Few Returners Makes for Many Freshmen

The Vilociti team performing.

It’s been said that incoming college students should be weary of the “freshmen 15,” a reference to seemingly unavoidable weight gain during the first year of campus life. However, the returning members of the Utah State University hip-hop team are in danger of a different threat – the freshmen 10.

In the absence of last year’s members, 10 new freshmen have joined the team, twice the number of last year.

“Because there are only a few returners, at the beginning, it felt like the hard work and dedication of the team was missing,” said Kaylee Andrus, a seasoned Vilociti member.

Aside from initially lacking spirit, Andrus feels that many of the freshmen magnify the existing emotional stresses of dance.

“As always there is some drama which is brought on by everyone, but intensified by the freshman,” she said.

Numerous returning team members have concerns that mimic those of Andrus.

“They do really well learning choreography and working well together on the floor,” said Erik Wynn, a member of last year’s team. “However, I feel that there is a lack of unity that existed last year since it seemed like we all did so much together.”

Julia Williams was a freshman of the Vilociti team last year. Now a sophomore, she relates to both the new team members as well as those returning.

“Freshmen year was the funnest year of my life,” she said. “The only down fall was that no one takes you seriously, especially the older girls. On the other hand, the boys loved us.”

As team captains, Natalie Miller and Jamie Smith said that there could be unique challenges to leading so many new members.

“I think the biggest thing is maturity as a dancer,” said Smith. “Learning to dance with a team is not just about you. There is a lot of drama, pettiness, and competition with younger girls, when really it’s not about who is in front.”

While Miller agrees that maturity is a factor, she believes the biggest difference comes from a lack of experience.

“They have never been to the Howl so they don’t know the extent of what it takes and what the whole atmosphere is supposed to feel like,” Miller said. “They don’t know the stresses that come right before performances so it’s hard to prepare for events. They are also trying to figure themselves out so they have a hard time balancing dance with the normal stresses of college life.”

Despite concerns, however, Miller believes that the influx of freshmen has been beneficial.

“They haven’t experienced the hard times of dance so they are really optimistic,” she said. “As a whole, they provide insights and styles without being influenced by things we’ve done in the past.”

Miller also acknowledges that this year’s freshmen will be the future leaders of the hip-hop team.

“Many of the girls have had a lot of past experience in other styles of dance so our horizons are broader,” she said.

“As long as they love the team and stay, they will be strong for at least the next four years,” Wynn said. “They will only continue to progress and grow together.”

(j. wilkinson)

The Only Married Member of The Team

Jamie Smith

The attire of the Utah State University dance teams is constantly changing. Each performance entails different costumes and new accessories.

Jamie Smith, however, constantly sports an accessory that no one else does – a wedding ring. 

Out of close to 50 individuals on the three teams combined, Smith is the only member who is married.

Because this is her fourth year on the hip-hop and contemporary teams, Smith feels distanced from the other less experienced freshmen members.

Having now been married since September, Smith feels even more separated from the rest of the team.

“The biggest difference is that now, not only am I older than everyone, I’m married,” she said. “There is a slight barrier that is created. I feel like they look at me as a motherly figure instead of a friend.”

Smith feels that one factor making her appear like a parent instead of a peer is an inability to discuss the same subjects.

“I don’t feel like I have experiences to connect to them,” she said. “I want to have the closeness that you have when you share secrets and stories. Sometimes I think that they don’t want to talk to me because I’m married and in a different place.”

Aside from friendships, teammate Natalie Miller believes that marriage could also negatively effect interaction during performances.

“We do partner dancing sometimes and its crucial that you have chemistry with the person you’re dancing with. That can be awkward if one of you is married,” she said. “The dance world kind of has a culture and it’s not as conducive to married people.”

Because of the long dance hours, being a part of the team also creates a time constraint with Smith’s family life.

“Dance takes up most of Jamie’s spare time, but she loves it, and I’m happy that she is able to do it,” said Jordan Smith, Jamie Smith’s husband. There are certain joys that it brings to her, but also certain stresses that come from being a part of any team.”

To Smith, the constant support of her husband outweighs all of the possible drawbacks.

“Jordan knows how much dance means to me,” Smith said. “He is always encouraging me to try my hardest, and to keep doing what I love.”

“He is at every performance that he can be. He makes a big effort to make it possible for me to dance as much as I do,” she said.

Having danced together since 2008, Kaylee Andrus has seen the way that marriage has helped Smith to grow and progress as a dancer.

