By JACKIE FROEBER
For The State News

The dancers who share their talents on the sidelines of MSU football and basketball games celebrated their own victory when they became one of the highest ranked dance teams in the nation - again.

The MSU Motion team placed third at the Universal Dance Association College Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Fla. earlier this month for the second year in a row.

“Within the last 10 years, we were the only school to place in the top three for two years in a row,” said Danielle Facione, team co-captain and a marketing senior. “It has never happened before, and we were so excited.”

The team had to go through a three-round process in order to place at the national competition, beginning in October, when it sent in a tape of a performance to qualify.

After qualifying, the team passed through the semi-finals and then went on to win third place out of 21 teams.

Orange Coast College and Indiana University took first and second places, respectively.

Co-captain Stacey Ostervik said team members decided to change their routine completely from the one that qualified them, which was an added challenge.

“You never know what to expect when you go to nationals,” the advertising senior said. “You just want to put your best on the floor.”

The team’s competitive dance routine included difficult turn sections, in which all 13 girls simultaneously display leg extensions while spinning.

“I think it was the energy and dedication to each other that ranked us in the top three,” Ostervik said. “You could see it when we took the floor. We were really feelin’ it.”

Their music was a mix with a little bit of everything.

“We had some Missy Elliot, Michael Jackson, techno and some Britney Spears’ ‘Slave,’” Facione said. “The judges commented on our confidence and energy, and you could tell that we just enjoy performing.”

Jeannine Sabo, territory manager for the Universal Dance Association in Michigan and one of the judges at the national tournament, said the team’s performance was well-deserving of the award.

“They were exceptional with their impeccable technique and gorgeous costumes,” Sabo said. “The choreography was in synch and definitely crowd appealing.”

But Facione said it takes a lot of time to coordinate the short routine. Beginning in November, the team practiced up to six hours a day everyday until the tournament.

“We only had four days off around Christmas, and two for New Year’s,” she said. “Other than that, we were on campus practicing.”

In addition to perfecting dance technique at IM-Sports East, the girls condition for an hour at each practice by running, doing aerobics, and stairs.

But training isn’t the only challenge.

The team is not funded by MSU, so the team does its own fundraising, choreography and costume design without the help of a coach or choreographer.

Proceeds from dance clinics for high school, middle school and elementary students help the team pay for the trip to nationals. Additional fundraising comes from team poster sales before every football and basketball game.

“Some universities spend up to $3,000 for choreographers, but we run our own team without a coach,” Facione said.

“We have a board of seven girls who make up the routines, but everyone gives their own creativity to the dance.”

The shiny pink outfits the team wore to nationals also were specially designed by the team members.

“Then we just took our drawings and ideas to a seamstress, and she did the rest,” Facione said.

While many universities’ dance teams prepare for nationals only, Motion comes up with different dances year-round to perform at basketball and football games.

“It’s a lot of work,” Ostervik said. “This year, we had seven new girls, which is more than half our team, but we respect each other.”

Placing in the top three at nationals for a second time was definitely worth the hard work if you ask the captains.

“This year we all just meshed well,” Facione said. “Thirteen girls together so much could be scary, but this year we all got along so great.

“It was a great way to end my last year. It makes me so proud.”

The team’s first third-place finish at last year’s national tournament will be shown at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 6 on ESPN. A television broadcast of the recent performance will be announced in the fall.