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The Undercurrent is a biweekly news feature show written and produced by students from Michigan State University. Each episode explores multiple stories surrounding one central theme.
From WDBM East Lansing, this is the Undercurrent, a biweekly news feature show produced by students at Michigan State University showcasing our own student stories. Let's dive in. Hi there and welcome to the Undercurrent. You are listening to season fifteen episode five and I'm your host, Anna Arnold. It is our first episode of the new year and I am so excited to be back and even more excited about who I get to sit with today.
Speaker 1:You might have seen them performing at Spartan Stadium, the Breslin Center, or just recently at the UDA College Dance Team Nationals in Orlando, Florida, where they took home the eighth place trophy in the d one a palm division. But today, I get the privilege to have them here in the studio with me. The Michigan State dance team is an integral part of Spartan spirit on game days and beyond. Today, I get the chance to sit with Paige and Regan to talk more about their experience on the team and competing this past weekend at nationals. So first off, thank you so much for coming in today.
Speaker 1:I am so excited to have you both here. I am such a big fan. I would love for you to introduce yourselves and talk a little bit more about your experience at Michigan State.
Speaker 2:I'm Paige, and I'm a senior here at Michigan State. And I've been on the dance team here, and I am a part of the business school. I'm I'm majoring in finance. The dance part is my favorite part and being so involved in campus and we come to so many events besides, like, supporting football, basketball, and volleyball. And I just love being so, like, a big part of the spirit of Michigan State.
Speaker 3:Mhmm. Yeah. Hi, guys. I'm Regan. I'm a sophomore at Michigan State, and I am majoring in advertising management.
Speaker 3:And one thing about dance for me, basically, everything Paige said, but I think one thing that's most special about the whole thing is the people you get to meet. You know, it's not every day you get to come in to a practice and love everyone you're surrounded by. But our team is really family based and we just have so many memories together and we're just such a family. So Yeah. It's so special.
Speaker 1:I love that. So when did you both start dancing and when did you realize that dancing in college was something that you wanted to pursue?
Speaker 2:So I started dancing when I was four and so I've been competing at UDA since I was eight years old. Oh, wow. So I've been very much so involved in the dance team world since I was very young. A lot of girls, like, that I danced with, like, they're on Minnesota, they're on Ohio, they're everywhere. And so it was just, like, a goal that I had with my friends and we all just kind of pursued it all together and I just always kinda knew that this is what I wanted to do.
Speaker 3:Mhmm. Started dancing when I was three years old. I didn't recently get introduced to the dance team world until I was a sophomore in high school where I was at one high school for my freshman year, and then I transferred my sophomore year due to COVID. And I reached out to the coach and asked if I could join the team. Their tryouts had already happened because I transferred in much later than the transfer portal usually opened at.
Speaker 3:When I reached out, she said that they were full. They already started learning their nationals routine. So I came back my junior year, and I tried out, and I made it. And it was so different from studio dance to school dance. It's like a whole different world.
Speaker 3:You would think that it's the same, but it's really not. I didn't know that I wanted to really dance in college until about my end of junior year going into my senior year on dance team. And when I started the recruitment process my senior year, I started to get really excited, and I just really wanted to dance in college. So it's really an answered prayer dream come true for sure.
Speaker 1:Yeah. What was the audition or tryout experience like for Michigan State's team, and why did it seem like the right fit for you both?
Speaker 3:Well, I attended a clinic my junior year in high school, and I attended multiple different schools clinic. But something about Michigan State, I really loved the environment. All the girls were super nice and welcoming, and I didn't necessarily experience that other schools too. I just loved everything about the school, the campus, the people, the environment, the school spirit, the sports, all of it. It just seemed like such a perfect fit for me.
Speaker 3:And I attended multiple clinics my junior year, my senior year as well, and then I applied for the recruitment process my senior year. But Michigan State dance team just recently had gotten a new coach that year, so tryouts were in person. It wasn't recruitment based. So I think that's why making this team was so special for me because we all made it together in a way. We all had a retry out with the new coach, and that's really created a special bond between all of us.
Speaker 3:And then it was just awesome.
