Senior Alexis Kesler came to college in search of both her major and a dance team. After turning down the idea of majoring in dance and choosing instead to study to become an intervention specialist, Kesler came across Ashland University. She tried out for the dance team going into her freshman year and made it. She has been on the team ever since, and is captain this year.

“I really liked that [dance team] was something different and that I could grow as a dancer in trying something new,” Kesler said. “I love performing; I think that’s probably my favorite thing [about dance team].”

Although Kesler is the main captain of the team, junior Lorraine Strouse is her co-captain and will take over Kesler’s position when she graduates. Strouse also joined the team as a freshman, and agreed with Kesler.

“I had danced with my studio and competitively for 14 years; ever since I was a little girl,” Strouse said. “I wanted to continue [dancing] in some way, and [dance team] is one way that I can do that hobby that I enjoy.”

According to both Kesler and Strouse, time commitment is minimal for dance team. During the school year, practice is for two hours a week, and an hour before the game. A week before school starts, the 14-girl team comes to AU for a dance camp. During this camp, choreographers come and teach the team six different routines. Kesler said that choreographers are hired through the dance team’s advisor Vicki Wirick. Kesler said that the choreographers are usually graduated dance team members, but some routines are put together by the current team.

“There is always one dance that is made up by one of us on the team,” Kesler said. “Most of the time it’s a senior to give someone other than the captains an opportunity to do something.”

The dance team performs at all home basketball games and alternates yearly between the men’s and women’s games. This season, the girls perform at the women’s games during half time.

“[We are] really just an entertainment for half time of the basketball games,” Kesler said. “It’s just about a minute to two-minute routine that we do for the entertainment of the crowd.”

Sophomore Sheridan Hanson joined the team last year, this being her first season on the team. She said that one of her favorite parts about dance team is having a set of close friends.

“I like the group of girls,” she said. “We have a really good group of girls and we all get along.”

Kesler, Strouse and Hanson said they encourage girls to attend tryouts this year. Tryouts start Feb. 15 with registration from 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Redwood Hall. Registration is followed by a clinic from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The official tryouts are the following morning, Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. To register, contact Vicki Wirick at [email protected].

“I would encourage [girls] to try out even if they aren’t sure about it,” Kesler said. “You get to meet a great group of girls, and it’s great because we are so diverse.”

Strouse agreed.

“We’d love to have an even bigger squad,” she said. “People do notice when there are a lot more girls. It’s just fun to be a part of a team, and you can say ‘yeah, I’m a part of Ashland in this way.’ I feel like sometimes people perceive us as not really a team… But I hope people do realize that we do put a lot of effort into it… We want people to see it and notice it and enjoy it, and that’s why we do it – to entertain people.”