From athletic events, community appearances, to the competition stage, the LU Dance Team, made up of 26 women, showcase their skills, school spirit and dedication at any given opportunity.
The LU Dance Team was previously a part of the Spirit Team, which combined cheer and dance. The two separated into their own independent teams in 2010.
Dezja Brown, a Lamar alumnus who was on the LU Dance Team from 2016 to 2020, is the current coach of the team.
“I was on the dance team for four years, and it was one of the best experiences I had,” she said.
Brown began coaching the team in 2022 after the team reached out to her, and said it’s been a drastic change comparing the team when she was on it to now.
“They are getting a bit more engagement with students, engagement with the community, than I feel like we did when I was on the team,” Brown said.
During her time as a team member, Brown said the most members they had were 22, and since she began coaching, the team has expanded.
“When I first started coaching here, I had a team of 13 and this year I have a team of 26,” she said. “It’s really exciting to see the growth and see people interested in our program.”
As the team has changed over the years, the goals and expectations they hold high for themselves haven’t. They prioritize respect, team moral, team culture, and most importantly, being high spirited for the university, Brown said.
Senior Amiyah Beverly, a third-year captain, said that her main goal for this year is for her team to become closer with each other along, with winning a first-place trophy at nationals.
“I really want to be bonded so that when we’re dancing, people can tell that we are a team,” she said. “I’m really aiming for a first-place ring this year, and I feel like with this team we can really do it. We all have been on the same mindset the whole year so far.”
Junior Paige Padia, social president of the dance team, said she prioritizes the team’s morale, and her goal as a leader is to create more ways her teammates can rely on each other.
“I want to come up with something that we can do to know that we have each other to lean on — to make sure our mental health is where it needs to be, because if our mental health is not where it needs to be, then, we’re not going to perform at our best,” she said.
Both Beverly and Padia said spring semester is when their schedules become packed due to school, work, and the team. The spring semester is also when they have their most important events such as nationals, their spring show, and tryouts which are on May 17.
Brown said the tryout process is invitation only.
“So, you have to come to one of our recruitment clinics which are really fun,” she said. “You dance with us and I watch the dancers and see how they interact and their skill set. If the team sees potential in you, you’ll get an invitation and come to the tryouts in May.”
The dance team will host a prospect day, Nov 8, that allows anyone interested in joining the team to shadow the members during a game day.
“Students interested in our program will get to come to the football, shadow us, and see what a full game day is like,” Brown said. “They’ll come see us for our morning practice and all the football events that we have to do. This helps them decide if this is truly a fit for them, and it also prepares them for collegiate dance in general.”
LU Dance Team is open to all students and anyone can join at any time, not just incoming freshmen.
“Just do it — if you love to dance, or if you’ve even never danced before, go out there and do it,” Beverly said. “You never know what the outcome will be of that decision.”
Brown said she encourages everyone to attend the spring show.
“It’s something that the community doesn’t really get to see us do, because usually we’re just on the sidelines and doing these appearances,” she said. “But it’s truly an art form, and you get to see why a lot of dancers tried out, because there are several different genres of dance that they get to showcase.”
For more information, contact Brown at 409-880-724 or email at dbrown69@lamar. edu.