Speaker 2:Yeah. But like from here now though, when I first made it, it was just an in person tryout but when we got our new coach now, everything is just recruitment based. So you would have to submit a video online, it's on our Instagram And then, from there, like, you get invited to an in person tryout from based off of your video. So, like, a lot of girls will come to our clinics and stuff and, like, like, we'll get to know them and then from there then that's how, like, our new our freshman class, like, they were all recruited.
Speaker 1:Oh, wow. So how many people are auditioning each year and how many are on the team currently?
Speaker 3:So we have 23 on the team right now. Yeah. It differs every year. Mhmm. It's really what our coach wants.
Speaker 2:Yeah. But I would say, like, like, at our clinic, we get around like a 150 kids, like high school students that come in. I am not sure how many people submitted a video this year, but it was probably like around, I would say around that. Wow. In the tryout, what
Speaker 1:kind of style are you auditioning with? Like, jazz, palm, kinda everything? Everything usually.
Speaker 3:There's always a combo introduced to the girls, so you have to show your palm skills. Usually, a technique portion in the recruitment base and also a jazz. So it's like pretty much everything that comes into play with a nationals routine Mhmm. And being on, you know, this sort of level. Mhmm.
Speaker 3:We also need to have, you know, a game day portion where that's where the school sees us the most. So whether that's banchants, sidelines, you know, basic sideline technique where you have to pick up your feet, like super sharp arms and your movements, you know, always yelling in the crowd, yelling for whatever team you're cheering for. So Yeah. Football and basketball chants are different. You know, volleyball chants are different.
Speaker 1:So Yeah. Do you have a preference on what Michigan State sport is your favorite to perform at?
Speaker 3:I really love basketball.
Speaker 2:I I basketball is my favorite.
Speaker 3:It's way more personal. I mean, you're, like, up close to the team. You're up close to the audience.
Speaker 2:And we can, like, kinda, like, hear what all the coaches are, like, saying.
Speaker 1:Oh, that's cool.
Speaker 2:And it's like and we're all just so invested in it. Mhmm. It's just more we're just very much so more connected in basketball games and we do a lot more dances and stuff. Like, we actually performed our palm dance at a woman's game before nationals Oh, nice. And at halftime and we're just it's just a lot more intimate and, like, Tom Izzo too, like, he'll reach out to us a lot and he's super supportive so it's kind of awesome.
Speaker 1:That's so cool. When preparing for nationals and game days, how do you balance school and classes and practice and social life? What does your typical day look like? So, I mean, I
Speaker 2:can just kinda tell you our schedule. Yeah. So fall semester, we're practicing pretty much every day. We did eight to eleven, Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and then Thursday nights for, like, two and a half hours and then we lift twice a week. And then that also includes all the football games that we dance at, all the basketball games, and volleyball.
Speaker 2:Okay. So we're really busy. So balancing school can get difficult, but it's not impossible. Mhmm. You just have to figure it out.
Speaker 2:Yeah. You know? But it's worth it. It is it is a lot though because there is times where you could be dancing at four games a week that week and then you have class two every day. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Especially, like, once we learn our nationals dances, so, like, a choreographer will come and fly out and it'll be, like, Thursday to Sunday and she'll be there. We could be there from eight in the morning to eight at night learning a dance for, like, five days in a row. And when you have school on top of that, like, it it can be a lot, but it's doable. Yeah. You just Wow.
Speaker 2:Do it.
Speaker 1:That's crazy. That's a lot. Yeah. So when there's a football game, what is like the timeline of the day? Can you take us through it?
Speaker 3:Usually for football games, whether it's an afternoon game or an earlier game, our coach will send us out a pregame schedule.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:So that includes our report time whether that's a three 03:30 game, we'd usually get there like
Speaker 2:We get there like four hours before the game starts. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:Wow. So
Speaker 3:there could be some people that ask us to do a
Speaker 2:tailgate or, you We get to that Sparti Statue before, like, the football team gets off the bus and they walk back from the Sparti Statue to the stadium and we do something there and then we do something at the tunnel like that is formed for them to walk through to walk into the stadium.
Speaker 3:Yeah. In that time, we go through all of our football stuff, whether that's pregame, sidelines, ban chants, just overall mechanics of the whole football game Mhmm. Quarter.
