Cleary University is strengthening their athletic lineup with a Competitive Dance Team, under the leadership of newly hired head coach Kathy King. In the school’s 100-plus year history, this is the first time a dance team will be added to the athletic sport offerings. While King acknowledges her program will serve as a goodwill ambassador for the university and its athletic programs, she also wants to stress a very important point: “This will be a collegiate sport.”
Unlike many other programs on the collegiate landscape, the Cougar competitive dance team will be a fully funded varsity sport, while those at some other institutions operate as a club program without scholarships. The Cougars will be a varsity sport through and through.
“We will begin in July and practice for two months before a two-day Regional Camp in late August,” King said.
The team is looking to have a minimum of 10 athletes, with an eye toward 12 to 15 competitors if King’s preference is met. In addition to Regionals, which would qualify the team for the Nationals in April, the program will participate in several other competitions and events throughout the year.
“In addition to the competitions, we realize that we will be heavily involved in spreading the positive image of Cleary University and be actively involved in community outreach,” King said. “Not only are we our own competitive sport, but we are also the spirit squad for the university.”
King, who has been coaching competitive dance for 15 years — including the last dozen years at Michelle’s Academy of Dance in Brighton — has been a professional dancer herself and recently finished directing the Michigan Dance Project, a professional non-profit that performed statewide, from 2008 through 2014. Likewise, King organizes the annual Brighton Dance Festival, which recently was held at Cleary University, and serves as a national summer dance event for dancers of all ages.
King is optimistic that they will be a nationally prominent program immediately for several reasons: the Cougars will be able to recruit quality talent as a scholarship varsity sport, as well as Michigan being recognized as a strong high school competitive dance state.
“Interested athletes need to have a strong technical background in jazz dance and have competition experience,” King said. “They need to have great performance qualities, a positive attitude and a great work ethic.”
King is actively recruiting talented dance athletes for the 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 rosters. An open tryout for high school juniors, seniors and college transfers will take place May 13, 2017, at Cleary’s Howell campus. Athletic scholarships and housing stipends are available for all members of the team.
If interested in learning more about the new program, contact Coach King at kking@cleary.edu or visit http://www.clearycougars.com.
