Members of the 2009-10 Transylvania dance team includes:
L-R on floor - Robin Williams-Neal, Kelsey Strasser, Ashley Stafford, Leah Merchant, Katie Martin
L-R standing - Ashley Edwards, Meredith Norman, Denise Ward, Haley Cook, Brooke Jones, Hannah Johnson.
Not pictured - Zahra Masoud
Transy’s dance coach is Tora Carter.
Philosophy
The Transylvania University Dance program is a student activity. As a student activity, its first and foremost responsibility to the student is to support and not to compromise the students’ academic career. The program should aid in developing the student participant into a responsible, mature and independent adult. The Dance program is a means of improving the student’s mental and physical well being. Dance is an activity that provides leadership training, develops the ability to make decisions, enhances the ability to respond to life’s situations, contributes to social development, and will maximize the opportunity for student growth, change, and maturity.
The Transylvania dance team performs during half-time of all men’s and women’s home basketball games. Dances consist of pom, funk, jazz and some kick techniques. Throughout the game, we perform sideline routines and 30-second performances during time-outs. The team has the opportunity to participate in competitions.
We practice in the Beck Center's state-of-the-art dance studio with a wood floor twice a week for two hours each. Practice time is dedicated to reviewing and cleaning new routines and setting formations. The majority of our team members find time to be successfully involved in other sports, activities, or organizations in addition to the dance team and still remain dedicated to their academic commitments.
Athletic Medical Clearance
All interested participants must be cleared for participation by the Athletic Training Staff prior to the first day of clinics. Medical clearance information forms can be picked up from the Athletic Department Office.
Athletic Medical Clearance Schedule for Dance:
Thursday, September 6, 5:45 p.m. - Meeting with Athletic Training Staff
Saturday, September 8, 9:30 a.m. - Physical with Team MD
Informational Meeting
Monday, September 10, 2007
For more information contact the coach.
Tryout sessions are held during first-year registration events and shortly after the beginning of the school year. The sessions are structured like a dance class where the dancers will exhibit a variety of turns and leaps that have been explained and demonstrated by the coach. The second part of the audition consists of learning and executing a short routine that demonstrates rhythm, flow of motion, and overall dancing ability. The coach observes throughout the class and makes her decision at the end of the session based on technique and ability to learn, combined with the potential and determination to improve in the future. In this way, the entire length of the session is the audition; we do not have a separate individual audition at the conclusion of the class. This assessment is not only based on skills, but also on attitude and potential to learn and excel in the future.
Tryout Dates:
Tryouts for 2007-2008 Dance team will be conducted at the beginning of the 2007 Fall Semester.
Clinics & Tryouts
September 11-13, 6-8 p.m. at Beck Center
Meet the coach
Tora Carter is in her third season as cheerleading and dance coach at Transylvania. Carter is a 2004 graduate of the University of Kentucky and a former member of the UK Wildcat Danzers. She also coached at Kentucky in 2004-05.
Carter has previously performed as a member of the Pep Club Lady Legends, the Lexington Horsemen Fillies, the Louisville Fire Cheerleaders, the Lexington Legends Dugout Danzers, and the Kentucky Thoroughblades Thoroughbabes. She spent two years serving as a dance instructor for the Lexington Parks and Recreation Department in 2002-03. Tora is a nationaly renowned dance instructor and choreographer! Currently Tora is the Head Dance Coach at Henry Clay High School and works with many local and regional cheer and dance teams.
Contact Carter at (859) 321-8071 or (859) 233-8893 or e-mail her.
