Spirit Squad Spotlight: Dance Team Seniors
10/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Spirit Department
Nov. 12, 2014
The Michigan spirit squads are loaded with students who are committed to wearing the block M with pride. They represent the Wolverines on the sidelines at Michigan Stadium, courtside at Crisler Center, and in their own annual national competitions. They dedicate long hours at practice and are always there to support their fellow student-athletes.
Leading up to Senior Day on Nov. 22 when football hosts Maryland, MGoBlue.com will be profiling the seniors who selflessly perform for the Maize and Blue. In this series, you will meet the dedicated student-athletes who will graduate soon and go on to truly embody what it means to be the leaders and best.
Hometown: Pebble Beach, Calif.
Major: Business administration
Hobbies: Traveling, hiking/backpacking, running
What made you want to become part of the Michigan dance team?
I love performing and there's no bigger stage than the Big House. I also have been dancing my whole life and wanted to continue it in college if I was given the opportunity.
How did you first get involved with dance?
Apparently I was super shy when I was younger so my mom put me in dance with hopes that performing on a stage would help me become more outgoing. I would say it definitely worked!
What is your earliest memory of dance?
It was a show when I was five years old, and all we did was run around with scarves until the music stopped. I stepped on another girl's foot by accident and that caused a lot of crying.
Who is your role model?
My grandma, she's the most independent and driven person I know. She also is the one who really pushed my mom into signing me up for dance classes.
Who is in your Twitter avatar with you?
Kelsey Arnold -- my best friend and teammate!
What celebrity would you like to be Facebook friends with?
Will Ferrell, he's just absolutely hilarious.
What is one quirk people do not know about you?
I can't function without my planner, it's my lifesaver.
What is your dream job?
Being paid to travel the world and eat great food while meeting new people ... I wish.
Favorites
» Class: MO 315 because professor Cheri Alexander is the most inspirational and caring teacher you'll ever have.
» Study Spot: The Law Library, I need silence when I study and the actual building is beautiful.
» Book: East of Eden
» Food: Mangos, I just really love them.
» Song to Karaoke: Anything by Beyonce
» Athlete: Derrick Rose -- his recovery and talent have been fun to follow over the years.
» Musician: Coldplay, everyone loves Coldplay! Their music is perfect for any occasion from studying to hanging out.
» Place to Visit: Costa Rica because the people are so incredibly friendly and the geography is amazing as well.
Hometown: Brighton, Mich.
Major: Communication Studies with a music minor
Hobbies: Traveling, trying new foods, going to concerts
What made you want to become part of the Michigan dance team?
My older sister (Megan) was on the dance team for all four years of college and I knew how much she loved it. I also couldn't give up dance after high school, and being part of a team is something I cherish.
What is your earliest memory of dance?
A dance recital when I was about three or four years old. I'm not really sure what the song was, but maracas were involved.
What does the general public not understand about dance?
There is more than meets the eye. There's a lot of blood, sweat and tears that go into the preparation of a performance that appears effortless.
Who is your role model?
My sister, Dr. Megan Lawlor. She graduated from medical school and is now a resident physician in OB/GYN.
What is your hiddent talent?
I don't know if it is very "hidden," but my friends say I have a wide variety of voices and faces. Good for impersonations, I guess.
What is your dream job?
My dream job would be to travel the world and eat food while somehow getting paid for it.
What is one quirk people do not know about you?
One of my highest goals is to learn to play the harp.
What celebrity would you like to be Facebook friends with?
Chrissy Tiegen. We have a similar sense of humor (although I'll never be as funny as her), she's obsessed with food, married to John Legend -- who is also amazing -- and has an unbelievable fashion sense.
Favorites
» Class: I'm really enjoy my class on Buddhism in America right now, but my favorite class of the past is probably Comm 251: Media Industries.
» Study Spot: Anywhere with silence and coffee. I also have a secret spot in the Grad Library that I won't disclose.
» Book: The Compassionate Life by the Dalai Lama. It is short but is full of amazingly simple and beautiful life messages.
» Food: Anything wtih truffles/cooked with truffle oil. Because...flavor.
» Song to Karaoke: Anything by Drake. I think I can sound like him if I try ... I get made fun of for this belief.
» Athlete: Steve Yzerman
» TV Show: I don't really watch TV, but if I had to choose, probably Chopped. And especially Teen Chopped. I'm so impressed by those people.
» Place to Visit: Brussels, Belgium. It is my favorite place on Earth. I studied there and fell in love with it. The food, people, sights, weather, location, everything -- it is a perfect city.
Hometown: Waterford, Mich.
Major: Nursing
Hobbies: Drawing, painting, reading and watching movies.
What does the public not understand about dance?
I think one of the main parts about dance that people do not understand is the intensity of it. When we are performing at a game or competing, the point is to make our dancing look like it is easy. However, there are so many things that we have to think about when we dance -- our technique, our balance, our strength, our emotion, our formations, our synchronization, our movement quality, and many more. Even though we are not playing a game, we are still fighting to train and perform to the best of our ability while simultaneously entertaining the audience and bringing spirit to Michigan.
What is your earliest memory of dance?
My earliest memory is being in my first ballet class and learning the foot positions and basic steps. My teacher used the "12 Days of Christmas" tune with different words to help us remember because it was close to Christmas time!
What is your hiddent talent?
Doing makeup -- I am considered the makeup artist of our team.
What is your dream job?
My dream job is to become a nurse anesthetist. These are the nurses that put their patients to sleep before surgery. In the future, I plan to move forward and enter this career field.
What is one quirk people do not know about you?
I hate mixing sweet and salty foods.
Who is in your Twitter avatar with you?
My teammates Maycee and Maria.
Favorites
» Class: Right now in the nursing school, I am learning about psychiatric patients and OB (moms delivering babies). Those are probably my favorite subjects so far. It's fun to learn about the cute little babies.
» Building on Campus: My favorite building on campus is the law library. It is so beautiful and extravagant to sit in there while I study.
» Band: I would have to say the Goo Goo Dolls. I love all different types of music as well.
» Food: I love Japanese hibachi and making it a nice outing with my family.
» Book: My favorite book that I read recently is Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. It is a great suspense-filled mystery book.
» Athlete: Nastia Lukin
» Sport: Baseball and football
» Place to Visit: I love taking trips to New York City. Actually, I would love to live there in the future for a few years.
Previous Spotlights
• Oct. 22, 2014 (Kelsey Arnold, Kendal Zemmin)
