Texas A&M Dance Team Competing For National Championship

Texas A&M University’s Aggie Dance Team hopes to step into the winner’s circle when it travels to its first national competition in 20 years April 8-11 in Orlando, Fla. during the Dance Team Union National Championship.

The Aggie Dance Team started in 1990, first as a student organization and then as a support unit to the Athletic Department in 1995. Dancers perform at volleyball, men’s and women’s basketball and football games, where the team conducts the flag entrance before kickoff.

The 21-member team will be competing against 22 other schools in Orlando.

Re-entering the competitive dance world has been a goal of Coach Amy Liefer. The team had previously stopped due to scheduling conflicts with sporting events.

“When I was hired three years ago, I wanted to grow our program and become one of the best in Texas,” she said. “In doing so, I had a five-year goal of getting back to competing and having a presence in the dance world outside of the state of Texas.”

Liefer said the Aggie Dance Team will compete with two routines; one in jazz and one in team competition.

The dancers will be judged on a 100-point scale that includes artistry, visual effect, technique, execution of routine, uniformity and showmanship.

The team competed recently in Dallas and finished first in jazz and second overall.

“But Orlando is the big dance,” Leifer said. “The team has worked extremely hard to get to where they are and have taken on all the challenges that have come with competition with such determination and grace. They are extremely excited to be competing. I know they are going to represent Texas A&M extremely well at national’s this year and for many years to come.”