American Madness 2010

Our 2010 American Madness Routine was a hit! The teams worked so hard, and all of that work paid off. Check out our routines here, and make sure to join us at the

Men's Home Opener, this Friday at 7:30pm in Bender!

We had some help from some of the Men's Basketball team too!

A Month of Madness; My First Perfomance! AUDT Freshman, Alexandra

What a month!! And what a night! We have finally had our first official performance of the 2010-2011 season! For the past month, we have worked long and hard on the most skill-heavy and physically demanding American Madness routine to date. And tonight, all the time and effort we put into it has paid off; it was fantastic!

After about a month into the season, I realized that the American University Dance Team was going to be a lot more than I bargained for. Back in high school, I took dance classes for about 4 hours a week, at MOST. I am now practicing 10 hours a week, and that's considered short! With games and fundraising events thrown into the mix, dance team takes up most of my free time. It was very difficult for me to get into this new schedule. I really struggled, and I got down on myself a lot early on because I didn't feel as experienced or as "good" as everyone else. But I would've never been able to get through it all if it weren't for the unending support and friendship of the girls on the team. Almost all of us have only known each for a few months, some even less than that, and it really feels like they are already my best friends. If it weren't for them, I don't know if I would've been able to make it this far!

For the past two days, I have been shaking in my boots. I never get nervous when it comes to performing in front of people. And for some reason, I wanted to puke about three minutes before we had to go out and perform tonight. The team and I have all worked so hard on this American Madness routine, and I was so scared that after all of our hard work, I was going to mess something up. But once I stepped out on the floor and saw all of the cheering fans, I couldn't help but smile. I realized that even though this dance team is more difficult, strenuous, and time consuming than any other type of dancing I have done in my life, it all leads up to the same thing - the final performance. When you're standing in front of your peers in your your final pose, out of breath, and the crowd is cheering for you; that moment makes it all worth it. Knowing that you put your all into something you love so much so that other people can enjoy it too; that's what we do. That's what dancing is all about. And that's why I'm here.

So, here's to the start of a new generation of AU Spirit, and to many more fantastic performances to come!

Much Love,

Alexandra

From the Beijing Olympic Village - Cheer Junior, Clay

I can remember this time last year perfectly - especially the attempt at a shoulder stand with Connor. American Madness is the first game of Cheer season: it's the test to set the standard for our next routine and most importantly, it shows us how hard we need to work for Nationals.

As I'm studying abroad in China for this semester (Don't tell the CCP that I'm doing this right now!)I realized how much I miss the team. I work out with the mindset that I need to stay fit to come back to cheer and ready to kick butt at Nationals - last year was merely a practice run. We did a great job, but none of us knew what to expect in the division we competed in. And now it's time for American Madness.

It's a night where those who come out to get free food and tshirts and to support the basketball teams get something they don't expect - Cheer and dance routines. It's not even 3 minutes of a routine, but it makes an impression on all who see it. They see flips, they see girls in big pyramids, they see guys who aren't afraid to show off their skills, and they see a group of 30 people who keep a smile on their face even if a stunt goes awry.

But Cheer and Dance, things won't go awry if you don't let them. Go out there, don't stop, get it get it, and do it like y'all do it in your sleep.

See ya in a few months!

Good Luck at American Madness!!- Dance Junior Kelsey

Ciao AU Spirit members and fans!

I am so excited to be back writing on the blog for the 2010-2011 season! However, this year is a little different for me. I am currently spending my fall semester studying abroad in Rome, Italy, and I have to say, I am having the time of my life!

Roma is now my second home and although I miss DC and DT, I am loving the study abroad experience. It is so amazing to be able to travel to all different countries within Europe just as easily as we would travel from DC to New York! The next stop on my European tour is Prague! However, a piece of me is missing when I know that my teammates are hard at work, practicing in Bender, and I'm not there with them.

Reppin DT at the Piazza Di Spangia (Spanish Steps) in Roma!

Thanks to Facebook and email, I have been able to keep in touch with the returning members of the team, and virtually meet the new rookies! I want to thank Alex, Lyndsey, Francesca and everyone else for keeping me in the loop and making me feel just as much a part of the team as I am when I'm actually in the States.

Tomorrow is the official beginning of AU Spirit's season, with our annual American Madness Pep Ralley in Bender Arena! I want to wish all the members of AU Dance and Cheer the best of luck with their first performance of the season! I have gotten to watch a sneak peak video of their routine and it looks AMAZING! I know you girls (and guys!) are going to be great. Enjoy this performance and take it all in, because American Madness is one of our most fun performances of the season! I wish I could be there dancing with you tomorrow!

