Dance
team takes second in finals
By Mario Burciaga
Online Forty-Niner
Staff Writer
The Cal State Long Beach dance team danced their way to second place
in the Jan.
13-16 UCA/UDA College National Championship in Orlando, Fla.
The 20 colligate-level dance teams present at Walt Disney World proved to be
plenty of competition, but success at the end of a long road was nothing new
for CSULB dance team coach Rey Lozano, who has won five national championships
in his 25-year career as the team’s coach.
“I was definitely surprised that we won, but as a coach I never stressed
the girls to win,” Lozano said.
“I just want the team to perform to the best of their abilities whether
they are at practice, performing or competing.”
Lozano said winning was a huge surprise because instead of performing with a
typical top 40 hip hop song like most dance teams, they decided to be original
and use Indian symphonic music consisting of sitar instruments and an orchestra.
Fourth-year health care administration major and co-captain of the dance team
Pennee Eagattat also said the music was a big challenge because the team’s
two-minute routine performed in competition frequently changed tempo.
Eagattat added that since September, the team has been practicing three times
a week from 7 to 10 pm, which has made it difficult on the team.
“This was a very big competition,” said senior Lauren Rysavy, an
English education major and co-captain of the dance team. “The squad had
been through a lot, especially since we are used to competing in the spring.”
Chance Decker, beach pride center coordinator, responsible for the logistics
and coordination of the dance team said the team is almost completely funded
by the Associated Students Inc. The dance team members only had to pay a nominal
fee of $100 for costumes while ASI supplemented the team with $10,000 for the
College National Championship.
Competition is nothing new for the seasoned co-captains; their next big challenge
is on Feb. 5-6 when the team travels to Las Vegas for the 12th Annual USA Collegiate
Cheer and Dance Nationals.
“We will definitely do well in Las Vegas,” Eagattat said.
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