Hamline’s dance team is hard at work for preparing for their season.

The team is led by Coach Kara Eliason. Eliason revealed that this year’s team consists of a strong group of seniors who are great leaders for the team’s first-year dancers.

“We have a big group of experienced dancers and a big group of newer dancers. It’s been interesting to see that come together,” Eliason said. “I think that it’s wonderful that the new first-years can really learn from the leaders of the team and the leaders of the team can give something back.”

The Pipers dance team practices three times a week for a few hours each practice. They also train by going to the weight room twice a week to get toned.

During practice they learn new steps and routines. They start out by practicing as a whole group; Coach Eliason critiques them as they go. Later they split up in small groups to give each other constructive criticism to help each other improve.

Eliason pays close attention to detail to ensure every movement the dancers make is precise as can be. She keeps everyone on the same page by opening up things such as technique for questioning as practice moves along.

Senior captain Danielle Nelson said stretching is essential when it comes to dance and an important part of their training is building and maintaining muscle.

Senior captain Bre Thompson said some members of the team practice Yoga as well to help with strengthening their muscles and breathing.

Thompson expressed she’s excited that the team will be participating in nationals this year because ever since she was a first-year her goal on the team was to lead them to nationals.

Nelson is also looking forward to nationals as well as their competition at Mall of America because of the atmosphere and all of the people they will be performing in front of.

Nelson shared that some of the responsibilities of being a captain are helping with design of costumes, organizing fund raisers, making decisions about which routines will be performed, and overall managing.

Both Thompson and Nelson take their leadership role on the team seriously and want to lead by example by being role models to the other dancers on the team, especially the first-year dancers.

Their goal is to create a supportive environment for the team so they can help each other learn and grow as a team.

“We’re a good group of girls and we all get together and have a good time,” Thompson said.

Last year, the team came in fourth place in the D-III Jazz and won Best Choreography award at the Tommie Invitational. Eliason feels confident that the new squad will be successful this year as well.

The team’s first competition will be against St. Thomas on Dec. 9.

As for predictions, Eliason was cautious.

“It’s hard to predict what the other teams will do because we have…a competitive conference, several of the top teams in the nation,” she said.

She said the team works with a professional choreographer that creates innovative routines for the team.

“I think if they work hard they will do a great job,” Eliason said.