While I am having an amazing time here, I cannot wait to return to my Spirit family in January for the remainder of basketball season and our Nationals season! I know AU Spirit is an extraordinary group of individuals this year and I am expecting amazing things from us this season!

Good luck and I will be there dancing with you in spirit!

I love and miss you all!

Arrivederci!

xoxo Kelsey

We're Back!

We've been slacking, but we're now we're back! Our season is off to a great start with two, almost brand new, teams. They've been working hard and are so ready for the basketball season ahead and nationals 2011! We will have posts from members and videos to share soon but, in the meantime, make sure to come to

AMERICAN MADNESS
Wednesday, November 10
from 7-8pm in Bender Arena

and the

MEN'S HOME OPENER

Friday, November 12

at 7:30pm against St. Francis

in Bender Arena

See you there!

Tryout for the AU Cheer & Dance Teams!

Interested in trying out for the AU Cheer and Dance Teams?

You're in luck! The teams are hosting tryouts this weekend in Bender Arena!

Saturday, August 28th: 10AM - 1PM
Sunday, August 29th: 11AM - 2PM

Prospective dancers and cheerleaders must attend both sessions in order to be considered for the teams. If you make the team, you will also be expected to return for a team meeting at 4pm on August 29.

Saturday will be a clinic day where you will meet vets in the program and have the opportunity to learn/brush up on some of the skills on which you will be evaluated on Sunday.

Remember that this is a college tryout, so it's important that you look professional. Wear clothes that are comfortable to cheer or dance in, but please make sure you look neat and presentable for the judges.

For more information on what skills will be evaluated, please contact cheer coach, Nate Wambold, or dance coach, Alexandra Salama, at spirit@american.edu.

See you at tryouts!

My Last Year Dancing at Nationals

Well, we're about to be Daytona-bound. American University Cheer and Dance leave D.C. in 48 hours from now! Although we're all itching with anticipation, and only have one practice left in D.C. to prep for Nationals, it's hard to ever feel "ready." Yet, the thing that we need to remind ourselves is exactly what we're getting "ready" for: we've been preparing a great routine, and we are now "ready" to do it the best that WE CAN. Who cares how high that stranger's toe-touch is? So what if that random girl can do a quad? We've worked HARD. We've MADE ourselves better, we've FOUGHT to get where we are, we've IMPROVED, we've given it our ALL, and it wasn't easy.
From looking frazzled in our fouette sequence, to achieving picture-perfect timing, DT 09-10 has come a long way. We've come even farther since I joined the team back in Fall of 2007, when the team was still a year away from competing on the Nationals stage. The incredible part about experiencing each season is seeing the growth on the team as a whole and within each of us as individuals. We progress as dancers, mastering things we never even thought of attempting. I am so proud to have learned all that I did on this team, and thankful that my coach took the time to really teach me. On Dance Team, we become stronger people, pushing through the breathlessness, muscle fatigue, soreness, bruises, bad turns, tendinitis, sprains, stomachaches, homesickness, papers, midterms, and jobs of the day to end on a good note as we have our cool-down and realize that it IS a great day to be alive and an even better day to dance with your best friends under a coach who cares.
In all this, we grow closer to one another to an unbelievable degree. We've helped each other to get this far, and more importantly, our coach has helped us each step of the way. She has instilled in every one of us not only the desire to be great, but the belief that we can be, and the pathway towards reaching that greatness.
After countless practices, both good and bad, DT is poised for its grand finale. Remember, readiness does not entail ease. Rather, our team is ready because we are willing to fight through the hard spots, and we know how to make it all the way to the end of a stunning performance. We are ready because all of our hard work has always been set against the backdrop of a deep love for what we are doing and for who we are doing it with. >We're ready, and we can't wait to use our technique, flexibility, cleanliness, determination, energy, desire, and close bond to harness our adrenaline, conquer our nerves, and take over the dance floor, together, up on that Nationals stage.
My time on this team has made me the person that I am today. It has helped me to fight through all the tough spots that come my way, and it has given me a second family that I would do anything for. These girls have rocked my soul, and it's heartbreaking to think of them competing at Nationals without me next year. One thing, however, makes me smile, and that's knowing that I'll be at the bottom of that stage next year, cheering on my strong, beautiful, talented best friends, forever reppin AUDT. For the mean time, let's go get it girls. DT on 3! =)

<3 always,
Francesca Roley