Open to all Kutztown students
By Rylee Carlson
The Kutztown University Dance Team will be holding auditions for the spring semester basketball season on Sunday, Nov. 5 in Risley Gymnasium. Tryouts are open to all KU students regardless of dance experience.
KUDT is a club team affiliated with KU and is a pom, jazz, and hip-hop centric group that performs at KU games and other events. The team is split into two groups, gold and maroon, and a panel of judges determine dancers’ positions based on technical knowledge and execution.
The president of the dance team, Alexa Rode, is excited for the upcoming auditions. She oversees the general well being of the team, the executive board and handles all business regarding scheduling performances and practices.
Twenty-four hours before auditions, the dancers should expect to receive a 30-second jazz routine, a 30-second hip hop routine and will be asked to memorize and perfect them. Members of the tryouts are also asked to demonstrate dance skills such as leaps, turns, kicks, and any other special tricks of their choice.
Dancers should expect to know their placement the night of auditions.
Those wishing to try out should wear leggings or sweatpants, a tight-fitting shirt and performance-ready hair and makeup. Dancers should wear sneakers and are advised to bring jazz shoes. If jazz shoes are unavailable, socks can be worn instead.
Rode advises that dancers stretch, practice the combinations, and improve their technique prior to auditions in order to come prepared. Candidates should come in with an open mind and positive attitude.
“My favorite part of auditions is seeing members from the past improve from their prior audition,” Rode explained, “as well as seeing new potential talent that will be joining us next season.”
Those who wish to sign up for auditions can click on this link to open the sign-up sheet where there will be available time slots from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to choose from.
