Cheering
spirit found on campus
By
Danielle Lagana
Summer On-line Forty-Niner
Cal
State Long Beach is hosting the USA United
Spirit Association dance and drill camp
this summer providing an opportunity for
young girls to experience college life and
learn dance routines.
"This
is a very positive learning experience [for
the girls]," director Marvin Ramey
said. "They work together, find out
about each other and put all the aspects
of this camp together and take it home with
them."
The
girls started their days by eating breakfast
at 7:00 a.m. and finished the activity filled
day at 8:15 p.m. Some girls stayed in the
dorms to get a taste of college life.
During
the first two days the girls attended workshops
where they were taught new routines, and
how to condition their dance moves. The
participants performed drill downs and perform
dances that they learned for judges. They
were competing for ribbons that they could
take home with them. On the last day the
girls performed their routines for parents
and staff to receive their final awards.
"The
overall atmosphere is successful,"
Ramey said. "All expectations have
been met. The dance and drill teams have
shown excellent ability. This camp gives
our participants the whole college experience
and as they grow older there is ample opportunity
for scholarships."
Some
USA Camp staff members are CSULB's
cheerleaders. They participate in
teaching girls of all ages how to get a
crowd excited about their home school team,
sideline routines, defense cheers and how
to work together as a team.
USA Camps have been in operation for
52 years. Often participants in the camp
come back years later to be part of the
staff.
"I
came to USA in 1988 when I was a senior
in high school and now I am part of the
support staff," says Stephanie Ybarra.
Ramey
said part of what has made USA strong for
so long is the quality of instruction, materials
and the experience each participant gains.
"It
started out with one man and a drum major,"
Ramey said. "And today it is running
nation wide."
USA Camp instructors helped choreograph
half-time productions such as the one performed
in Hawaii for the NFL Pro Bowl.
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