St. John's Dance Team 
AUDITIONS FOR THE 2006-2007 SEASON WILL BE HELD ON SUNDAY, APRIL 23rd FROM 10AM-6PM AT CARNESECCA ARENA. YOU MUST EMAIL THE COACH AT MCCARTOC@STJOHNS.EDU FOR AN AUDITION PACKAGE AND COMPLETE THE MEDICAL PAPERWORK TO BE ELIGIBLE TO AUDITION ON THIS DATE. IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THE DATE, YOU MAY AUDITION VIA VIDEO PER THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW. VIDEOS WILL BE DUE BY JUNE 1ST.
Storming Through Their Season
Just imagine you're in New York City at Madison Square Garden with 19,000 excited fans screaming for the Red Storm of St. John's University. The time-out buzzer sounds and your heart begins to race as you feel all eyes are on you and your team, dancing on center court. While this is just one of many basketball games for the Red Storm Dance Team, the thrill of dancing on the floor of the world's most famous arena never subsides.
The St. John's University Dance Team has been in existence for over 40 years, and is rich in tradition and pride. Every year 15 to 20 young ladies with diverse dance backgrounds, perform during time-outs and halftime of all home basketball and soccer games. In addition, the Dance Team has also made appearances at other sports events. While a major part of their season is spent supporting the varsity Red Storm sports, the Dance Team competes annually and is currently ranked 3rd in the country amongst division I squads.
Although there is no dance major at SJU, many girls on the team take advantage of the close proximity to Manhattan (located only 20 minutes from campus), and attend classes at famous Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway.
Members of the SJU Dance Team are superior ambassadors for the University and New York shown by evidence of their selflessness and contributions to their community. The team is actively involved in the Breast Cancer Walk, the Foundation for Fighting Blindness, and Special Olympics.
Commitment to the Program
Prospective team members must proiritize their class and work schedule before making the decision to audition for the team. In addition to a full class schedule, most of the dancers balance a part-time job and personal commitments, as well as their dance team responsibilities. Team members must be able to manage their time efficiently!
Dance Team Schedule
- Summer Practices: Held one week prior to camp (July/August)
- Summer Camp: Held during several days in August.
- School Year Practices: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday evenings from 6:30-9:30 p.m.
- School Year Work-outs: Once per week around your class schedule.
- Games: All members are required to be at all home games, and other selected Red Storm sporting events. Some games are held during Winter and Spring Break.
- Competitions: The UDA College Dance Team Championships are held the second weekend in January. All team members are considered for a spot on the competition team, after an audition within the squad. Nationals requires extra practice, time and perserverance. As a result, extra practices are scheduled in December and during winter break.
- Fundraising: Because of the excellent participation by all squad members, we are able to cover our travel, hotel, and meal expenses for Nationals. All team members must participate.
Dance Requirements
- Triple pirouette
- Split leap and switch leap
- Toe touch
- Splits
- Pique and chane turns
- High kicks
- Fouette turns
- C-Jump and axle
Judging Criteria 1. Presence and Showmanship.
2. Dance Technique
3. Rhythm, sharpness of moves, and fluidity of motion
4. Appearance: clean, collegiate look, "game ready" hair and make-up, crop top (sports bra is acceptable) with either shorts or dance pants, no jewelry, except post earrings. Body piercings should be removed and tattoo's covered.
5. Interview
Involvement in the SJU Dance Team makes each individual a highly visible St. John's representative. We are seeking talented young ladies, who are in healthy physical condition, have a great amount of enthusiasm, dedication, and a love for the RED STORM!
Video Tape Audition
*Does not have to be your own choreography; can be a team routine.
Only one person in each video, and please write your name on the outside of the tape.
Make sure video is clear and close enough to see facial expressions.
Dance routine should be from 1 minute to 2 minutes in length, and must be to music.
Please have hair up in a ponytail or bun. Please wear fitted clothes or shorts, as it is difficult to judge movement, motions, and technique, if we can.t see your legs, arms, or torso move!
Make sure you send the application form with your video entry. Email the coach at mccartoc@stjohns.edu to receive the audition packet.
Video Tape Elements:
At the beginning of your video, please introduce yourself, state your high school, hometown, GPA, and any awards received for academics or dance, and if you've ever competed with your high school team or studio.
Video should display your jazz and hip-hop abilities as well as sharp pom motions.
Mandatory technical elements: triple pirouette, high kicks, split leap, split, pique and chane turns, and a toe touch.
Bonus technical elements: Switch leap, side leap, fouette turns, triple turn, pike jump, tilted toe touch and switch open.
