3,199;
Tuesday • September 23, 1997
Lifestyles
CAyjie 2) ance Jeampumps up spor/s , crowds
cfs
By Chris Martin
Staff writer
dM hey are an elite team.
W M On the court they
a become precision
gears meshed into a
dynamic sculpture of strength
and discipline. Spectators come
from miles to see these 28 ath
letes at every game in G. Rollie
White Coliseum. And these ath
letes are not playing games.
The Aggie Dance Team is one
of Texas A&M’s most exciting
embodiments of school spirit.
The dance team performs dur
ing timeouts and halftimes of
basketball, soccer and volley
ball games.
Jennifer Hart, director of the
dance team, said each member
performs in two of the four
timeouts.
“We also do a special perfor
mance during halftime. The
members have to try out for a
spot in that dance," Hart said.
Being on the dance team is no
small commitment. Members
have to find a balance between
leading a typical college life and
the time-consuming routine of
practice and preparation.
Hart said she expects a full
commitment from the members
of the dance team.
“Right now we practice for
two hours, five days a week and
sometimes more,” Hart said.
“Plus, we do weights and condi
tioning every other day. It is a
big commitment.”
MaGee Matzke, sophomore bi
ology major and co-captain of the
dance team, said being on the
team requires certain sacrifices.
“It takes up a lot of time, but
you know that going into it,”
Matzke said. “You may not have
much free time, but that’s what it
takes to give 100 percent..”
The dance team has been
recognized at several competi
tions as one of the top squads in
the country.
Matzke said the dance team
placed 10th in a national compe
tition sponsored by the National
Cheerleader Association and
CBS Sports in April.
“It was an awesome, great
feeling,” Matzke said. “We went
into the competition only ex
pecting to do our best. Finishing
in the top 10 was a great honor.”
The team also took great pride
in defeating the University of
Texas at a summer camp, Matzke
said.
“We go to camp in the sum
mer to learn new things. Even
though we don’t do fight songs,
we beat Texas and won first
place,” Matzke said.
Matzke said she is ready to re
turn to nationals in the spring.
“We have a stronger team
this year, they are really en
thused and pumped. We are
practicing hard, and we plan to
do just as well at nationals this
year,” she said.
Hart said she is excited about
the team for this year.
“We have the most talented
group this year that we’ve ever
had at one time,” Hart said.
The dance team has been
Please see Dance Team on Page 4.
Wranglers two-step
around the world
By Brandi Ballard
Staff writer
u
/0 ra
(jS
)rab your partner, do-si-do”...
/ait a second — that is not the
Fright song.
The tune is that of the Aggie Wranglers,
and they are dancing their way across the
world.
Founded in 1983, the Wranglers have
grown to be one of A&M’s most widely rec
ognized organizations. Twenty-three cou
ples, comprised solely of full-time Texas
A&M students, travel all across Texas, the
United States and internationally.
Pam Goralski, a second year member
and a graduate student studying account
ing, said the organization promotes the Ag
gie Spirit through country and western
dancing.
“One good thing about it is that we get
to perform for elementary schools and
nursing homes, and no one has to worry
about how much they’re paying us per
hour,” Goralski said. “The best part is see
ing people’s reactions that have never seen
country and western dancing before.
Laurie Gayle, a junior agricultural de
velopment major, said the Wranglers are
strictly exhibition.
“We do not compete at any level,” Gayle
said.
The Wranglers performed at the 1996
NBA All-Star game, the State Fair of Texas,
the Houston and San Antonio livestock
shows and numerous Texas A&M Mother’s
Club meetings.
“We’ve performed on Nashville Net
work’s Club Dance and Wild Horse Saloon
shows, too,” Goralski said.
The Wranglers have traveled to Jamaica
and Cancun.
A lot of hard work and practice are put
into making their performances success
ful.
It begins with tryouts held one Sunday
each spring. The tryouts begin at 11 a.m.
and last until 10 p.m.
The couples are mostly judged by for
mer Wranglers, but present members also
have input on selection.
Please see Wranglers on Page 4.
■ i ■
Iri i
W* * m
Fade to Black uses various dance styles to promote culture
LD
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By Brandi Ballard
Staff writer
T he members of Fade to Black, a dance
ensemble at Texas A&M, say their
purpose is to heighten the awareness
of surrounding communities by pro
moting African-American culture through dif
ferent styles of dance.
Chasidy Allen, a sophomore environmental
design major, said their main focus is to enrich
and enhance their culture through dance.
Founded in 1991, Fade to Black was put to
gether because a lot of girls coming straight
out of high school drill teams wanted to
dance, but could not afford the Aggie Dance
Team. They also wanted something with low
er stress level.
Fade to Black uses tap, hip-hop, modern,
ballet, spiritual and African dance styles to pro
mote the African-American culture.
“We relay the message of unity,” Allen said.
Yvette Cobb, director of dance and a sopho
more accounting major, said even though Fade
to $lack promotes the African-American cul
ture, it is not exclusive to any ethnic group.
“This year the team is more diverse,” Cobb
said. “There are two males, a Hispanic girl and
two white girls. We’re really excited about that.”
Fade to Black performs for organizations
throughout Bryan-College Station.
“We perform at a lot of Greek events,” Cobb
said. “We do a routine at Kappa Comedy Jam
and the Omega Apollo Night.”
LaTarah Lacey, a sophomore business major
and president of Fade to Black, said they always
have a good time performing.
“We do the BAG’S arambe and often go to el
ementary schools as well as community func
tions,” Lacey said.
Before Fade to Black performs an African
dance, someone explains facts about the
African culture and its roots.
“A lot of people see us dance and don’t know
anything about the African culture,” Allen said.
Tryouts are held in both fall and spring se
mesters. Three different dances are taught and
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must be performed with technical moves being
judged carefully. All members must maintain a
2.0 GPR and attend a two-hour practice every
Monday night.
Twenty-two Fade to Black members will take
the stage at the Kappa Comedy Jam on Oct. 11
for their first performance of the year.
Allen said she hopes to attract a broader au
dience and get more performance requests^
from other organizations on campus.
With 13 new members, Fade to Black hopes-
for a good year.
“I’m looking forward to dancing with and]
getting to know the new members," Cobb said.*
“This looks to be a very exciting year.”