Speaker 1:That's so cool. It's a long day, but it sounds
Speaker 3:so fun.
Speaker 2:It's a lot of fun. Yeah. For sure. And especially in the beginning of the year, like, when everybody's first at campus, it's so much fun because we just like walk through and people will just start to sing the fight song with us and it's it's so much fun. I love it.
Speaker 1:Oh, I love that. So when does your season start? Does it start in the summer before classes start? And when do you all learn the routines for the games and such?
Speaker 2:We did camp this year. We went to a Our
Speaker 3:season's pretty much all year long. So this summer, we reported to campus, we learned a camp routine which is for UDA. So, you know, UDA staff members will come and fly out to wherever we go. And this year, we did it with Ohio State and Michigan University. And it was us three teams, and we learned, you know, a bunch of time out routines, sidelines, band chants.
Speaker 3:We had some master classes mixed in there. It's overall super fun experience. Basically, it's an introduction to your new team, I'd say. The whole
Speaker 2:UDA campus With our new, like, with our new freshmen and everything. So, like, that's the first time we're all together as a team. This happens in August. And we also performed a dance there too, like a dance, a home routine dance. So we had to prepare for that throughout the summer.
Speaker 2:Mhmm. So we don't like, I would say now now this is like our kind of our quote unquote time off. Okay. So because nationals just ended, but we're still dancing at basketball games and we still need to prepare for that. I would say the only time we actually really get time off is maybe May and June.
Speaker 1:Okay. Wow. That's wild.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:So this past weekend, you competed at Nationals and a lot of people say it is the Super Bowl of dance, but it truly is the Super Bowl in my eyes. I love it so much. It is my favorite weekend of the year. I could just sit there and watch all the routines for hours. I just I love it.
Speaker 1:But please tell us about nationals and take us through how your jazz and palm routines went.
Speaker 2:So pretty much so for ever since finals week of school, like, after that, we had been practicing, I would say, like, six to ten hours a day. We got to go home for Christmas for, like, I'd say, like, four days. We actually got a longer break this year. Last year, we only went home for two, but we were more prepared this year, so that was exciting. And, basically, we did that every day and then we left for nationals a few days before.
Speaker 2:And when we got there, we basically just practiced Mhmm. At a studio and we're just very much so, like, locked away just so we can stay focused and not worry about outside factors or things that are going on, and we kinda just stay off our phones and just stay with each other. Just pretty much mentally prepare ourselves for when you go up out on stage, there's thousands of people that are watching you and you just have to be, like, do what you need to do to be prepared for that. And the way how we did it this year, like, I felt like we all walked out there and we and we were prepared and it was awesome. It was an awesome feeling to have and it's such a unique experience and it's so hard to explain because, like, the feelings that you get is, like, almost undescribable.
Speaker 2:But it is so awesome to go there and see all the other schools and and, like, see people you know and watch them prepare and them practice. Like, it is it is a once in a lifetime opportunity and I would never take it for granted. It's awesome. Yeah. And
Speaker 1:then how did it
Speaker 3:go for you, Regan? My freshman year, I was in either dance. This year, I really just got to hone in like Paige said. We weren't I wouldn't say as prepared as last year, but we weren't as confident going on the floor as we were this year. Yeah.
Speaker 3:And even not being in the dance, I felt kind of the pressure from last year. But this year, it was a whole another ballgame. Like, we were honestly we're just excited to go out there and dance. Like, we did not care. Everyone was just so hyped up.
Speaker 3:Like Yeah. It was so much different from last year, and I think that's so cool to just see that growth within one year. Yeah. And with everyone's mindset shifts and just preparedness and confidence, like, really takes you to a whole another level. And you just you forget about everything else, and you just go out there and instead of, like, thinking about it as a competition, you think about it as just, like, a performance.
Speaker 3:And Mhmm. You know, that's kind of what this environment entails. And I think that's super cool to experience with each other and also share it with the audience and the judges and show what we've been working on for so long because it is really crazy how we put our whole, you know, social lives aside and just like even school in general, like, you're really locked into this these performances and these routines that the way it's only going on for three days is actually crazy.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. And then so when you're not in the dance at nationals, are you just an alternate in case like someone gets hurt?
