Florida State University’s (FSU) Golden Girls & Company Dance team are one of the university’s offical dance teams, dazzling audiences at various sporting events and competing in numerous championships. With new head coach Nyah Gonzalez and 22 team members, the program is prepared for their upcoming season.
The Golden Girls dance on the sidelines at football games, sporting their iconic garnet and gold sparkling uniforms. They dance in one end zone, a few yards away from the cheerleaders.
“We are a D1 dance team who perform at football games, basketball games, volleyball games, soccer games and any other performances that FSU requests us for,” senior team member Charlei Warren said. “And then we are also lucky enough to attend our national competition in Orlando in January every year.”
At this competition, the Golden Girls compete in jazz and hip-hop. Just last year, the FSU team placed in the top five in jazz, which was a huge milestone for the program.
“Travelling to nationals is one of the most fun experiences out there,” Warren said. “Throughout the month of December, when everybody goes home for Christmas break, we stay here in Tallahassee and we train, and we really perfect our hip hop and jazz routines.”
The ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex is held in Orlando, Fla. Major teams compete here every year, including Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota, two schools that have gained major attention from fans for their past routines.
“When you get there, you kind of see all your homework pay off,” Warren said. “The competition is some of the best competitions I’ll ever get to witness and compete against, and it’s a great challenge.”
Before the Golden Girls begin preparing for nationals, they prepare for the fall season. They’re rehearsing their sideline routine, band dances and pre-game appearance. With 10 band dances and 10 pregames, the ’Noles dance team faces a full slate.
The dancers have countless workouts, physical trainings and practice routines throughout the week to prepare for the season. The team also works with sports psychologists once a week to stay mentally strong alongside their physical strength as the season and school year begin.
The hard work these girls put in does not go unrewarded, as they experience every Garnet and Gold sporting event with front-row seats.
“I think the team played super well, and it was also just an exciting game to dance at,” Warren said when asked about the recent Florida State win. “I literally can specifically remember every time we had a third down, my ears were ringing because of how loud everyone was cheering.”
At every game, the Golden Girls are forming lasting memories, rooting for Seminoles players while also hyping up the crowd.
The Golden Girls do not go unnoticed. They have gained many fans on campus over the years, and some students go to the games hoping to catch a glimpse of the dancers on the sidelines representing FSU.
Warren has had the opportunity to experience the Golden Girls for her four years of college, and although this is the last, she said she is leaving with plenty of happy memories.
“It was our senior game, and that was the last time we rushed the field,” Warren said. “Having that feeling as a freshman and then having that undefeated season as a sophomore, I felt like this weekend when we beat Alabama, we were back to those last two years.”
The Golden Girls stick with the team through thick and thin, cheering them on despite the score. They can be found at all kinds of varsity sporting events and can be seen on TV when nationals roll around. Keep an eye out for these incredible dancers next time you’re at an event rooting for the Garnet and Gold.
Caitlin Doherty is a Staff Writer for the FSView & Florida Flambeau, the student-run, independent online news service for the FSU community. Email our staff at contact@fsview.com.
This article originally appeared on FSU News: Inside FSU’s dance team: the Golden Girls
Reporting by Caitlin Doherty, Staff Writer / FSU News
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