CDTB Spotlight on the State of Utah

With numerous division I athletic programs and a long tradition of excellent spirit squads in the state, the College Dance Team Blog takes an opportunity to feature the collegiate dance teams of Utah. Spotlighted are the Crimson Dance Line from the University of Utah, the BYU Cougarettes, the Aggiettes of Utah State, the Weber State Dance Team, and the Utah Valley State Dance Team.

Crimson Dance Line; University of Utah

The University of Utah Crimson Line Dance team is made up of female performers who are college freshman age or older. Community Service projects are important activities for the Crimson Line to participate in. These young women volunteer for many different charitable organizations around the state of Utah, such as: the Karl Malone Foundation for Kids, Be a Star Day, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, the American Cancer Society, Pennies by the inch for Primary Children's Hospital, the State of Utah Basketball Hall of Fame, and recently the Crimson Line raised money and donated items to the hurricane Katrina victims. The Crimson Line Dance Team performs and makes several appearances throughout Utah and the Intermountain West. The Crimson Line performs at all University of Utah home football games, Men's and Women's basketball games, and at the traditional "Ute" tailgate parties.

The Crimson Line is directed by Lori Rupp

BYU Cougarettes

The Cougarettes from Brigham Young University hardly need an introduction to fans of collegiate dance teams. Winners of the 2005 and 2006 national championships at the Chick-fil-a NDA Collegiate Nationals, the Cougarettes have won the NDA crown six times since the competition began. First established in 1946, the Cougarettes are housed within BYU’s prestigious Dance Department. They are a contributing factor to the excellence and expertise that is indicative of the mission of the department of dance. The Cougarettes are categorized as a precision dance team, but in fact the scope and breadth of their focus is deeper and much more varied. The Cougarettes are fluid in jazz, funk, lyrical, character, high kick, and military. Dancers are required to have knowledge and practical abilities in ballet, modern, and jazz technique. They must also maintain their growth and progression in each of these areas while they are members of the performance team.

The Cougarettes are directed by Jodi Maxfield

Utah State Aggiettes

The purpose and mission of the Utah State University Spirit Squad is to encourage enthusiastic student participation at USU athletic events and promote Aggie pride through new ideas, traditions, and activities. The perfect organization to bring Aggie pride to the public are the Aggiettes, who form the USU Spirit Squad along with the Cheer Squad, and the Big Blue mascot. The Spirit Squad travels on occasional football road games, bowl games, and conference and post basketball tournaments. In addition to athletic support, the squad contributes many hours of community service. Projects have included supporting the Christmas Box House, Shriner's Hospital, Special Olympics, senior citizen centers, and public schools. During auditions, dancers are taught three different styles of dances; technical jazz dance and hip-hop, followed by a pom routine. Dancers also perform “across the floor” technical turns and leaps, as well as a few sideline cheers. Dancers are judged on appearance, showmanship, enthusiasm, technique, coordination and an interview.

The Aggiettes are directed by Linda Zimmerman.

Weber State Dance Team

The Weber State Dance Team is part of the WSU spirit squad that recently earned third place at the USA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Nationals at the Cashman Center in Las Vegas. The 34 member squad competed in the four-year college co-ed division. The Wildcats earned third place in the event for the second-straight year, having finished in the same position at the competition last year. The Cheer and Dance Team of Weber State University considers itself the best squad in the Big Sky Conference. Making the team means making new friends, new experiences and getting involved with athletics, the university and the community.

The Weber State Dance Team is directed by Summer Willis.

Utah Valley State Dance Team

Although the UVSU athletic department is new to Division I, the UVSU Dance Team has already made its mark at the top levels of national competition. The squad placed 7th overall at the 2006 Chick-Fil-A College Nationals in Daytona Beach Florida earlier this spring, competing with 20 other schools in the Division 1 Category. Auditions are held every April, and the UVSU Dance Team has shown that it will be a force to be reckoned with in the future.

The Utah Valley State Dance Team is directed by Carly Tooke and Ashley Hardison.