UConn Dance Team Fast Facts

• The UConn Dance Team is typically made up of 20 – 28 athletes.
  The team is run under the Spirit, Pride, & Tradition Program along with the cheerleading and mascot teams.
• The team participates in all home and select away football games, all home and select tournament and post-season basketball games, clinics, events, and volunteer hours throughout the year.
• The team practices approximately 9 hours a week and participates in individual workouts each week.
• UCDT competes at UDA Nationals in Orlando, FL in the D1A Jazz, Hip Hop and Spirit Program Gameday Divisions.
• The majority of teamwear & travel is covered by the University. Members are asked to provide up to $150 towards additional practice, performance and travel wear not covered by the university.
• Typical candidates have a strong background knowledge of jazz and hip-hop techniques, candidates should also familiarize themselves with proper pom technique.
• During the season, various jazz and hip-hop skills are taught. There are multiple evaluations to monitor athlete’s success in learning these skills. These evaluations are used to determine time out, performance, and nationals’ spots.
• Tryouts are a two-day process. Both new members and veterans need to tryout. We do not have a set number of spots open every year. The team is constructed every year post-tryouts. Multiple cuts can occur during tryouts. During the live tryout portion there is an interview portion. This portion helps coaches get to know each candidate and helps to be able to build great team chemistry when selecting the team.
• If staff feels the need, fall tryouts are hosted during the start of fall semester. These tryouts are never guaranteed.
• The team attends camp every August prior to the start of the semester. Camp is run by Varsity Spirit (UDA or NDA) and is located off campus. Before leaving for camp, members return to campus for pre-camp practices. Material is also sent out that coaches expect members to learn prior to pre-camp.
• The team is required to move in a week prior to classes starting for training week. During this week there are program practices, team practices, seminars, and team bonding experiences. UConn covers the cost of opening on-campus housing early.
  All game day uniforms, most practice wear, warmups, and poms are covered by the University. Uniforms need to be returned ever Uniforms need to be returned ever year but some of the practice wear and warmups can be kept if an athlete successfully completes the season.
• Depending on the year, members may be asked to purchase part of their national’s costume. If asked to purchase, members are able to keep the pieces that were purchased.
• The Dance Team’s Season is double the length of most seasons. Athletes are expected to follow guided workouts sent by coaches in the summer until they arrive on campus in August. The season itself runs August – April with the next season’s tryouts happening in May.
• Attitude and work ethic are major keys in the selection process for this team. The program truly looks at the dancers as a whole and their game day abilities. Being a dancer at UConn means taking on the role of a University Ambassador and that is something the program selection does not take lightly. Skills are not the only area looked at when selecting the team.
• Unfortunately, we do not have an official recruitment process as team members must re tryout each season.
• If you have any questions or would like to know more about the UConn Dance Team, please do not hesitate to reach out! Thank you & Go Huskies!