Now, with Royer, the CDT looks to take the next step.

“Having Shaun around is great because he works so well with us,” says Natasha Kennedy-Paesler ’04. “We definitely try our hardest in practice because he drives so far to be with us twice a week.”

A resident of Stockbridge, Mass., Royer makes the two-and-a-half hour commute into Cambridge just to work with the team for three hours twice a week. Then, Royer hops in his car and drives two-and-a-half hours back, sometimes arriving home as late as 1 a.m.

When asked why he spends ten hours a week in his car just for the dance team, Royer laughs and shrugs it off as part of the job.

“I just love these girls,” Royer said. “I love their energy and their commitment and I really just enjoy teaching dance at the college level.”

Bring It On … to Another Level

This year has already proved to be quite an interesting one for the CDT. After successful practices in the fall, the team shot a video of a dance routine to send to the National Dance Alliance (NDA).

Last year, after the NDA reviewed its video, the team earned a paid bid to the Collegiate Championships, thereby saving the cash-strapped student group at least $3,000.

This year, however, the tape inexplicably didn’t make it to the NDA in its original form. For some reason, most likely related to mail disturbances after the tragic events of September 11, the CDT video arrived damaged and therefore impossible to evaluate.

Despite pleas from the captains, NDA director Bill Boggs informed the team in December that it would not receive a paid bid and would have to fund its own trip to Daytona Beach this April.

“At first, the team was disappointed,” Panlilio said. “But then we talked it over and everyone took it positively.”

The financial setback has motivated the CDT to work even harder to raise money and to perfect its routine in time for the tournament after spring break.

One fundraising event the team devised is this weekend’s dance clinic in Rieman Hall. On Sunday, from 1 to 3 p.m., Royer will teach a hip-hop class to any undergraduates who make donations directly to team members.

Horii expects the turnout will be sizable since the minimum donation is only five dollars for the opportunity to learn from a professional choreographer.

In addition to Royer’s clinic, the team also plans to take other steps to increase its chances for success in April. According to Kennedy-Paesler, who will be the other co-captain next year, the CDT will go dry for the entire month leading up to the national tournament, beginning this weekend.