Southwestern Michigan College’s Women’s Dance Team is falling into formation for Coach Laura Odenwald, with three dancers committed and another 14 expressing interest.
Wives of SMC presidents traditionally give back to the college in some manner, so Odenwald, a former Maryland state champion who began ballet at 6, volunteered to coach the squad that will perform this fall, when SMC rejoins intercollegiate men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and wrestling after a 25-year hiatus.
The dance team will perform at halftime of men’s and women’s home basketball games and do short sideline routines to Pep Band music.
By the time fall semester begins, dancers will have bonded at their first National Dance Alliance (NDA) camp Aug. 9-11 in Port Huron.
“If you want to qualify for nationals, that’s where you do it,” Odenwald said. “We’ll get evaluated and see where we stand. They’ll learn a bunch of skills they can bring back for halftime routines, which will help with choreography. Practices start a couple of weeks after that.”
“I’m excited to be part of bringing this opportunity to our students, as well as entertainment to our community,” Odenwald said. “We have so many studios and talented dancers in the area, but there are few dance teams at the community-college level. I think this is an area where SMC can truly stand out!”
Announced so far are Kennedy Westrate of Cassopolis Ross Beatty High School and Legacy Dance Studio in Mishawaka, Hailey Dodd of Niles High School and Green Dance Academy (previously MKSOD, Miss Kathy’s School of Dance with locations in Dowagiac, Niles and Decatur and, since 2001, its Positively Dance competition team) and Allyson Rumoro, a friend of cross-country runner Ava Hart’s from Oak Park and River Forest High School in Illinois and TranscenDance Studios, Oak Park.
Westrate has 14 years of dance experience and is proficient in many styles, including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, modern/contemporary, clogging and musical theatre.
“I’m thrilled to have Kennedy join our team,” Odenwald said. “Not only is she talented, but her showmanship makes her fun to watch. You can tell she loves to dance, and I know everyone is going to enjoy her performances. She also has cheerleading experience.”
Dodd has 15 years of dance experience in many styles including ballet, tap, jazz, pointe, lyrical, modern/contemporary, hip hop, musical theatre, acro and clogging.
“When I first saw Hailey dance at Dowagiac’s Under the Harvest Moon festival, I knew I wanted her on our first team. She is such a talented and versatile dancer. I am so glad she has chosen SMC,” Odenwald said.
“Jazz, pom and hip hop are the main styles we’re going to do. The three range in experience from four-15 years, with collectively more than 30 years of dance. (Allyson) danced all four years on her high school drill team and has a natural talent and great performance style. But what impressed me most was her character, poise and confidence. I know she will be a great addition to this team. She heard about the team and reached out to me. Allyson has family in Kentucky, so she was considering the University of Louisville, but ultimately, she wanted a smaller school where she could dance. Kennedy knew for sure she wanted to go to SMC and found out about dance during Open House night. When I introduced myself to Hailey at Under the Harvest Moon, she was already looking at SMC.”
“While the primary purpose of the team will be performing at SMC basketball games and in the community, it is also my goal to build this into a championship-winning team in the world of competitive dance,” Odenwald said.
Dance team contenders made audition videos that the coach shared with four other women with dance backgrounds to evaluate on written score sheets.
Practices for the SMC team will generally run three times a week for two hours, with more during competition season. Dancers will also be expected to do strength training on their own. “Dance has changed so much as it’s gotten more competitive,” Odenwald said. “You have to have flexibility and strength, as gymnastics has come into it.”
Odenwald built her own strong foundation in ballet, then added jazz, modern and hip hop as she progressed. She holds a 2010 bachelor’s degree in mass communication from Louisiana State University, danced for four years on her high school varsity pompon team at Quince Orchard, which won multiple Division I competitions. In the 2003-04 season, QO won first place at the Maryland State Championship, County Championship, Liberty Bell Championship and Green and Gold Championship.
Odenwald served as captain and co-captain and was personally recognized for her sportsmanship and hard work with the 2005 QOHS “Cougar Award.”
Since then, the daughter of a New Orleans dancer who appeared in Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade has continued to dance for enjoyment and exercise and looks forward to dance being a major part of her life again. Interested dancers can contact her at danceteam@swmich.edu.