Speaker 3:Yes. Okay. The whole alternate situation, basically, our coach will tell us to learn somebody's spot. Mhmm. And that usually gets depicted on whether a person in the dance can hit scales or if a person in the dance can't or maybe they're sick that day and they need someone to fill in for the dance because dance is super visual too.
Speaker 3:Mhmm. Not only is it technical, but you also need to have all the visual aspects. So, you know, lining, spacing. So when you're an alternate on the side, you learn parts of people who are in the dance, and you have to know that and be prepared to go in if anything were to ever happen to somebody who was in the dance. And, honestly, I think being an alternate might be harder.
Speaker 3:It's definitely more mentally challenging for sure.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. A lot of things throughout the year, like, will get switched. Like like, people will get switched in and out all year because it creates, like, that competitive aspect on our team so like we don't settle. Yeah.
Speaker 2:And like because as a dance team like like a solo, if you're like at a dance studio, right, and you're competing solos, you're always competitive. Like you're competitive with your friends on your team. A dance team like you're it's so it's also what makes it so special because you're not competitive with your friends. Everybody's so united and, like, you don't get pinned against each other. Having alternates does bring that aspect in and it makes you more competitive and make and it makes you wanna be better because when people are getting switched in and out, like, it's not because one person deserves it or the other and Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Everybody, like, deserves, like, to be in that spot. It just it just pushes everybody to be better. Yeah. And it is honestly why dance team has gotten to the point that it is now. Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Just so, like, that competitive standpoint of wanting to be better.
Speaker 1:Yeah. For sure. So when your choreographer comes in to choreograph your pieces for nationals, are you guys trying out for her, or how are you guys chosen to be in these routines?
Speaker 2:So our palm choreographer, she also did us last year. We say her full name. We say Megan O'Malley Jones. She's awesome. So she came in over the summer and we just learned some palm combos with her and it was we weren't told that it was a tryout, but it kinda was.
Speaker 2:Yeah. And then from there, then our coach does decide, like, after that and how many people she wants in and who she wants in from that. But things change, like, it doesn't stay that way. And you just kinda find out.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Usually, we would just have interviews with her, tell us if we were in a dance or not in a dance and tell us what we need to work on, whose spot we're learning. But I think this year, we're in the years ahead, we're taking it to a more just blunt approach. Yeah. That's also like what Paige said about the whole competitiveness.
Speaker 3:Honestly, though, I feel like you're almost competing for yourself at that point.
Speaker 2:You are. You are. Once you're at this level, like, you know what you're good at and what you're not
Speaker 3:good
Speaker 2:at and you know what you need to work on. So it's not like you need somebody to tell you anymore. Mhmm. So you just have to work on it and get better at it. And once you get it, then there's something else new to achieve.
Speaker 2:But
Speaker 1:Yeah. So you competed a jazz routine and a palm routine. Do you guys have a preference on which one you liked better or which one you like performing more?
Speaker 3:Honestly, coming from a studio, I never did palm ever. I was very new to palm. Once I reached high school, then I was introduced to palm. But palm never used to really be my favorite because I definitely it definitely wasn't a strength of mine. Definitely something I had to work at towards, but I did absolutely adore jazz this year.
Speaker 3:But Pom was just a whole another level. Like, we would have people coming up to us after our performances being like, that made me wanna run into, like, a brick wall. And like, that's like that's like our, you know, that's our goal. We want to get the audience, you know, hyped up and excited to watch us and just like experience all the visuals. I mean, it's so cool to dance it and have the energy for it, but also like having the audience riled up, it's such a cool feeling for sure.
Speaker 2:It it depends on the jazz style for me. Like, this year, we did more of a softer jazz where I love a more, like, like Hard hitting. Like, hard hitting kind of jazz or contemporary kind of vibe. Mhmm. But I love Pom so much.
Speaker 2:And I would even say, like, as a non dancer, like, you don't know dance, I just say Pom is so much more enjoyable to watch if you don't know, like, what dance is. Mhmm. And that's what we hear the most when people come in who don't know anything about dance. They're like that, like, oh my gosh, like, I could do anything now and like that's just kind of like the vibe that it gives off and I I just love that about Pawn because it gets everybody so like smiley and like awesome and it gets your adrenaline going and it's just I just think it's so fun and enjoyable to watch.
