The 27 members of the OU Elite Dance Team will step into the spotlight for the first time this semester for an OU volleyball game against Iowa State on Nov. 14.
The OU Elite Dance Team auditions aspiring dancers, freshmen through seniors, each September and January to give them a chance to dance at sporting events and other campus activities. The team performs pom, hip-hop and jazz dance.
“There were a few girls who wanted to create an avenue for girls to be able to dance on campus that weren’t a part of OU Pom or OU Cheer,” said Rebecca Bertholf, president of the OU Elite Dance Team. “They wanted to have an organization where girls could perform because it was a passion.”
Passion can land dancers a spot on the team, but it requires a lot of rehearsals, fundraising and creativity to keep them going. Since its creation in 2005, the OU Elite Dance Team has faced many challenges, like undergoing a name change from Sooner Dance Company this past year due to OU rules and regulations.
Another challenge the dance team has faced is raising money for costumes, a space for rehearsals and more. They have held benefit nights and fundraisers, and they have even started a GoFundMe.
“We are a student-led organization, so all of our funding comes from either fundraisers or comes from us girls,” Bertholf said. “Costumes, team parties, all of that money is coming from us, so it’s been really challenging raising money and fundraising without breaking the girls’ banks. We’ve really had to get creative.”
The team has performed at volleyball games, tennis matches, gymnastics meets and Soonerthon. Bertholf said she hopes to have the team perform at basketball games and at Soonerthon again this school year.
The OU Elite Dance Team will perform at the OU volleyball game at 7 p.m. Nov. 14 at the McCasland Field House.
