Events

The SMC College Dance Clinic is open to all high school dancers who want to gain experience and confidence in preparation for college dance team tryouts/auditions. If you are a senior interested in being considered for the SMC Ladybirds 2023-24 Dance Team, this is the best way to audition for the team!

Participants will learn three dance routines (pom, jazz, and hip-hop styles) in addition to a sideline routine and other skills. Dancers will be able to showcase their technical skills and perform each routine learned. The clinic will be led by Coach Laura Odenwald and special guest, Sammy Mathews, a current NFL cheerleader and cheer captain for the Indianapolis Colts! (See her full bio below). Tips on how to stand out during auditions, what to expect on a college dance team, and continuing dance after college will be shared as well.

Sunday, March 5, 2023
9 a.m.-3 p.m.
1st Source Bank Fieldhouse, Dowagiac Campus (check-in located in the lobby of the Student Activity Center)

Please bring a bag lunch, water bottle, jazz shoes, and cheer shoes/sneakers with you. Please wear dance/workout attire with hair styled up.

Sammy Mathews
Sammy Mathews is a 6-time NFL cheerleader, 2-time NFL cheer captain, and 2023 Pro Bowl cheerleader for the Indianapolis Colts. She started dancing at the age of three in Dowagiac, Mich., where she took classes and danced competitively until she graduated high school. She went on to continue taking recreational dance classes at Southwestern Michigan College and then transferred to Western Michigan University, where she was a member of their dance team. Currently, she is working for Salesforce as an account executive for their marketing cloud platform and lives in Indianapolis, Ind., but will soon be moving to Atlanta, Ga.

Tentative Clinic Agenda
9-9:30 a.m. Check-In
9:30-10 a.m. Introductions
10-10:30 a.m. Warm Up and Stretch
10:30-11:30 a.m. Learn and Perform Jazz Routine
11:30-12:30 p.m. Learn and Perform Pom Routine
12:30-1 p.m. Lunch Break (includes dance team discussion and Q+A)
1-2 p.m. Learn and Perform Hip Hop Routine
2-2:30 p.m. Learn and Perform the Sideline Routine
2:30-3 p.m. Technique, Skills, and Improv Showcase
3 p.m. Closing and Giveaways
3:15 p.m. Optional SMC Campus Tour (parents are invited to attend this portion of this event)

For any questions regarding the event, please contact Coach Odenwald at danceteam@swmich.edu.