Speaker 1:Yeah. No. I love watching it and it's so impressive and like all the formations and the lines like everything is so It's in crazy. But I love it. And then can you go more into detail about what is the atmosphere like at nationals, and how do you prepare mentally and physically when competing against so many teams and different universities and some of which, like, your friends are on or, like, past teammates are on.
Speaker 1:So how do you
Speaker 2:manage that? So we tell each other to stay in our bubble because so, like, before you go on stage, we go to it's we go to practice mats. And there's, like, there's a lot of teams in there, and it is so Wow. Simulating. It is so sim Oh, like wow.
Speaker 2:Okay. It is so hard to stay focused, and we constantly especially Reagan, like, constantly, Reagan, save your bubble. Like, it's so hard to not watch because we need to stay so focused on ourselves because if you get distracted, like, you might not do your best. Mhmm. And so it's really hard, but we just have to hold each other accountable and hold each other in check because it is so stimulating.
Speaker 2:And, like, my friends who are on other teams, like, maybe they'll walk by, like, I just kinda, like, when, like, my coaches are looking at kinda just, look, like, hey. Like because, like, we can't really talk to each other. We can't really say hi. Like, we all just kinda talk and hang out after. We all perform and compete because, like, it's just not the time.
Speaker 2:Like, we're doing our thing with our team, and we need to stay focused on our team and what we're doing. So it it is really hard, but we talk about it for, like, weeks before and say, make sure, like, when you're there Mhmm. Like, you're focused on what is going on with us at that very moment.
Speaker 1:Yeah. For sure. The from just the, like, TikToks I watch from nationals, the energy just seems Oh, yeah.
Speaker 3:Insane. It
Speaker 2:is. Like,
Speaker 1:props to
Speaker 3:you guys.
Speaker 2:Is. Wild. And the the audience is, like so, like, at Fieldhouse Mhmm. That's the castle stage. It's so big, and so everybody's really far back.
Speaker 2:So you can't really see anything. But on the final stage, everybody is so close and the energy is just absolutely insane. It is the whole arena is so loud. And if you wanna if you're one of the audience people and you go there, like, good luck finding a seat. Everybody is the moms go crazy finding each other to find a And it's it's actually so cool.
Speaker 1:So how many teams compete in each of your categories? And then how many move on to the finals?
Speaker 2:I think palm had 18. Okay. I think. I could be wrong. And then jazz had 30 something.
Speaker 3:Oh, wow.
Speaker 2:So jazz, you have to compete three times jazzers, prelims, semis, and finals. And then since it's a bigger category Mhmm. And then POM is just semis and finals because it's not as many people. Gotcha. And then I would for both, like, it's about top 10 that make it to finals.
Speaker 3:Okay. For POM this year, there was only
Speaker 2:There was only nine. Nine? Yeah. Mhmm. Gotcha.
Speaker 1:And you guys won eighth place.
Speaker 3:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:What was that like? That's so exciting.
Speaker 2:It was it was awesome. We didn't make it to finals last year, so making it this year, it it was a big accomplishment for us. Mhmm. And I'm very excited to see because with our new coach and our new standards and everything, like, this program is gonna go really far Mhmm. In the next few years.
Speaker 2:And I'm really excited to see how well Michigan State does because we're we're ready. Like Yeah. We're already talking about next year. Like, we're ready. So well, at least I am.
Speaker 2:I'm not dancing next year, but I'm excited. Yeah. So
Speaker 1:So I saw that you guys before competing at Nationals, you go to a showcase with Ohio State and then Michigan.
Speaker 3:Mhmm.
Speaker 1:So what is that? Like, is your routine finalized by that point or are you consistently changing it like up until you leave for Orlando?
Speaker 2:It depends. Basically, always still cleaning. Yeah. Like, you're always cleaning. There's always something wrong.