“I think that she exudes sexiness more and owns her body even more than she did last year,” Andrus said. “Also I have seen her reach out to a lot more of the girls. I do not know that this correlates directly to her being married, but in my mind it does.”

Smith acknowledges the way that marriage has helped her as a dancer as well as the way dance has helped her as a wife.

“I think dance prepared me for marriage because it helps me understand my feelings,” she said. “Dance is a kind of therapy. It helps me regulate my emotions, and then express them. You really need to know how to express your emotions when you’re married.”

Like his wife, Jordan Smith said that he recognized the positive impact dance has had on her life.

“She gives her whole heart to her dancing, and I can see that when I watch her,” he said. “She’s beautiful.”


(k. lambert)

The Boys Are Outnumbered

Joey Geurts at practice.

The faces of the Utah State University hip-hop team are constantly changing. Each fall semester, new students audition to fill the spots of those who graduated or have moved on.

Though the members have changed, the trend has remained the same – the majority of those who tryout are girls.

Last year’s team had seven male members. This year, the number has dwindled to two.

“It does hurt the stereotype that dance is only for girls,” said Krissy Smith-Fry, director for the USU dance teams.

“Because of the stereotype, boys are more intimidated because girls usually come with years of experience,” she said.

Since starting the teams in 2007, Fry has witnessed the low numbers of men at tryouts firsthand.

 “For me, it is equal opportunity,” she said, “hard work, dedication and the passion to be here are just as important as talent."

Fry believes that Davis Gerlds and Villami Matangi, the two men on this year’s team, are examples of such passion.

After the team’s performance at the Howl, however, Gerlds decided to spend more time choreographing and performing with My Bad Crew, the new break dancing group.

“The choreography for the Vilociti performances was not made with the boys in mind,” Gerlds said.

My Bad Crew, created this year, is one reason that male numbers on the hip-hop team are so low. In addition to Gerlds, three guys from last year’s Vilociti team opted to join the break dance team instead.

While most agree that this year’s team is undeniably different due to fewer men, not all Vilociti members are in agreement about whether it is better or worse.

Although Brittany Beecher misses the male influence, she acknowledges the benefits to a team made of primarily girls.

“We get less distracted because we are more at the same speed,” she said. “People are more serious, and it’s easier to clean.”

In contrast, Lexi Childs feels that the lack of male influence has affected the team unity.

“It feels less like a family because we are all girls,” Childs said. “We can’t do as much with choreography because there are no boys.”

“It seems very much like a girl’s group this year, “ said Joey Geurts, who left Vilociti to join the new My Bad Crew.

“It’s like being at a girl’s sleepover – I guess it could be fun, but after a day it would get old,” he said.

Geurts feels that while a strong dance background aids in clean choreography, many of the girls lack in hip-hop style.

“Guys add another flavor. None of the girls have a street background,” Geurts said. “There are definite strengths but also definite weaknesses.”

 “I don’t think it’s better or worse. It’s just a different animal.”

(n. sorensen)

A "Real Halftime Show"

Julia Williams, Aggiette & Full Circle Member

Basketball season is here and so are basketball halftimes.

In addition to the reoccurring scene of an excited student section, stunts performed by Big Blue and the choreography of the Aggiettes, spectators will have a chance to witness something new.

On Wednesday, Nov. 30, the women of Utah State University’s Vilociti and Full Circle dance teams will have their first halftime performance this year.

Despite experienced dancers and rigorous weekly practices, both dance groups perform minimally in comparison to the Aggiettes.

“We’re better than the Aggiettes,” said Tessa Italasano, choreographer of the upcoming performance. “People will get a real halftime show.”

As a member of both the Aggiettes and Full Circle teams, Julia Williams agrees.

“Full Circle is better because we do more technical things,” she said. “I like a challenge.”

While others are hesitant to so boldly declare dominance over the Aggiettes, they still show excitement at the chance to perform.

“We don’t have many opportunities to perform in front of our peers and we’re finally able to show everyone what we can do as a company,” said Kumi Osterloh, head advisor of the Vilociti hip-hop team.

During the performance, the dance teams will perform to “Seven Nation Army,” a White Stripes song known for a memorable guitar riff.

The performance will not only be notable for its music, but according to Italasano, the wardrobe will likely entice viewers as well.

“People should come see us because we’re hot,” she said. “It’ll be raunchy. Black combat boots, sequins, and fish nets – the works.”

(k. wells & j. wilkinson)