching Bearcat Band Camp before school begins. 

For more information about the dance team, please contact head coach Brenda Cain at bmcain@mckendree.edu or (217) 778-5222.  Also be sure to check out the fan page on Facebook for up to date information, photos, and videos!

2012-2013 Squad

Captains: Katy Czerwonka, Jennifer Spenner & Tessa Dockins

Mandy Aoieong
Rachel Dudley
Chelsea Evans
Nicole Fisher
Sami Gruberman
Alaina Lukavsky
Rae McKinney
Kati Melton
Magoline Middleton
Michelle Parr
Haley Stephens
Mariah Tate

Head Coach: Brenda Cain

 

McKendree University Dance Tryouts:

Sunday, April 14th: 1:00-5:00pm---Dance Clinic**

The clinic will be held in the main gym of the Melvin Price Convocation Center (MPCC)  For directions and parking, please see: http://www.mckendree.edu/about/visitor/campus-map.php

This dance clinic is to teach the skills and short jazz routine that will need to be demonstrated at tryouts!  There will be NO JUDGING at the clinic, just come ready to work on the skills for tryouts! 

How to Prepare:  We will begin the try-out with group stretching, followed by technique drills/progressions, and then you will learn a short dance.  Be ready to tackle kick, jazz, hip hop, and pom!

We will review any and all of the following skills! (Note: these skills need not be perfect, but we need to see that you have potential to improve, and are willing to work on them!)

Toe-Touch & Tilt Jumps
High kicks
Splits R & L
Leaps R & L
Double/triple/quad pirouettes
Switch Leaps (R, L & Center)
Leg Extensions (front, side & scorpion)
Illusions
Calypso
Fouette Turns/Turns in Second/Floats
Kick spin/leg hold pirouettes

What to Wear: For the clinic, you are required to wear form fitting clothing, so we can see your moves clearly and provide assistance with developing your skills as needed.  (No baggy sweatpants!)  Any style dance shoe is fine, but completely bare feet will not be allowed. Hair needs to be pulled back so your face is visible, no jewelry please!

If you would like a copy of the tryout music, feel free to bring a blank CD or thumb drive!  Video will also be allowed.

Sunday, April 28th: 1:00-5:00pm--- Dance Judging/Tryouts
The final tryouts will be held in the main gym of the Melvin Price Convocation Center (MPCC) For directions and parking, please see: http://www.mckendree.edu/about/visitor/campus-map.php

What to wear: Please wear any black, form-fitting clothing for your tryout, tights are encouraged.  Hair must be pulled back, jewelry removed, performance makeup encouraged.  Any style of dance shoe is allowed.

We will review the skills and routine learned at the clinic for two hours, and then you will be broken up into small groups and be asked to perform skills for the judges.  Results from tryouts will be posted to the team Facebook page later that night, and new members will be contacted with summer practice dates, uniform fittings, camp details, etc.

**Attending the dance clinic is MANDATORY if you are interested in trying out on the 28th!  However, if you are not able to attend this tryout, please contact Coach Brenda to discuss the possibility of sending in a tryout by video, we are happy to accommodate those who are out of the area, just ask!**

For more information, please feel free to email Coach Brenda at bmcain@mckendree.edu.
 
GOOD LUCK!