Dance Team Info

Red Flash Dancers Attend All Home Football and Men's and Women's Basketball Games as well as those Teams' Postseason Travel to Tournaments. We also support other team competition upon request. Four additional appearances are required by each dancer per semester (may include on or off campus promotional events). Dancers have the option to be on the competition team if they qualify with their tryout score.

Being a member of this program means that you will commit at least 6, and up to 12 total hours per week. That time involves (but is not limited to) practice, athletic competition, pep rallies, promotional appearances, community service, fundraising and our own conditioning. In exchange for your time and effort, our teams receive certain benefits.

All Red Flash Dancers, earn the following benefits:

Represent Red Flash Athletics in the NCAA Division 1, Northeast Conference
Scholarships from $400 to $1,800 per Semester. A proposal has been submitted for an increase of $1,500-$5,000
Access to free Tutors throughout the year
Access to Certified Sports Performance Coaches
Access to a Team Athletic Trainer
Access to a Department Sports Nutritionist
Access to a Department Life Coach
Access to a Team Chaplain
Access to a Team Mentor
Access to a Team Academic Advisor
Use of the Red Flash Athletes Lounge
Under Armour® sponsorship with free practice gear
Lifelong teammates and friends
Improved confidence from mastering high-level skills
Improved time management skills by juggling school and sports
Resume building experience and references for future jobs

Often, our program goes above and beyond expectations which sometimes involves needing additional funds for travel, hotel stays, meal expenses, make-up, extra bows and team building events. To reach that level of commitment, we fundraise.

Sheetz® Gas Card Give-a-way
50/50 Raffles at Games
Apparel Sales
Dancing with the Flash Event
Corporate Sponsorships
Family and Friend Donations
Hosting Camps, Clinics and Competitions

TRYOUTS

Tryouts are held at the end of Spring semester each year (April). This gives us time to assign specific skills for the summer, order the correct sizes of gear in time for our first appearance in the fall, and hold a preseason camp (typically with NDA). To qualify for dance tryouts, athletes must be an accepted Saint Francis University student in good standing and be willing to follow all program guidelines including maintaining a 2.25 GPA, attend 6-12 hours of events per week, and adhere to all University rules. Video Tryouts are possible. By the week before in-person tryouts, please send a link to a video of yourself from within the past year doing the following: All three splits, As many turns as you can cleanly perform in a row, Your Best Leap or Jump, Improvisation, Any previously choreographed dance (up to 30 seconds), 20 seconds of Burpees (video), a Short Introduction of Yourself (Stating Your Name, High School, College Major).

PHILOSOPHY

Participating on the Red Flash Dance Team is a privilege. We receive many benefits; however, those may be taken away if we do not fulfill our duties. Being a student is your first priority. You are at Saint Francis to earn a degree and study hall could be assigned. Once your grades are in order, you may participate 100%. Our goal as a program is to support SFU Athletics by leading fellow students, alumni and community members (fans) through a complete game time experience while exemplifying the SFU Athletics Mission and Vision.

PRACTICES

In the Fall, the Game Day Team practices twice per week and the Competition Team practices once per week. In the Spring, the Game Day Team practices once per week and the Competition Team practices twice per week. Both semesters consist of two 45-minute conditioning practices per week with Certified Strength Coaches.

COMPETITION

Every other year, our team attends NDA Collegiate Nationals in Daytona, FL and exhibitions at 3-4 local competitions. In the "off" years, we compete at a smaller collegiate competition closer to home. The highest ranking dancers will be asked if they want to compete until we have 20 dancers who make up the Red Flash Competitive Dance Team.

SCHOLARSHIP per Semester

Years on the Team = $200 Per Year (1st year member gets $200, 4th year member gets $800)

Score at Tryouts = Bottom Third $0; Middle Third $200; Top Third $400

Participation = $200 for Game Day Team; $200 for Competition Team

Captains = $200 each

What this means is that you may earn an SFU scholarship anywhere from $400 to $1,800 per semester. This recent increase proposal is for $500 per category.

TRYOUT REQUIREMENTS

There are 35 positions on our dance team. Dancers will be asked to perform 2 short dances as well as the SFU Fight Song taught by the current captains. They will be expected to perform some improvisation as well. Dancer's tryout scores will be calculated based on the performance in these 3 assessments and overall attitude throughout the tryout. The most important part of tryouts is to be a confident but friendly and supportive teammate. A coachable athlete will always make the team over an arrogant athlete at the same skill level. Tiebreakers will use the 'Coachable' category first and the 'Improvisation' category second. You must earn at least 1 point in the coachable category to make the team.

35 of the highest scoring dancers with a double turn will be placed on the team.

*It is possible with this format that someone with a lower score than you makes the team.

A sample scoresheet is below and will be updated throughout the year so you know your rank:

Name: ________________________ Year: ______

Coachable 0 1 2 3 One point for each: confident, social, supportive

Conditioning 0 1 2 3 One pt= 2-4 burpees; Two pts= 5-6 burpees; Three pts= >6 burpees

Fight Song 0 1 2 3 One point for each: placement, timing, comfortable smile

Flexibility 0 1 2 3 One point for each split successfully completed

Turns 0 1 2 3 One point for each completed without falling out: single,

double, second/straight leg (completion of 4)

Jumps & Leaps 0 1 2 3 One point for each: pointed toes, level arms, clean landing

Facials 0 1 2 3 One point for each: comfortable facial expressions,

expressions fit the style of dance being performed, positive

expressions are maintained through sideline cheers

Improvisation 0 1 2 3 One point for each: movement in addition to tricks used, style

of dance is matched with the song, no standing still/blank

facial expression used

TOTAL: ______