Eight counts, pointed toes, vibrant lights on a stage and passion for the art all combine to allow audiences and performers to connect with the dance. The dance team will hold their annual showcase, May 3 and 4 at the Jefferson Theatre.
“I’m extremely excited for this show,” Brixey Blankenship-Cozad, dance team coordinator, said. “Our first act will take you on a roller coaster in a very intense sort of way, but the new act will take you on a journey through life. It’s about different moments, experiences and memories throughout life. Everyone should relate to something — one moment you will find yourself getting hit in the heart, then the next dance gets you really excited. And for the older generations, it can take them back to when they were younger.”
Each act lasts 45 minutes with a 15-minute intermission that will include special guest performances. Traditionally, Act 1 is a reprise of last spring’s Act 2, with a new second act, and this year is no exception.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the new act really come to life,” Blankenship-Cozad said. “I hope that this act takes the audience on a beautiful journey. I also look forward to watching the girls find their moment, because once you find that moment when you’re out on that stage, it’s a feeling that you will never forget. I can’t wait to watch them up there with the confidence to feel like the most beautiful dancer that they can be.”
This year, Blankenship-Cozad said she has a smaller team, consolidating from about 24 dancers to 18 dancers.
Emily Sumrall, dance team captain and Port Neches senior, has performed for four years on the team.
“This has been my favorite team,” she said. “They work their butts off, so it is really rewarding to see how far the team has come. I’m excited about the show in all aspects. Our team works so hard and we’re excited to see where it goes.”
Mia Woodruff, Bridge City freshman, said she was aware of the quality expected when she joined the team.
“I feel like I was really nervous at first, just because of the high standards and expectations held for the team, and I just wanted to follow up to that,” she said. “We’re just a really big family here and we have a lot of fun while getting to do something we all love and enjoy. It is one of the best decisions I have ever made.”
The show will feature a variety of dance styles, including jazz, hip-hop, contemporary, tribal and Bollywood.
“One of our choreographers, from LA, choreographed the tribal piece and it brings in a new style,” Blankenship-Cozad said. “The same choreographer did a Bollywood number that is in the new act. It is a little bit different take on Bollywood — so we took some of that culture and put it into the piece.”
The team has worked hard to prepare for the show, Sumrall said.
“This year, I feel like the team and the officers really stepped up to help in every single way possible,” she said. “We’ll have practice at 6:30 p.m. and there will be girls coming in at 3:30 p.m. to help rhinestone costumes and do things we don’t usually do. Everyone just wants to help out and get better, and that is different than any other team I’ve ever experienced.”
Blankenship-Cozad said the team allows her to do her job well.
“I’ve always felt like a good coach, but I thank them for allowing me to be the best coach yet,” she said. “As hard as I have needed to be, I raised a lot of standards. They have allowed me to set that standard, stay true to it, and have supported it so that we could take it to the next level — and I thank them for that.”
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the Jefferson Theatre. All proceeds will go back into the program. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.
“Come and watch the magic of our program through this show,” Blankenship-Cozad said.
For more information, visit lamar.edu/danceteam, or call 880-7241.
Story originally published for University Press.
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