Speaker 2:Like, there can't you're not gonna be perfect. So we changed a few things actually after we did. The environment wise, though,
Speaker 3:it was just so fun. Yeah. And so many of us are friends with each other on both teams. It's just like, it's definitely more it's I wouldn't say it's there's no tension because there definitely is. I mean, these showcases are when other teams get ahold of your videos before nationals, and this is, like, a big deal in the dance world.
Speaker 3:Like, your showcase is coming up. Like, your videos are getting leaked.
Speaker 2:And Yeah.
Speaker 3:Yeah. People are gonna know what your dance looks like by the time you before you even reach nationals. So showcases are definitely huge in the dance team world.
Speaker 2:And, like, we also get to see from a different view, like, performing doing our routine, like, at Jennison here, like, it's just us, so it's different. Like, once you get in front of a crowd, like, things happen. Yeah. So we try to, like, sometimes we'll perform in front of, like, gymnastics or something and, like, they'll watch us and, like, we something always happens when, like, people start to watch you. So getting in front of a big crowd like that, it's it, like, it helps us because then we know, like, what we need to focus on and what we need to do before we get to nationals.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:You get all your jitters out. I think it's a great way to just, you know, be able to experience it, before you go on the stage. I mean, like Paige said, we performed at a basketball halftime. We definitely did not do our best there because, you know, it was our first time in front of a crowd, but you would rather mess up at a basketball game versus the nationals floor. And I think that's what's so special about getting these opportunities to dance in front of other people because you start to get the feeling and the hang of, like, dancing in front of these huge crowds.
Speaker 3:And then you really don't need to do anything else. I mean, yes, your adrenaline's pumping and everything, but versus practice and dancing in front of people, the only thing you really need to get under control is just jitters and shakes and control your adrenaline and not do anything too much and not do anything too little. So Yeah.
Speaker 1:What sets Michigan State's team apart from different teams? Is there a certain skill that you guys really hone in on and that you're really confident on?
Speaker 2:I would say, like, I wouldn't say necessarily, like, a skill because we're every team kind of asks for, like, the same thing, like, having both side aerials, front aerials, your turns, your jumps, this and that. I would say, like, kind of, like, our mindset is what sets us apart. Our coaches very much so, like it's it's so ironic because, like, the Lions team, like, their theme is, like, grit. Mhmm. But, like, that's kinda, like, I would say we follow as, like, Spartans literally if you go and look up, like, what Michigan State and Spartans like, meaning, it's, like, very much so, like, driven, hardworking, like, relentless.
Speaker 2:Like, that's kind of, like, the theme of our school.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:And I would say that's what our dance team is. And a lot of schools aren't, like, always like that. Mhmm. And, like, our palm dance too this year, like, we literally danced to fight night in Humble. So, like Yeah.
Speaker 2:Like, it's just, like, our vibe is just very much so like different and like we're all everybody is like everybody's so energetic and so much fun but we're all like kinda like chill at the same time and it's like it's our personalities which is what and our our yeah. Our, like, team connection with each other. Mhmm. That's what sets us apart and we're very close and we're just a big old family. So Yeah.
Speaker 3:We're definitely a very close knit team.
Speaker 2:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:It's so special. Like, it I cannot ask God for a better group of people. I mean, we all love each other so much. We all lean on each other whenever we need each other. Like, I could go to anybody on the team and I'd feel ultimately better.
Speaker 3:Like, it's just it's awesome.
Speaker 2:We also have a a dance house that's been passed down for, like, years and years and years and years. She actually lives in it and there's seven girls that live in it and it gets passed down and we all just go there and hang out every day and it's been a thing that for a really long time, like a big tradition of ours.
Speaker 1:That's so fun. And that's so special that you guys have such a close knit group, especially, like Michigan State is huge. And so just having that community with each other, that's so special. Were there any teams this year that you really enjoyed watching?
Speaker 3:It's always Minnesota and Ohio State for me. But especially like honestly like Penn State. Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Penn State. I loved them this year. They came out with a bang. Like, obviously, you're always gonna expect something good from Minnesota and Ohio, so you always know how to watch them. But I specifically was waiting for I knew I had a feeling Penn State was gonna be good this year because they came for blood last year for POM and I was excited to see them.
