By Caroline Carter
Staff Writer
After leading the Lariettes as captain during her senior year, Kaitlin Clancy will continue her dancing at the collegiate level. After a rigorous audition process, Clancy was chosen out of 22 girls to be a part of the Jays Dancers at Creighton University, the college’s official dance team.
A dancer since the age of 3, Clancy has always had a passion for performing. While on the Lariettes, Clancy has gained numerous awards for her dancing including a two time senior solo finalist for regional dance competitions.
“Kaitlin is very compassionate which made her an excellent captain this year,” Lariettes director Julie Stralow said. “She has a warm, quiet spirit that makes a lot of girls comfortable with her. She is not intimidating or overpowering and is really patient with everyone. I’ll miss her and the rest of the seniors dedication and strong commitment that they had next year.”
Beginning at the Melva Smith School of Dance studio in Coppell and then moving onto the varsity drill team, Clancy has been dancing for the majority of her life. With dance being such a huge part in her life, Clancy knew she could not leave that even when she left for college.
“Since Lariettes was ending, I didn’t originally think I was going to pursue dance in college,” Clancy said. “But then when it all started to end, I got really sad because it was all over. I wanted to continue dance in college because it would be kind of a comfort zone for me since I am going somewhere so far and won’t know a single soul. It is a good way for me to have a group of girls on campus and also have something that I love to do”
The two day long audition in Omaha, NE was a time consuming and extensive process. From preparing a solo to performing various technical skills in front of five judges, the audition process tested every aspect of a dancer. The audition requirements involved many advanced level tricks that required flexibility and endurance.
“College pom squads are usually smaller and they are focused more on the high-energy dance styles,” Stralow said. “They are primarily performing at football and basketball games. If you are majoring in dance, you are usually doing it for more theatre and concert work, which is ballet and modern dance based. Very rarely are you doing both because they are both so demanding.”
Though it was a nerve-wracking process, the audition process ended on a high note for Clancy, as she says that the overall experience was enjoyable.
“The environment was very laid back and relaxed,” Clancy said. “It was somewhat intimidating because a lot of [the dancers] were returning members so they already all knew each other. It was good to see that there were lots of nice people, and I could tell that I was going to have a welcoming group of girls with me on the team.”
Although making the dance team at Creighton was a huge accomplishment, dance was not the driving factor in Clancy’s college decision. With the hopes of one day attending the medical school at Creighton and also stay grounded in her faith, Clancy knew Creighton University was the perfect fit for her.
“I decided to [attend] because it was a Jesuit school and I wanted to go somewhere with a strong Catholic identity, so I would be able to stay involved in my faith throughout college,” Clancy said. “[Creighton] has a strong medical school, so I am planning on attending that after I get my undergrad. The overall environment in Omaha is so nice, and it really is the place for me.”
With her senior year coming to a close, Clancy is looking forward to experiencing college, but says that leaving her friends and family will be sad.
“It’s definitely bittersweet,” Clancy said. “The saddest part is probably leaving Lariettes because it has been such a big part of my life for the past three years. I am looking forward to college because it will be an adventure, and I’m proud of myself for being independent and going off on my own.”
Friend and fellow Lariette, senior Jenny Katlein, says that all members of the team are going to greatly miss her leadership. Katlein, who will be attending Southern Methodist University to major in dance in the fall, knows the difficulties that come with being a dancer in college but believes Clancy has the ability to balance that aspect of her life.
“Kaitlin is one of the best friends I have and is a beautiful dancer,” Katlein said. “I am very excited for her. Auditions for any dance program at college is probably one the nerve-wracking experiences, since you don’t know what you are getting in to. It is difficult to balance both school and dance, but I know that Kaitlin will be able to do it.
Though Omaha will be an adjustment for Clancy, having a close group of girls on the dance team will make the transition easier, she says.
“I’m nervous, like any senior, for what college will be like,” Clancy said. “Making the dance team is going to make the process a lot easier. I will miss all of my friends that, but I know that it will be a good change.”
