The Marist Dance Team from Marist College (the “Red Foxes”) in Poughkeepsie, New York 
is focused on promoting spirit at Marist College. The team actively participates in the Marist community, dancing at all football and basketball home games. They perform during halftime and time outs of each game, as well as engage in Marist spirit traditions along the sidelines, such as the fight song and band accompaniment.
The Dance Team travels with the men’s and women’s basketball teams to the MAAC tournament at the end of each season in March. The team also supports the Red Foxes at the NCAA tournament if either the men’s or women’s basketball teams earn a bid. Members of the Dance Team have accompanied the women’s basketball team to the NCAA Tournaments in California, Ohio, Louisiana, North Carolina, Florida, Maryland and Iowa. Marist Dance Team attends National Dance Association, which have their championships are in April in Daytona Beach Florida and NDA camp in July at Boston University. The team has captured numerous awards over the years including trophies for high scores based on individual performances, as well as a recent trophy for the Most Improved Program. In addition to attending home games, the Dance Team competes at various local competitions each winter. Last year they won first place in Team Dance for Division I.
Laurie Matthews, the Head Dance Team Coach of Marist College Dance Team describes the dance team as a group of talented, creative and hard-working dancers who support the athletic teams. They also participate in national competitions and are very active in the college community as dancers, students of the campus, and citizens of the world. The Marist College Dance Team is a club sport program but the team works as hard as athletes, if not harder. For example, the choreography sessions for nationals last twelve hours in a single day.
In Laurie’s opinion, the Marist College Dance Team is unique when compared to other dance programs in many ways. They operate on a very limited budget and have to rely on fundraising efforts to attend competitions. Laurie would put the dedication of the members of the dance team against any sport program at Marist. She says, “They are able to do much with so little. They are eager to give of themselves in all capacities from giving a gift basket to a children’s home, perform at faculty functions, help a fellow dancer with studies or personal struggles, chair relay for life, hold a special Olympics event, and more. They do not get any special perks for their involvement. They love to dance and they love Marist College.”
Laurie’s proudest moment while being a part of this dance program occurred this past season when they made finals for the first time at the National Dance Association Collegiate Championships in Daytona. Watching the sheer joy on the faces of these young women who had given their all and hearing them say, “it doesn’t matter if they win, getting to the finals for us is winning” are shining moments for Laurie. She says that they didn’t compare but they did contemplate the meaning of what it means to do your best.
This year the age range of the team was from 18 to 23. Each age and each year on the team brings with it a distinct level of commitment and motivation. Laurie says that, as a coach, it is a challenge to find a way to reach all of the team members individually and yet as a whole. This senior class marks the last of the dancers that were on the team prior to having a coach. Formerly they were a student-led organization. According to Laurie, it has been difficult setting up the organization and learning which battles to fight as dancers formerly in leadership roles now had to work within the confines of rules, regulations and athletic department protocol. They have endured, though not without their growing pangs. Laurie believes that the one thing that the seniors tend to know that the younger dancers still have not learned is that not everyone on team has to be friends, civility and teamwork, yes, but it is okay to have other interests and not be best friends with a teammate. The younger dancers are still finding their way at the college and forming friendships. They also have to learn that being better doesn’t mean someone else has must be inferior. It is only through lifting up the skills of another dancer that the team succeeds. For many of these young women, learning to adjust to studio closings, time changes, and meeting the expectations of a Division 1 athletic department, which operates under National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules, is very different than their studios. Giving control to a coach is very different than following a dance instructor.
Laurie’s, and the team’s, goals for the team are many. Firstly, it will be a rebuilding year. Three of their veteran dancers will be abroad during the fall semester in Australia, Ireland, and Manhattan, New York. Their absence makes early nationals choreography difficult. It also leaves the team somewhat disconnected. Many schools do not allow their dancers to go abroad. Laurie’s philosophy, and that of Marist, is that they are students first. Marist prides itself on their international programs. Therefore, they accommodate their students as much as possible and will save a spot for them. In an effort to boost numbers, Laurie has considered having alternates that will work with the team and improve upon skills. If need be, these alternates can take the place of absent or injured dancers. As a coach, she would like to work towards holding a dance competition to raise large funds instead of many small fundraising activities. Time constraints and competition for funds with other clubs is fierce; therefore, channeling their efforts into one large event would make better use of their time and energy.
The team would like to improve upon their finish at nationals both in contemporary and hip hop categories. They also want to increase the level of difficulty in their dance skills, improve technique, and add in more challenging lifts and gymnastic skills. In addition, the team is looking to add more fitness training to their dance regimen to improve their skill level. On a different note, the team wants to adopt a cause. As coach, Laurie feels it is very important that the team learns to give back. Most of 
the team members come from very supportive, economically advantaged homes. As a team, they are exploring causes such as the Wounded Warrior Program or Special Olympics. They are also considering visiting area nursing homes and hospitals to perform and to spend a little time reading or chatting with seniors and or sick children. Additional wish list items would be to increase funding for their program, have additional space for an office for the coach and storage for their uniforms, plus more time in the dance studio, which is shared by numerous programs at school.
This year they went through four captains. Some of the team members adapted better than others. Each girl was asked for thoughts in writing for the new season, and also whom they feel would best serve as captain. After reading their suggestions, Laurie realized how much the choosing of a captain tends to be a popularity contest. As a result, to make a decision, she focused on the place that most of the members wanted the team to go and which team leaders Laurie felt could take them there. Ultimately, it is the coach’s decision but the decision includes feedback from the entire team. In Laurie’s experience as a collegiate gymnast, they were never consulted about their opinion concerning such things, but the feedback from the team was helpful as it gave her insight into the motivations of each dancer. In the end, it is not about Laurie or the captains or even the individual but about the growth of the program itself. Team is about an ideal and the working together to meet goals and grow as people.
Laurie is a former college gymnast, track and field athlete and modern dancer and has been involved in cheerleading as a participant on high school, college and pro level as well as a dance performer in college musicals, and commercials. She has coached gymnastics, swimming, diving, track & field, cheerleading and soccer. She also taught ballet, jazz and tap to both adults and children. Currently, she works as an adjunct instructor for Marist College teaching intermediate yoga, a physical education class, and has worked with the Marist College Football team for the past three seasons as a performance trainer, teaching yoga, Pilates and balance training, as well as working privately as a personal trainer. She graduated from California State University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Health and Physical Education. Last December, she received her Masters of Science degree in Sports Management and Administration from Liberty University. As a mother of five sons, Laurie is used to working with the male gender. As the dance coach, she says it has been her pleasure to work with the Marist College Dance Team where she gets the opportunity to have twenty “daughters.” Laurie believes it has been her pleasure to work with these special young women and help develop them as dancers and leaders.
If you would like more information about the Marist College Dance Team, visit their website at www.goredfoxes.com, call them at (845) 575-3000 or email them at MaristCollegeDanceTeam@yahoo.com. You can also like them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, connect with them on Instagram and watch them on YouTube.
Please post a comment if you have had any experience with Laurie Matthews of Marist College Dance Team.
Written By Cyndi Marziani
Owner
BDancewear.com
