Members of UW-Eau Claire’s Dance Team practice their high kicks during a recent rehearsal at Zorn Arena.

Dance is more than wearing identical costumes and cyclically counting to eight. The UW-Eau Claire Dance Team is a group of 18 hardworking athletes with a knack for pirouetting, popping, and locking. In years past, they have been successful at competitions around the country, bringing home well-earned trophies and placements in jazz and hip-hop, but with the help of their second-year coach, Miki Hegg, their achievements are only skyrocketing.

You’re with these people more than you are with your own family; this dance team becomes your new family. I’m always with (the team), but I’m never sick of them. We all rely on each other.” – Kenzie Mueller, co-captain, UWEC Dance Team

The team seems extremely positive about this year with Hegg by their side. Kenzie Mueller, one of the team’s three co-captains, has seen the good and the bad and explains, “(Two years ago) was complete chaos. A lot of it was student-based planning like getting plane tickets, booking hotels, (and) registering for competitions. There was just so much. Then once we got Miki on, she took that stress away.” Instead of running the team, the members could just focus on dancing. As co-captain Natalie Streich adds, “(Hegg) has been really good about getting us sponsors and fundraising, which was a huge benefit to the team.” Without steady funding, it’s hard for a dance team to attend competitions, get new dancers to join, and to hire choreographers. It is irrefutable the team is grateful to have Hegg guiding them in a positive direction.

Why be a part of the dance team? All three captains agreed with Mueller’s statement: “I think people choose to join the team because they think, ‘(Dance) is the only thing I knew how to do, so what am I going to spend all my time doing?’ ” Mueller provided an answer, “We have nine hours of practice during the week, plus learning choreography on the weekends and performing at football games. You’re with these people more than you are with your own family; this dance team becomes your new family.” Mueller continues, “I’m always with (the team), but I’m never sick of them. We all rely on each other.”

Lindsay Berge, the team’s third co-captain, adds, “College is stressful, but with 17 best friends, it makes the transition easier.” Sounds like joining the UW-Eau Claire Dance Team is a no brainer.

When asked about what this year will look like, Hegg asserts, “I feel like our team is super strong this year, not only as dancers and talent-wise, but personality-wise. They’re hard-working, have great attitudes, and want to be at every practice. They want to represent UW-Eau Claire and our community in a positive way.” Hegg pushed the fact that she wants to, in her words, “make the dance team a bigger and stronger program and make it the best I possibly can.”

Last year’s competition placements include  fourth in hip-hop at the University of St. Thomas competition, fourth in jazz and second in hip-hop at the Spirit of America Dance Competition hosted by the Mall of America, 10th in jazz and ninth in hip-hop at the National Dance Team Championship at Disney World. Considering the UWEC is competing against anywhere from 20-30 other teams, all these achievements are amazing.

As much as the team benefits its members and audiences, it also benefits the community. Annual competitions for surrounding high school, middle school, and elementary dance teams are hosted, as well as dance clinics for kids. “Last year we did ECDC, which is an adaptive dance class for kids with disabilities,” Berge explains. “It was one of my favorite things. You get to work with these amazing kids, which really helped us stay positive throughout the year and was really rewarding.” Being a member of the team is not just all about dance. It’s a well-rounded experience that gets the team involved in community service and teaches them lessons they can carry on throughout their lifetimes. 

To support UW-Eau Claire’s dance team, attend local UW-Eau Claire seasonal sports and watch the team perform sideline and halftime routines at football and basketball games. Go Blugolds!

Find the team on Facebook at facebook.com/uwecdanceteam.