Virginia Commonwealth University Dance Team
Director/Coach/Choreographer – Vicki Lynn Wells
With over 25 years of dance and cheer experience, Vicki Wells is the Director for the VCU Dance Team. Former associations include the National Champion Q94 Rockers Competition Team, the Rhythm and Cheer All-Stars dance and cheer program in Northern Virginia, the USA Spirit Station All-Stars, and various other squads up and down the east coast. In addition, she is a former staff member/instructor for the National Cheerleaders Association, the Eastern Cheer and Dance Association and the All-American Pro Bowl Selection Committee.

Vicki was also a member and officer for the Washington Redskins’ Cheerleaders as well as part of their traveling show troupe. Performing most recently for the inaugural season of the IBL’s Richmond Rhythm professional basketball team and serving as their coach and choreographer.

Currently in addition to working with the VCU Dance Team, Vicki is a judge for cheer and dance competitions on the local, regional and national levels. She still performs today for both charity and corporate events in the community.

About the Team:

The VCU Dance Team consists of 16 talented young ladies all from various performance backgrounds. Some have a technical ballet, tap and jazz background and others strictly come from various cheer and competitive squads. All ladies are required to practice three nights per week and attend all VCU men’s basketball home games. Some personal appearances are also required.

Tryout Requirements:
You must be physically fit and able to endure three hours of practice (two nights per week). 

Tryouts for the 2006-07 VCU Dance Team will be held on Saturday, October 7 from 10:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 8 from 1:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. in the Siegel Center's Aerobics Room. Appropriate dance attire for auditions is required. For example, dance pants or shorts (with tights) -- and a mid-drift dance or show top with dance shoes (split-sole jazz sneakers, jazz shoes, or tennis shoes are ok). Hair should be worn down initially and your make-up should flatter you individually. Also, please bring a valid VCU ID with you to tryouts.

Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Vicki Wells at (804) 380-4070. Please allow a few days for her to get back to you.

Bravita T.
Junior
Veteran

Bravita began studying ballet, tap and jazz in Newport News, VA at the Academy of Dance.  Upon graduating from Woodside High School for the Performing Arts, she was the two time regional winner for the NAACP ACT-SO competition in Dance as well as the winner at several competitions including Showbiz, Showstoppers and Star Power.  Other accomplishments include the Busch Gardens Williamsburg Featured Dancer in two shows, “Imaginique” and “A Tribute to the King”.  Bravita is also a former member of the “Four the Streetz” dance troupe, and as a Dance Major at VCU has performed in various pieces.  Currently, Bravita teaches tap and jazz to children and adults and she is in her second year on the VCU Dance Team.

Criscia R.
Junior
Veteran

Criscia is currently pursuing a degree in Dance and Choreography. Her plans for the future include wanting to dance with a major modern dance company. She also wishes to teach dance after starting her own dance company. Her experiences include attending the performing art school, Boces Cultural Arts Center. She also has danced and taught at Venettes Cultural Workshop for seven years. She is currently in the dance program here at VCU. This is Criscia's second year as a member of the VCU Dance Team.

Corrine M.
Senior
Vetran

Corinne is majoring in Dance/Movement Therapy while attending VCU. She wants to go to graduate school for Somatic Psychology. She was on her high school dance team and is also a former VCU dance major. She has danced at a number of different studios and has had a variety of training throughout her childhood and teenage years. While on her high school dance team she received the UDA All Star Award. This is Corrine's second year on the VCU Dance Team.

Lauren B.
Squad Lieutenant
Sophomore
Veteran

Currently a sophomore at VCU and pursuing a degree in Creative Advertising, Lauren performs at both the men’s and women’s basketball games and this season with the VCU Dance Team, performed in the half-time show of the Washington Redskins/Dallas Cowboys game on December 18, 2005.  Lauren started her dancing career with ballet and jazz at EVSPA in Williamsburg, VA.  During middle school, she cheered and competed with the James Blair Middle School squad and in high school she performed as a member of the Eagles Dance Team at Jamestown High School where she was captain her senior year.  In addition, Lauren was invited to perform at the Pro Bowl and in 2004 and performed as well as choreographed for “The Music Man” musical.  This is Lauren’s second year on the VCU Dance Team and her first year as a squad officer.

