April 3, 2006
The University of San Diego Athletics Department announces an exciting transition in Torero Athletics. A new spirit team is being formed to combine the talents and energy of dance and cheerleading. The Torero Spirit Team will be holding tryouts April 22nd and 23rd in the Jenny Craig Pavilion on the campus of the University of San Diego. The Torero Spirit Team will consist of approximately 30 people bringing the Torero spirit to athletic and other events on and off campus.
Torero Athletics is pleased to announce that Nicole LaBarbera has accepted the position of Spirit Team Coach. Nicole has a strong background in dance, cheer, and has been working with the dance club on the USD campus for the past 4 years. She shares Torero Athletics' vision for creating school spirit and entertaining our students, alumni, and fans.
The purpose of the Spirit Team is to entertain and build excitement with our students, alumni, and fans of the University of San Diego. Spirit Team members will show the enthusiasm of being a Torero and capture the energy at Torero Athletic contests to ensure a home field advantage for Torero Athletic teams. Spirit Team members will have fun in creating an exciting and entertaining atmosphere through the combination of dance and cheer.
All tryout participants need to bring proof of insurance, the completed tryout application, pair of tennis shoes with non-marking soles, jazz shoes, water, snack, and a towel. All participants must wear all black dance attire with hair and makeup performance ready.
Torero Spirit Team tryout participants will be judged upon:
1. The ability to entertain a crowd based on spirit, actions, and body language.2. Tumbling and sideline spiriting3. The ability to learn two dance routinesa. Technical dance routineb. Hip-Hop dance routine4. Dancing and cheerleading technique and fundamentalsa. Turns, Tumbling, Leaps, Tricks, etc.5. Overall performance and personality6. Individual interview sessions will be conducted on April 23rd for those who advance past the performance portion on Saturday's tryouts.
Judges will consist of the Spirit Team Coach, University of San Diego Athletic Administrator, two choreographers, a professional cheerleader, and a professional dancer.
A participant making the team should be prepared: ∙ for a time commitment of 3 practices per week on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday in addition to game day activities. ∙ to follow all rules determined by the head coach. ∙ for an up front cost of $250 on the 2nd day of tryouts to cover uniforms, all shoes, poms, and additional materials for the upcoming season. . ∙ to attend a camp in mid-July; arrive on campus two weeks prior to the first home contest; participate in five games during winter break as determined by the head coach; and prepared to return the first week of January for spring camp. ∙ represent the University of San Diego and Torero Athletics in a positive, appropriate, sportsmanlike manner for the duration of the year. ∙ to maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 during their time on the team. All incoming freshmen to the University should bring their high school transcripts for GPA purposes.
More details regarding participation will be provided at the team selection meeting on April 23rd.
Questions will also be answered at the two informational sessions below. Participation in one of these meetings is strongly encouraged. The informational sessions regarding the team, tryouts, and general information will be held in Maher 224 at 12:30pm on the following dates:
April 6thApril 18th
For more information, please email Head Coach Nicole LaBarbera at dancer90210@yahoo.com or Spirit Team Advisor Chris Morales at cmorales@sandiego.edu