Speaker 2:And Cincy's POM was really good this year and I was I loved watching them and I knew UNLV was gonna be good in their hip hop. So
Speaker 3:I also think UCF UCF. Yes. Yes. Yeah. Did not make finals.
Speaker 3:I mean, they were just mind blowing. Like, they were so They're so good. So good. And their hip hop.
Speaker 2:I was like, wow. I love them. I love
Speaker 3:watching them. The talent is just it keeps getting better and better, which is awesome.
Speaker 2:This was like the most competitive place UDA has ever been in. Yeah. Like, each team a lot of teams that did not make it to finals, like, were jaw dropping. Mhmm. So it was the talent that was up on the floor this year was unmatched for sure.
Speaker 3:Yeah. Just gonna keep getting better and better, which is so exciting, but it's also so nervous. It's yeah. It's it's awesome. I mean, the environment is so overstimulating, but yet so exciting and there's so much tension, but it's like a good kind of tension, I guess.
Speaker 2:Yeah. For
Speaker 1:sure. The energy just seems crazy. I was following along with, like, the sisters. Oh, Ava and Ellie?
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 1:And I was like, I wonder what like their dynamic is like because like Ohio State and Minnesota like that must be crazy. But
Speaker 2:So one of the girls on our team Yeah. Her name is Victoria. Her sister is on U of M's dance team.
Speaker 1:Oh, no way.
Speaker 2:So Yeah. So we kinda get like a little bit it's actually really common to have like stuff like that. But, yeah, there's actually there was a video that came in my For You page and somebody recorded Eva and Ellie, like, hugging each other backstage.
Speaker 1:Oh, yes. I did see that.
Speaker 2:Yeah. Yeah. So the it's it's crazy. Like, that stuff is crazy. And the parents, like, I couldn't even imagine, like, just having siblings on two college dance teams is a lot because running back and forth watching the dances, like, we have our stuff with going on, like, maybe all of our parents will come and do something for us like Mhmm.
Speaker 2:It's it's crazy. Yeah. That's wild.
Speaker 1:Okay. So Paige, you said you're a senior and Reagan, you're a sophomore. Mhmm. Is dance something you wanna continue to pursue after college?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So I love the business school here and so I'm going to get a job in sales after this and I have everything lined up but I refuse to not let dance be part of my life. Like, literally ask her after we got off stage, I was bawling my eyes out on the bus because, like, I just don't want this to be done. I'm just it's honestly, like, my heart is, like, broken Mhmm. Because the relationship I've created with all these people and with dance itself, like, I'm honestly so heartbroken.
Speaker 2:So I am gonna I think I'm gonna be I'm working on it but I think I'm gonna get into like a coaching position and I just kinda got offered one recently. Congratulations. That's so exciting. So we'll see and I wanna stay involved here as much as I can. So I I just love like all the girls here so much and I there's I have to stay.
Speaker 2:Like, there's just no way I have to stay. Yeah. And I'll just be having a big girl job with it.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3:Like Paige said, I can't imagine my life without dance. I mean, it's been a part of my life for years. I mean, like, I always say, like, if we aren't in season and we're not dancing, like, I don't I don't even know what to do with myself because it's just, like, my friends are there. Like, my sport that I love is there. So I definitely want to try out for Dallas Cowboys cheerleaders when I
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Out
Speaker 3:of college. I don't believe that Yes. That gets to come true. But yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 3:It's an all time goal and definitely a dream of mine. So
Speaker 1:That would be so cool.
Speaker 2:A lot of girls on our team are on lions too. They're on the Lions cheerleaders.
Speaker 3:Oh, no way.
Speaker 2:So I know a lot of girls wanna try out for that too but Mhmm. Just with my work schedule, want I actually want to eventually but Mhmm. My first year, I have to get I have to get my finances. Yeah.
Speaker 1:I like I didn't realize until I watched the like the like DCC show that came out this summer.
Speaker 3:Yes. Yes.
Speaker 1:Like the NFL like cheerleading, didn't realize how much dance is involved
Speaker 2:all in it. Dancers. No. No. Like they're all actually dancers.
Speaker 2:Because you're not, like, stunting something or anything like that. They're just doing, like, what we would do at the football games.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Mhmm. It's the same thing. So it's just you're just called a cheerleader.
