Southern Misses Dance Team

The Southern Misses dance team is composed of a select group of up to 20 talented individuals who represent The University of Southern Mississippi. The team begins the year by competing each summer at UDA college camp. The team practices 2-3 times per week and has weekly workout requirements. They perform at football pep rallies & Eagle Walk festivities, all men's & women's home basketball games, attend men's and women's conference tournament, conduct a basketball Girl Scout dance clinic, and may occasionally travel. The possibility of additional competitions will be determined each fall by the coach. Being a member of this squad requires hard work, discipline, dedication, and a cooperative attitude. If you feel that you qualify in these areas, we strongly encourage you to tryout.

Eligibility Requirements
In order to be a member of the Southern Miss Dance Team squad you must be a full-time student and maintain a 2.0 cumulative Grade Point Average based only on work completed at Southern Miss. Transfers and freshmen only need to be accepted to the University.

The second requirement is personal health insurance. Proof of insurance is required before you will be able to participate in any tryout activities and must be maintained throughout the year.

Scholarship Information
Southern Misses tryouts for the 2008-2009 school year will be held as two workshop dates on Friday April 25 and Saturday April 26, as well as the audition day to be held on Sunday April 27.

Friday, April 25: 5 pm until 8 pm - Registration, Technique Class, and Fight Song/ Sideline Routine

Saturday, April 26: 9 am until 6 pm, Warm Up, Learn Technical Tryout Routine After Lunch - Review Technical Material, Review Fight Song 5:00-6:00 Open practice and potential interviews

Sunday, April 27: Check in begins at 12:30 p.m., Dogwood Room of Payne Center - followed by interviews

Note: Attendance of all days is required. Tryouts are CLOSED to the public…no parents/other guests will be allowed past the Payne Center's Atrium. No videotaping of material is permitted by those other than coaches and/or judges. Thank you.

To tryout for the Southern Misses dance team, you must be accepted to or attending the University. Applications & Application Fees are due upon registration on April 25th, 2008. Along with your application you must also submit a current photo (studio or snapshot, taken within the past year), proof of insurance (a copy front and back of your insurance card), a copy of your acceptance letter OR copy of current student ID and a $25 tryout/application fee. This (non-refundable) $25 fee is also due (cash only) upon your arrival at Saturday's registration.

To download a tryout application, please click here.

Audition Guidelines and Questionnaire

It is required that every dancer tryout in a black sports bra/fitted dance top, black dance pants (no shorts/capris), and dance shoes. Hair and make-up should be performance ready. No jewelry will be allowed. All dancers will be weighed upon registration. At tryouts the Southern Miss fight song and a jazz/hip-hop dance will be taught. NOTE: Only jazz/soft-soled shoes are allowed on Payne Center floors.

The Southern Misses dance team can be fun and rewarding, but requires a strong commitment and lots of dedication. A partial scholarship is given to every member upon the completion of team duties at the end of the spring semester. Please understand that the tryout is designed to choose the most talented and best representation for Southern Miss. The coach's decisions are final.

Some suggested technical skills to prepare for tryouts are: pirouette turns (double/triple), axles, fouette turns, jetes, switch leaps, straddle, etc. It will be required that many of the mentioned skills, in addition to others, be demonstrated left and right. Other skills to be judged will be physical fitness and crowd appeal/enthusiasm.