Spirit Squad News
2007 News Flash
- The 2007 Bengal Dancers 15-month calendar is now available!
- The Bengal Dancers will be competing at USA Nationals in Las Vegas and February and at NDA Nationals in Daytona Beach in April.
- The Cheerleaders will be competing at NCA Nationals in Daytona Beach in April.The
- Bengal Dancers and Cheerleaders will be having a Nationals Farewell Performance on Friday March 30th at 7:00pm at Reed Gym, the cost is $3 at the door.
FALL 2007
The Bengal Dancers and Cheerleaders both received partially paid bids to NCA/NDA Nationals while attending camp in Anaheim, California!
Bengal Dancer wins National award - May 2006
Amy Taylor, Idaho State University Bengal Dancer, recently received the Best Technical Dancer Award from the National Dance Alliance (NDA) staff. Amy is a new instructor for the NDA staff and attended a training session over the Memorial Day weekend in Kansas City, Missouri. NDA staff from across the United States met in K.C. to dance and learn more about their summer occupations as NDA instructors. Three awards were given out during the weekend one of which Amy received.
Amy has been a member of the Bengal Dancers since 2003 and is entering her fourth year on the team. She served as team co-captain in 05-06. Amy is a three-time NDA Collegiate All-American. She was a model for the Cheerleader and Danzteam catalog in 2005. Amy was Bengal Dancer Newcomer of the Year in 2004 and Bengal Dancer of the Year in 2006. She is also an instructor for Cope’s Dance and Fitness in American Falls and is the assistant director of the Southeastern Idaho Show Team.
Also a member of NDA staff, former Bengal Dancer and Pocatello native, Theresa Bybee. Theresa is now the assistant dance coach at UNLV.
2006-07 Bengal Dancers Announced - 4/21/2006
The Idaho State University Bengal Dancers for the 2006-7 academic year have been selected, head coach Hilary Hofmaier announced.
Auditions were held last week to select the 15-member squad, which will include seven members of last year’s highly successful squad and eight newcomers.
The returning dancers include Chelsie Ayre, Devri Ellis and Whitney Smith, Pocatello; Chelsey Heyrend, Jamie Johannsen and Michelle Johnson, Idaho Falls; and Amy Taylor, Rexburg. Those joining the team for the first time are Ashley Stockton, Pocatello; Katie Illum, American Falls; Lacey Duffin, Aberdeen; Keanna Moy and Tara Grote, Boise; Elsina Ericson, Nampa; Kelsi Goodfellow, Burley; and Lana Robinson, Raymond, Wash.
Hofmaier and assistant Lindsay Tucker will return to lead the 2006-7 Bengal Dancers.The rigorous selection process included dance technique and learning a jazz dance before the first cut, then learning a hip hop routine, interviews with the remaining contestants, and repeating the jazz and hip hop routines.
Hofmaier says, “Every year, the tryouts get better and quality of dancers is exceptional, but the number of candidates gets lower. I think they may be intimidated by our success. We look for the dancer we can develop, who has some qualities that will work well with our current team.”
The success Hofmaier mentions includes finishing second for the second consecutive year at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championships in Daytona Beach, Fla., early in April, while winning the Innovative Choreography Award.
“We’re going for first next year,” she says. “We lost by 0.16 of a point in a tight competition with probably the best performance I’ve ever seen the Bengal Dancers do.”
2006-07 Cheerleaders Announced - 4/29/2006
The Idaho State University Cheerleaders for the 2006-7 season were selected on Saturday April 29th. The fourteen member squad includes nine returning members and five newcomers.
The returning cheerleaders are; Whitney Driver and Kassilina Tankersley, Pocatello; Chris Messick, Idaho Falls; Dananda Hancock, Rigby; Katie Standley, Twin Falls; Liz Belliston, Burley; Thiriza Cairl, Meridian; Kristi Mazza, Soda Springs; and Tyler Drury, Preston. The newcomers are; Carly Armijo, Carlie Butler, and Mike Nestler, Pocatello; Rozalynn Eaton, Rexburg; and Angela Brown; Filer.
The audition process included; tumbling, stunting, jumps, a dance routine, a cheer, and an interview. The 2005-6 squad competed nationally for the first time at the United Spirit Association College Cheer Nationals held in February in Las Vegas and placed 2nd. The squad is coached by Dax Cox and is under the direction of Hilary Hofmaier.
NDA Collegiate Championship - 4/9/2006
The ISU Bengal Dancers finished second for the second consecutive year at the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Friday April 7th.
The ISU squad was ranked first going into the championship, but again finished runner up to Towson University of Maryland. This was the eight straight championship win for Towson.
Towson University edged the Bengal Dancers by a score of 9.54 to 9.38. George Washington University finished third with at score of 9.21.
This was the second straight year the Bengal Dancers also won the competition’s Innovative Choreography Award.
“We were disappointed we didn’t win, but we performed a good routine at finals,” said Hilary Hofmaier, coach of the Bengal Dancers. “We felt very good about our performance, and that is all we could control.”