Dance squad performs at all basketball home games

Dance has exploded at North Lake, and Brenda Parker couldn't be happier. After twentyone years on campus, the energetic instructor has added a Dance Team and a Reperatory Dance Company to her busy schedule.

“Starting the Dance Team for the 2006-07 basketball season has been a joy for me. Our basketball team coached by Tim McGraw is currently the national champions and I wanted them to have a dance team to help support all of their achievements. I also felt having a performing dance team would give our dancers a whole new avenue to learn about yet another vehicle in the dance world,” said Parker.

The Dance Team only performs at basketball home games, but they hope to start performing at some tournaments and away-games as well. The 2006-2007 squad includes Alix Felley, Jessica Ward, Quidahra Holiday, Sib Mlambo, Courtney Gleghorn, and Mariel Lopez.

“This is really fun and a good experience to get to meet a lot of people,” said Felley. “It is definitely a commitment and you need to know what you are doing. It is a lot of work to keep up with but I enjoy it!”

Gleghorn agreed. “It takes up a lot of time but worth it,” she said. “The program is a good way to be active.”

Parker's experience as a dance instructor goes beyond her twentyone years at North Lake. Her previous credits include the International Dance Team for Coca-Cola, Tour de France, hundreds of industrial shows, a choreographer and performer, to name a few, Mary Kay and Mary Kay International, Exxon, Mobil, American Airlines, and Dr. Pepper.

All of the dancers on the Dance Team and Reperatory Dance Company auditioned for a place on each squad. The next auditions are being held in F-105 at 10 a.m. on April 14, 2007. No dancing experience required. Proper attire is strongly enforced. Black jazz pants, any color tank top, and your desire of dance shoes must be worn to auditions. Keep in mind that you must be able to enroll in Dance 1212-7002 and rehearse Monday and Wednesday from 11:05-12 p.m. This is a twosemester commitment.

In addition to the dance performances at the games, the girls will be featured in a Spring Dance Concert April 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., in the Performance Hall.

Anyone interested about the auditions or dance classes with Parker should contact her at 972-273-3570 or by e-mail at bep7490@dcccd.edu.