BYU Cougarettes

Seven-time national champions, deemed one of the top 25 dance teams in the nation, and spirited to boot. BYU’s dance team, The Cougarettes, is a talented group of dancers; getting on this team however, is no small feat. Jessica Jennings, sophomore at BYU, gives us some insight as to what it takes to become a Cougarette.

“The auditions started with an application which was an online form that asked about your height, hair and eye color, etc. It also required two letters of recommendation, a resume that had your dance experience and training on it, and a head shot.

The Audition was Saturday morning at 9 in the Marriott Center. It began with a physical to make sure we were ready to dance, then 15 second across the floors including leaps and jumps, then a 20 second across the floor including turns. After that was the first cut, about 35 girls left us.

Next we learned three combos; hip-hop, pop, and jazz, each was 30 seconds long and we only got about 15 minutes to learn each one. After that they cut another 23 girls or so. Last was one more combo that was 35-40 seconds long and we only got 10 minutes to learn it. We were then pulled in to a room individually for an interview about why we wanted to be a Cougarette and what it means to have team unity.

We were then sent on our way and didn’t find out if we made the team until that Monday.”

Jennings was one of the lucky 18 girls that made the team from a total of about 80 that tried out this year. Jennings has been dancing for the last 17 years and actually transferred from North Carolina to BYU so that she could try out for the Cougarettes. Her reasons?

“They are nationally recognized, talented, well-known, well-rounded, and all around respectable girls” Says Jennings.

As the tryouts and the cuts continue the nerves get greater and greater. Something Jennings believes is important for your survival in situations like this is to remember to allow your personality to shine through. Even though you’re nervous the judges are looking for someone that not only has the talent, but the individuality as well.

As 80 makes its way down to 18 the talent becomes outstanding; perhaps this is why BYU’s Cougarette’s are Nationally ranked. Making this respectable team doesn’t come easily; my congratulations go out to the 18 girls that did, and to Jessica Jennings, sophomore at BYU.