Speaker 3:Yeah. That's my more stylized type of dancing versus, you know, dance team in college.
Speaker 1:Mhmm. And then I should have asked this at the beginning but what is the biggest difference between studio dance and college dance team? Pretty much, we will spend
Speaker 2:hours and hours and hours in a day of just knowing, like, creating unison.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 2:So, like, when we, like, learn a combo, we have to decide where are, like, our fingers and our eyes even looking at to where we're standing to how we get to there, and we will have hours long conversations of the way how we're dancing so we all look the same.
Speaker 1:Mhmm.
Speaker 3:We're trained we're trained to look the same in
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 3:In studio, which is why what makes it so hard coming to dance team because then you basically have to get retrained and, you know, retrain your brain in the way it thinks to look the same as all these other girls that have been trained at way different studios than what yours might have been. Mhmm. And it's just like you have to come together, our coach always says, like, how do we want the Michigan State Yeah. Dance team way to look like with our prep for our turns, like we pick up our foot and most girls, I bet you won't even think to do that.
Speaker 2:Studios like like every routine in the dance team has turns and it's, like, a hard turn set. Like, studios a lot of studios now don't even turn in general. Like, a lot of girls will. I guess it just kinda depends, but it's just not as common anymore where, like, you have to know how to turn to be in a dance team. Yeah.
Speaker 2:You have to you have to figure it out. And we do a lot more of, like we do a lot more, like, tricks. Like, we're a lot more like, if you go watch Minnesota, like, they do a five forty into an aerial. Like, that's just, like, as a team, like, that's crazy. Like, you wouldn't see that happen at a studio dance.
Speaker 2:Mhmm. So it's just like you're seeing a lot more team unison skills that are really, really difficult to do, which is why we have to do a lot of strength training.
Speaker 1:Yeah. For sure. And then I always ask this question, But as a wrap up question, if you could describe the team in one word, what does it mean to you? And then also, what is your favorite skill
Speaker 3:to perform? Motivated, I'd say. I'd say our team is extremely motivated, especially with our coach. She really pushes, you know, motivational quotes on us. She always has us listening to these motivational podcasts and Oh.
Speaker 3:You know, pre performance Mhmm. Hype up videos and stuff, and it's it's awesome.
Speaker 2:Our team motto this year was actually no fear. So I'm gonna say Like, don't be like, we would get scared and our motto was literally just like, no fear, just do it. Mhmm. And that's what I'm gonna say because that's what we embodied this year. We just did everything that came across our mind.
Speaker 2:We just did it. Mhmm.
Speaker 1:And then what is your favorite thing to perform? Favorite like
Speaker 2:Oh, Skill.
Speaker 1:Skill to perform?
Speaker 3:I'd say for me, it's legs.
Speaker 2:Yeah. She's has beautiful legs.
Speaker 3:I'm a legger.
Speaker 2:I've had
Speaker 3:one my whole life.
Speaker 2:So And I love any kind of floor trick. And I just honestly, my biggest thing is I love to perform. I would say that's something that I like, you can just tell. Yeah. I love to do
Speaker 1:it. Mhmm.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's
Speaker 3:just so special. She's very flexible on her back.
Speaker 2:I'm It's crazy. Can't bend it. Yeah.
Speaker 3:It can actually bounce
Speaker 2:I have lots of back problems It's crazy. Oh my gosh.
Speaker 1:Well, unfortunately, is all the time we have for today. But thank you so much for joining me. I am such a big fan of you guys, and I wish you the best of luck with the rest of your season. So thank you so much.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much.
Speaker 3:So much for having us. It was so fun.
Speaker 1:That's all for our show today. Thank you to our station manager, Ashley Land, general manager, Jeremy Whiting, graduate assistant, Delaney Rogers, and program director, McKenna Lounge. And of course, a special thank you to you, our listeners. See you next time on the Undercurrent. If you are interested in listening to past archive stories, check out our website at impact89fm.org.
Speaker 1:If you are interested in more stories like this, tune back in at 10:30 every other Sunday morning, and we will see you right back here. This has been Anna Arnold signing off as your host, and you have been listening to the undercurrent.