The Dazzlers dance team brings spirit and talent to events throughout the UB sports seasons.
This year's Dazzler team captains are Melanie Warren, a senior exercise science major who has danced since she was three, and Lisa Badgley, a senior pre-nursing major who has danced since age four.
The dancers on the team are close friends and make every game and practice a fun experience. Even when they are working hard, they enjoy time spent learning new dances and perfecting ones they already know, Badgley said.
"We try to spend a lot of time together so when we are at games we can show we are unified as a team," Warren said.
The Dazzlers are coached by Korinne Fort, a UB alumna and longtime dancer, who herself has been coached by a professional cheerleader for nine consecutive seasons.
Fort was also a member of the staff at the South Buffalo Dance Academy where she has studied dance since childhood.
The Dazzlers hold practice Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in their studio. They also join the band on Fridays at the same time to practice as a whole and prepare for the games together, according to Fort.
"We can joke around a lot and correct each other at practice," Badgley said. "A lot of the girls have a say in what is going on."
Fort works hard alongside the girls to make sure every dance is perfected and ready to be performed at the games.
"As part of choreography I like to use changing of formation, different ripples or opposing directions for maximum effectiveness on the field," Fort said.
This season was the first time the Dazzlers joined the marching band at their band camp before the fall semester to prepare for football season. While at the camp the team held try-outs and learned some of the routines to be performed during the football season, according to Fort.
Tryouts for the dance team require prospective dancers to learn and perform a routine to be judged. The team performs at 26 games and must be prepared to learn at least 10 dances, according to Fort.
"Past experience is encouraged," Fort said. "Most of my girls have past dancing or cheering experience. I need to feel they will be able to keep up."
Tryouts are challenging but also necessary to make sure the dancers are qualified and ready to take on the season ahead, Fort said.
"I think the tryouts were difficult because we want high talent and we also want girls with a lot of enthusiasm and high spirit," Warren said.
As far as disciplining the team, Fort makes sure the girls are punctual and do not miss practices.
Dancers can sign up for the team as a class and earn two credits, which helps prevent overlapping classes with practices, Fort said.
The Dazzlers currently have 14 girls on the team. For the upcoming basketball season, Fort will be holding tryouts for new members. Those interested are encouraged to attend meetings on Oct. 20 and Oct. 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Harriman Hall.
