Dance Team, Cheer Team Introduced to College, Dance Crew Remains, Registered Under Gates

Sports 
James Ryan Prizant ‘29 
Copy Editor
prizantjry@lakeforest.edu

Among the College’s many organizations are three groups that face some recent confusion among unfamiliar students: Dance Crew, Dance Team, and Cheer Team, the latter two being new on campus. Due to the introduction of these new teams and administrative changes in Dance Crew, questions have arisen out of curiosity and confusion: What is the difference between Dance Crew, Dance Team, and Cheer Team? What’s going to change about Dance Crew? What do the new dance and cheerleading teams have to offer, and what do they plan to do?

Dance Crew has existed as a club sport and the only non-culturally-specific dance organization on campus for well over a decade, according to Mike Raymond, Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Club Sports. Until this fall semester, Dance Crew was registered under the Athletics Department, but is now registered under the Gates Center and classified as a student organization. Despite the administrative changes, Dance Crew Treasurer Paul Wolters, also a team captain, confirms that very little is expected to change about Dance Crew’s activities, expectations, and philosophy.

“As captains, we make choreographies and teach them to the team,” Wolters said. “Our main goal is [still] preparing choreographies for [campus] performance opportunities.”

Moreover, Dance Crew is expected to continue performing at annual College events, including the homecoming pep rallies — which they recently performed at on Oct. 1 — the One World fundraisers, and Dance Showcases.

Although Dance Crew is open to anyone and serves as a less technically focused alternative to Dance Team and Cheer Team, with 24 members, Dance Crew has nearly reached its maximum possible membership. However, Wolters, emphasizing community over dancing abilities, still encourages students to sign up, especially when the spring semester begins, as more spots may be available.

“Our main goal is not to dance; it’s to just feel welcome together,” Wolters said. “It’s like a family. Instead of stretching, we’re all just catching up. We really do feel comfortable with each other, [and] it’s not just inside the studio. We’re really just here because we like to dance, that’s it.”

Starting this year, the Athletic Department introduced the College’s first-ever competing dance-based organization: Dance Team, led by Head Coach Erika Navarro.

The varsity Dance Team is more demanding and technically focused than Dance Crew, with the competitive season starting in summer 2027, including training for bids to compete at nationals, according to Navarro. While the team remains recruitment-based, dancers’ main focus will be practicing and performing at events like basketball and football games, including halftime performances. With 10 members already registered for this year, Navarro hopes to recruit even more for the 2027-2028 school year, encouraging students to reach out to her regarding recruitment.

Also introduced this year was the varsity Cheer Team, and much the same regarding Dance Team also applies to Cheer Team: Navarro also leads the Cheer Team. The team is currently recruitment-based; the competitive season begins in summer, and cheer athletes expect to perform at home games and special on-campus events, including ones where the Dance Team will be performing. However, as the name “Cheer Team” suggests, Navarro is looking for more cheerleading-specific skills in those who wish to join the team, such as standing and running, tumbling, jumps and stunting.

Navarro reminds students that, although her teams have their similarities and she encourages students to join either team, one student can only be part of one of the teams and not both. 

Moreover, she is more concerned with “the quality and fit of the athlete rather than simply the quantity of athletes.” 

Although the varsity teams are more selective and can seem more rigorous, Navarro highlights a sense of community, enjoyment, and school spirit in her athletes.

“I love seeing these teams on campus and how it’s bringing more game-day spirit on campus,” she said. “We hope to leave a strong mark in the competition world for dance and cheer for Lake Forest.”