The Coffee County Raiderette Dance Team is holding tryouts for their 2022 to 2023 season Friday, March 18. The tryout clinic on March 15 and 17 is required. 

The CCCHS Dance Team is seen on the sidelines of football games and halftimes of basketball games, but more than that, they’re a family and they want you to join! 

The team starts their season preparing for a Universal Dance Association (UDA) camp that summer. At camp, they take a routine prepared at home to compete with, so the team spends the first few months of their practices working on technique, skills, and their home routine. 

Once at camp, the team learns a performance routine together and a minimum of two other routines individually. The coaches choose which dances the girls will learn from a variety of options including hip hop, jazz, pom, kick, or a mix routine. Additionally, each style comes in five different levels of difficulty. 

These routines are evaluated based on memory and performance. The dancers are awarded ribbons from one of three tiers: blue, red, or white. The blue is given to dancers that meet all criteria and is what each dancer strives for. 

The team also goes through workshops for skills, further technique training, and a “crazy night” which all leads to a stronger bond with their teammates. 

Another opportunity given at camp is the All American tryout. All American is an award given to a select few that tryout at camp. Once selected, All American dancers are invited to perform at special events around the world! 

Once the CCCHS Dance Team returns from camp, they begin football season. On the sidelines, the team dances with the CCCHS band. They learn sideline dances that must be quickly matched with music based on what the band plays. 

When football season ends, basketball season begins. At each home game, the dance team performs at halftime. They perform the routines they learned at camp. The entire season is filled with learning new choreography and making it performance ready just days before. 

In the midst of basketball season, the team’s competitions begin approaching. Competitions take hard work, effort, and countless hours of practice. The team must learn original choreography and have it perfected by the time the competitions come. 

The year ends with tryouts for the following year. With team bonding events, fundraisers, and clinics thrown in the mix, the CCCHS dance team truly becomes a family by the end of it all.

The tryouts will take place on March 18 at 5 p.m. in the CCCHS gym. In the days leading up to that, a tryout clinic is required March 15 and 17 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Required skills will be taught at the clinic. 

Coach Ashlyn Lee provides a word of encouragement for newcomers: “It’s always a bittersweet feeling when the season ends and another is beginning. We are sad to see our seniors graduate but are also excited for the new season. This past season was a year of growth and facing challenges head on, and we hope to continue that next year.”

“Although it’s common to be nervous at tryouts, we want the potential candidates to have fun and be confident in their abilities,” Lee continues. “Everyone brings something to the table! Being a part of the Raiderettes is truly something special and we hope to see you at tryouts!”