Any technical elements not executed in the dance routine, should be demonstrated separately after the routine.
Scholarships and Benefits Of Being a SJU Dance Team Member
St. John's University has an excellent academic reputation, as well as high profile and competitive athletic teams. The Red Storm Dance Team is highly visible throughout the New York community. They have made appearances on the Fox Network's "Good Day New York", and Channel 11's morning news.
Being a dance team member at St. John's University offers many advantages:
- Partial scholarships awarded to second, third, and fourth year members:
- Division 1 Nationally ranked dance team
- Division 1 Athletic Program - Big East Conference
- Dance at Madison Square Garden, Alumni Hall and Belson Stadium
- Television coverage of Men's Basketball games on CBS, ESPN, ESPN2, & MSG
- Athletic gear supplied by NIKE
Competition Stats:
2004-05: Finished 3rd at UDA Nationals - Division I
2003-04: Finished 9th at UDA Nationals - Division I
2002-03: Finished 13th at UDA Nationals - Division I
Meet the Coaches
The dance team is under the guidance of head coach Christine McCarton and assistant coach Nicole Daversa.
2005-06 St. John's Red Storm Dance Team Roster
| Name | Class | Yrs | Major | Hometown/High School |
| Ada Agbor | So | 2 | Pre-Med | Houston, Tex./Lutheran South Academy |
| Kellie Baldyga (Captain) | Sr | 4 | Communications | Shelton, Conn./Shelton |
| Mallory Ball | Fr | 1 | Education | East Hanover, N.J./East Hanover |
| Laura Borrego | Fr | 1 | Biology | Miami, Fla./Msgr Edward Pace |
| Justine Bruno | Fr | 1 | Undeclared | Howard Beach, N.Y./Archbishop Molloy |
| Gabriella Cassidy | Jr | 1 | Finance | Brooklyn, N.Y./Fontbonne Hall Academy |
| Jami Coumoutsos | So | 2 | Undecided | Whitestone, N.Y./St. Francis Prep |
| Melissa Geidel | Jr | 1 | Bus. Management | College Point, N.Y./St. Francis Prep |
| Brittany Hawkrigg | Fr | 1 | Criminal Justice | Bohemia, N.Y./St. John The Baptist |
| Tiffany Laterza | Fr | 1 | Film and Television | Frankfort, N.Y./Frankfort Schuyler |
| Christy Loeb (Captain) | Sr | 4 | Education | College Point, N.Y./ St. Francis Prep |
| Jennifer Moran | Sr | 4 | Education | Hicksville, N.Y./Hicksville |
| Jessica Peters | So | 2 | Journalism | Sayville, N.Y./Sayville |
| Tiffany Povinelli | Sr | 4 | Speech Pathology | Roslyn, N.Y./Herricks |
| Lindsay Ray | So | 2 | Undecided | Levittown, N.Y./Island Trees |
| Stephanie Rizzo | Jr | 3 | Communications | Whitestone, N.Y/. St. Francis Prep |
| Tracie Szatkowski | So | 2 | Sports Management | Perth Amboy, N.J./South Amboy |
| Lauren Vatier | Fr | 1 | Criminal Justice | West Springfield, Mass./Westfield |
| Sarah Vitaliano | Sr | 4 | Business Mang. | Whitestone, N.Y./St. Francis Prep |
| Erica Vozzo (Captain) | Jr | 2 | Accounting | Staten Island, N.Y./Moor Catholic |
Contact the Coach or Team
If you have questions regarding an audition, are interested in having the dance team make an appearance at your event, judge your school's auditions, make a donation to our program, or would like to pass on some kind words to dance team members, you can contact Coach McCarton and the dance team at (718) 990-2306, via e-mail at mccartoc@stjohns.edu, or at
St. John's University Dance Team
8000 Utopia Parkway - Carnesecca Arena
Queens, NY 11439
Attn.: Coach Christine McCarton
History
The St. John's University Dance Team has been entertaining crowds for over 40 years. Their continued success has earned them regional and national recognition. In 1967, the Coordinettes were hired by the New York Jets as the sideline cheerleaders when the Jets played in Shea Stadium. The current Dance Team has made appearances on TV, profiled in magazines and several websites.
The team has had several different names over the years. They began as the "Co-ordinettes", then were transformed into the SJU Kickline. Finally, in 1992, they became what is known today as the Red Storm Dance Team.
Alumni
We are looking for Coordinette, Kickline, and Dance Team alumni! If you have any details of the address, phone number, or e-mail address of fellow alumni, please call or e-mail the Coach McCarton at mccartoc@stjohns.edu.