Dani Q.
Senior
Veteran

Dani is currently pursuing a degree in Criminal Justice. She has ten years of dance experience at Arlington Center for Dance where she was in the company. She also attended summer programs with the Boston Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem. She has been in numerous dance competitions and received the 2000 Junior Miss Dreamseekers award. This is Dani's second year as a VCU Dance Team member.

Christian E.
Squad Lieutenant
Sophomore
Veteran

Christian aspires to become a teacher or possibly own her own dance studio.  She has thirteen years of studio dance experience from Miss Donna School of Dance and the Richmond Dance Center where she was a part of the Competition Squad for 4 years.  She was on the JR Tucker High School Dance Team for four years as well as the Competition Squad.  In addition, Christian was in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in 2003 and performed in front of 92,000 fans this year at the Washington Redskins/Dallas Cowboys game in FedEx Field during the half-time show.  Individual awards include UDA All-Star, All-American,  and All-County.  Christian has also served as an EDA Instructor.  She is currently in her second year on the VCU Dance Team and her first year as a squad officer.

Lindsay A.
Junior
Veteran

Lindsay has taken ballet and jazz classes at Richmond Ballet for fourteen years. She was a member of the Midlothian High School Dance Team for one year. Lindsay was in the mixed show choir and was dance captain for four years. She is currently in her second semester of modern and dance classes in VCU‚s dance program. Lindsay was in Richmond Ballet's "The Nutcracker" for eight years and "Coppelia" for one year. She has also received an award for showmanship and best choreography three times. This is Lindsay's second year as a member of the VCU dance team.

LaKeyia B.
Senior
Veteran

LaKeyia is majoring in Mass Communications here at VCU. She wants to work for a record label after dancing for Broadway in the future. She was a member of the Richmond Speed for one year, show choir for three years, and James Madison University Dance Theatre for two years. She was on a step team for one year and was in the Contemporary Gospel Singers at JMU for two years. This is Lakeyia's third year on the VCU Dance Team.

Sheena J.
Sophomore
Rookie

Sheena has been dancing for sixteen years.  She was trained in the studio, Dance Energy, in Virginia Beach, VA.  Sheena attended the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk where she studied musical theater and dance.  She has performed in the Broadway hits “Chicago”, “Joseph and the Amazing Techno-Colored Dreamcoat”, “Student Prince”, “Lucky Stiff”, “Pippin” and was one of twenty-one performers chosen to travel to Miyazaki, Japan with the production of “Smokey Joe’s Café”.  This is Sheena’s first year as a member of the VCU Dance Team.

Kristina P.
Junior
Rookie

Kristina has been dancing for 17 years.  She was a company member of the Academy of Ballet in Fredericksburg, VA and the Avery Ballet.  Kristina also attended summer programs at the Richmond Ballet and Virginia Summer Regional Governor’s School for the Arts at the University of Richmond.  While attending North Stafford High School, she was a member of the Cheer Squad and Dance Team where she was a Captain her senior year.  In addition, Kristina has won many dance awards and performance honors including UDA All-stars, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Paris New Year’s Parade, and she was awarded a scholarship to the Richmond Ballet.  Before attending VCU, Kristina spent two years at Clemson University where she was a member of the Air Force ROTC, Clemson Crew, and Gamma Phi Beta International Sorority.  Kristina is a Marketing and Business Law major and hopes to pursue a career in either Real Estate or Marketing after graduation.  This is Kristina’s first year as a member of the VCU Dance Team.

Meagan M.
Sophomore
Rookie

Meagan has thirteen years of dance experience with the Seaside Dance and Gymnastics Centre in Rhode Island.  She was a member of the Senior Company and performed in numerous competitions.  For all four years of high school, Meagan was a member of her school’s Dance Line and Dance Team, and was captain of both teams her senior year.  She is a Forensic Science major.  This is Meagan’s first year on the VCU Dance Team.

