Two high school seniors, Courtney Kalb and Lauren Crawley, tried out for and made the University of Northern Iowa Panther Dance Team after dancing together on their high school's junior varsity and varsity dance teams for several years. They were both nervous about the multi-day tryout but were excited to continue dancing at the collegiate level. If selected, they would get to dance at football and basketball games as well as attend competitions and perform at various community events. While unsure of their future dancing plans after college, both were happy to have made the team together using the experience they gained from their high school dance experience.

1. Dancing to UNI
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Two seniors prepare to continue their
dancing careers after high school
Courtney Kalb, sr., and Lauren a lot different.” Crawley said.
Crawley, sr., have both been danc- “Dance team teaches you a lot of
ing for most of their lives. Kalb has teamwork and competing skills,”
been dancing for 15 years, Crawley Kalb said.
for 8 years. Both Kalb and Crawley Both Kalb and Crawley are excit-
tried out for the 2012-2013 UNI ed and nervous for the upcoming
Panther Dance team. dance team season and reflect on
Kalb and Crawley have both the few things they can work on. “I
danced for Kennedy’s JV dance want to improve on my endurance,”
team as freshmen and Kennedy’s Kalb said.
Varsity dance team for three years. “I need to improve on turns and
“We had fun at practice, we enjoyed jumps and technique,” Crawley said.
it but at the same time we had to “The tryout was already a push, so
work hard,” Kalb said. I feel like once we are on the team
“I just like to preform, our team there, we will just improve that
mates are all a lot of fun too,” Craw- much more because it will be a chal-
ley said. lenge.”
“The school “The tryout was already a push, so UNI Dance
s u p p o r t s I feel like once we are on the team Team will in-
us,” Kalb volve dancing
said. there, we will just improve that at home foot-
Kalb and much more because it will be a ball games, at
C r a w l e y challenge.” women’s and
went to the - Lauren Crawley men’s basket-
three day ball games,
tryout at competitions
UNI. In two days, they had to learn and various community service
five dances. Then, they tried out on events. “We get to go to nationals
the third day. “It was really stress- in Florida,” Kalb said. “Being on a
ful,” Kalb said. “We almost didn’t go college team is bigger, the football
back the third day because we were games are huge. We’re really excit-
so stressed and nervous!” ed.”
“They paired you up with one oth- “We get to dance at the UNI vs.
er returning member and you had Iowa football game,” Crawley said.
to go in front of the judges and do Kalb and Crawley are unsure of
technique and the dances,” Crawley their dancing plans for after college,
said. “We will see how these next four
“It was so scary!” Kalb said. years go, then decide,” Kalb said.
Both Kalb and Crawley were suc- “We’re just both really happy we
cessful in making the 2012-2013 made it together,” Crawley said.
UNI Panther Dance Team. Both girls Lydia Martin
admit they couldn’t have made the
team without the experience of the
Kennedy Dance Team. “I feel like its
[Kennedy Dance Team] helped us a
lot. Being on dance team has taught
us the basics, dancing in a studio is Kicking Butt. Courtney Kalb pracatices her high kicks.
Photo by Annie Feltes
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