Students interested in auditioning for the 2019-2020 dance team at Texas A&M University-San Antonio must attend one of three remaining clinics this semester.
The Jaguarettes will host Spring Prep Clinics 10 a.m.-noon April 14 in Room 109 of Patriots’ Casa and 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. April 23 and April 25, with locations for those two dates to be determined soon.
Originally founded as a club in 2017, the Jaguarettes are currently considered a student organization. They hope to one day compete in nationals or championship events once the university formally recognizes them as the school’s official spirit team, Courtney Bobb-Meilinger, head coach and communications lecturer, wrote in an email April 2.
“During these clinics, Jaguars will be learning 30-second dances that are meant to show their strengths in dance and prepare for the tryout,” Bobb-Meilinger said in an informational meeting March 21. “There will be 30-second dances that the students will learn to show off their strengths to make it to the team.”
Auditions will be April 27 in the Auditorium. The official team will be announced about a week after the tryout date.
Brenda Johnson, vice president and co-captain of the Jaguarettes, is one of the founding members of the dance team. She is majoring in psychology and was a ballerina growing up. She said she has a deep love for dance and A&M-San Antonio.
“We’re starting a legacy,” Johnson said. “I like to think about coming back and seeing the dance team performing at a football game for athletics or something and to know I was a part of the start of it.”
Basic requirements to become a dancer include having a minimum of a 2.5 GPA along with a full-time academic schedule of 12 credit hours. Students must be enrolled for the next semester and commit for the fall and spring of the 2019 through 2020 school year.
The team has performed for school events such as basketball games and Lights of Esperanza, and they plan to perform at Festival de Cascarones April 28. They plan to perform at more events this coming school year and hope to become a competitive dance team.
There are 18 slots available to form the team. Students of any gender and with a rhythmic background are encouraged to audition April 27 after attending a clinic. Students can visit JagSync to find out what documents are needed prior to attending a clinic.
Solid color workout clothes are highly recommended and preferable, traditional dance shoes are better; comfortable shoes work just as well.
California native Maria Marquez is a fire and emergency services major interested in auditioning. She attended the March 21 meeting.
“I haven’t danced on a team in quite a while,” Marquez said. “Does marching count in the military? I am a little stiff, but curious to see if this will be part of my avenue.”
Other than being a former Army sergeant and current military wife, she said she is most definitely open to auditioning for her senior year of college.
Transfer students and incoming freshmen will be given an alternate date to audition due to testing schedules and other school dates. If applicants cannot make a date and have any questions or concerns, they can contact Bobb-Meilinger at tamusajaguarettes@tamusa.edu, or visit their Instagram page here for announcements and updates.
