TheAll-Girls’ cheer squad and Gold ‘n Bluez dance team for Southern Universityrecently received the respective titles of Southwestern Athletic ConferenceNational Cheer and Dance Champions after competing in Birmingham, Ala., onMarch 19.
Months ofpreparation, hours of hard work and dedication enabled both teams to come homewith $1,000 and first place trophies that are on display in the StudentPrograms office.
Because itwas the first time this competition was held there were only two divisions, onecheer and one dance.
“For thefirst year it was well organized and very large as far as participation goes,”said Gold ‘n Bluez founder and coach Jonas Vanderbilt, who also choreographedtheir routine.
The Gold ‘nBluez competed against six other teams and performed a routine consisting ofmostly jazz dance moves and hip hop oriented steps based on an African theme.Their music was a combination of Killa
Mike’s”Akshon” and Michael Jackson’s “Startin’ Somethin'”.
“Our teamhas undergone many changes due to dedication,” Vanderbilt said. “But we stillobtained number one.”
Though theGold ‘n Bluez are self-funded, Vanderbilt tries to showcase them as much aspossible.
They areknown as the official dance team for the Jaguars’ basketball team.
“The wholecompetition was filled with talent but we showed up and brought the prizehome,” said Danielle Taylor, a freshman business management major and Gold ‘nBluez dancer from Convent.
The teamwill also have an upcoming clinic for dancers who may want to join them intheir performance at SU’s Spring Fest.
TheAll-Girls cheer squad, captained by Shenell and Shontrell Johnson, and coachedby James Smith, placed first above all co-ed squads that competed. Theircheer/dance routine, choreographed by Smith, consisted of stunting, motions,tumbling and a dance portion to a Destiny’s Child, Toxic mega mix.
“After allthe hard work and practice we put into our routine, winning was the bestfeeling,” said Kanesha Willis, a freshman political science major fromFranklin. “It was a team effort and everyone did their part to make it happen.”
Bothroutines were standardized by the National Dance and National CheerAssociations, or better known as NDA or NCA.
Each teamsaid they will return to defend their titles next year.