Ashley N.
Freshman
Rookie

Ashley began her dance training at Jessica Morgan School of Dance at the age of three, and then took classes at Chesterfield Dance Center.  She is trained in ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, modern, Pointe, and hip-hop.  Ashley has competed nationally since the age of seven and had the privilege of dancing on the Epcot Stage in Disneyworld.  She also trained at Pointe Park College for their Summer Intensive Workshop Program.  Ashley was a member of the Clover Hill High School Dance Team for three years and appointed captain of the team her senior year.  Currently, she is a Dance and Choreography major at VCU.  This is Ashley’s first year on the VCU Dance Team.

Whitney H.
Freshman
Rookie

Whitney began dancing at the age of three at Martinique School of dance in Richmond, VA. She has had many years of experience in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip hop, liturgical, and ballroom dance and is now a teacher at Martinique School of Dance. She also attended Richmond Ballet's summer intensive, and has worked as a choreographer for children's musical theatre for five years . She is currently a freshman in the Fashion Merchandising department at VCU. This is Whitney's first year as a member of the VCU Dance Team.

Tinisha M.
Sophomore
Rookie

Adrienne M.
Sophomore
Rookie

London R.
Sophomore
Rookie

Since the age of two, London has been training in ballet.  She danced at Bluefield Dance Theatre and most recently at STARZ School of Dance.  Besides ballet, London has studied Pointe, tap, modern, jazz, and hip-hop.  She was a member of her high school Varsity and Competition Cheerleading Team.  London was captain of the Varsity team for two years and captain of the Competition team for three years.  She was also awarded All-American Cheerleader six years in a row and performed at the Citrus Bowl in Orlando, FL.  London was also involved in her high school’s theatre department where she acted, danced and choreographed.  She has plans to study “something” in the art field, as of now she is majoring in Art History with a minor in Media Studies.  This is her first year on the VCU Dance Team.

Amanda G.
Sophomore
Rookie

Amanda has been dancing for sixteen years.  She studied with several studios before attending the Richmond Ballet.  Throughout her years of study, she participated in regional and national dance competitions.  In 2001, she was chosen as a Caravan Kid for the Hoctor Dance Company, and in 2002 she performed in the Ms. Virginia Pageant.  For two years, Amanda was assistant coach and choreographer for the Prince George High School Dance Team.  As a senior in high school, Amanda attended Richard Bland College where she became captain and choreographer of the RBC Dance Team and won the title Ms. RBC 2005.  Presently, Amanda is pursuing a degree in Dance and Choreography, with a minor in Business.  This is Amanda’s first year on the VCU Dance Team.

J. Tracy A.
Senior
Rookie

Tracy began dancing at the age of five in Virginia Beach, VA.  She has experience in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, Polynesian, character, folk dance and pom as well as choreography.  She previously taught ballet at the School of Creative and Performing Arts.  Tracy was Captain of her high school dance team for three years, danced for their marching band’s half-time performance as a Junior Drum Major, and went to the Summer Governor’s School for Dance program.  In addition, Tracy has performed in various weddings, pageants, parades, and shows including Moscow Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” and has competed in Miss VA Jr. Teen, Miss VA Coed, Miss Philippines of VA, and IMTA in NYC.  She has most recently performed, along with her VCU teammates, during the half-time show of the Washington Redskins/Dallas Cowboys game in December.  Tracy hopes to dance professionally one day and also pursue a career in recreational therapy.  This is Tracy’s first year as a member of the VCU Dance Team.

Tiffany F.
Squad Captain
Senior
Veteran

Tiffany is studying psychology here at VCU and is planning on pursuing her Masters in Education upon completion of her undergraduate degree.  She has been dancing for sixteen years and has experience in jazz, tap, ballet, modern, funk and Pointe.  Tiffany has danced for numerous studios and has been a member of several competition groups.  Before coming to VCU, she was a member of the Christopher Newport University Dance Team where she was a captain for one year.  Currently, Tiffany is an instructor for the Eastern Cheer and Dance Association and a performance judge and an instructor at Shuffles Dance Center in Hanover.  Tiffany performs at both men’s and women’s basketball games at VCU as well as some volleyball matches.  In 2005, she performed with her VCU teammates during half time at the Washington Redskins/Dallas Cowboys game on December 18th.  This is Tiffany’s third year on the VCU Dance Team and her second year as Squad Captain.