BYU Cougarettes leave the sidelines to showcase talents in annual concert

PROVO — The Brigham Young University Cougarettes are putting down their pom-pons and taking the stage for the annual "Cougarettes in Concert" performance Thursday through Saturday at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo.

The Cougarettes are most known for their sideline performances at BYU football and basketball games, dancing and high-kicking alongside the cheerleaders and mascot. But that only scratches the surface of what these dancers are capable of.

"They enjoy being part of our athletic experience and cheering and supporting our athletic teams, but truth be told, they are talented," Cougarette Artistic Director Jodi Maxfield said of the dancers. "It's great to have an opportunity to put on a concert where they can let their light shine and really demonstrate the years and years of training that they've put in to get themselves to a point where they can put on a show like this."

The 20-member precision dance team is trained in a broad range of dance styles, including jazz, ballet, lyrical and contemporary. In the dance world, their technical skills and abilities have made them famous. They've earned their accolades, as the team has won nine national dance titles in 13 years of competition. They are the current reigning champions in a category that's new to the Cougarettes: They took the competition by storm in 2011 and won the Hip Hop National Championship title at the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance competition.

The Cougarettes have not cultivated this level of excellence by accident. The dancers spend between 10 and 15 hours each week practicing, in addition to performing at games and making appearances at campus events. Hundreds of hours are spent preparing for the concert alone — all this on top of their school, work and family obligations. And while it's no easy task, it's an effort the dancers are proud to undertake.

"To be a Cougarette is not a simple thing; it does require a lot from them. But they don't complain, because they love what they do," said Maxfield, who has led the team for the past 21 years. "They wouldn't do it if it wasn't something that gave them great satisfaction and great personal pride. It's so fulfilling as a dancer to have a finished product be seen on stage and be recognized by an audience for your dedication and commitment to your art."

That's what the concert is all about: showcasing the abilities of these talented dancers. In addition to performances by the entire team, the concert features spotlight performances by small groups and soloists. The Cougarettes will also perform their 2011 competition numbers, including the team dance that won them second place at the NDA competition last April. The concert performance pieces cover a variety of genres and, in addition to student creations, feature dances from some of the nation's most renowned choreographers.

"We have some pretty high-profile choreographers who have won a lot of awards and come from all offer the country to work with us," Maxfield said, including Jaci Royal, Patrice Barakat Corral, Natalie Reid and Shandon Kolberg. "But our student choreography, I always say, is as good as or better than what our professionals teach us."

Such high-caliber performances keep groups and individuals coming back to the Cougarette concert year after year. It's a popular tradition among local dance teams, and Cougarette alumni often use the concert as an excuse to hold reunions.

"I hear from a lot of people that it's a tradition to come to the Cougarette concerts," Maxfield said. "We have drill team groups and dance company groups that come, and we've had the basketball wives come from time to time. It's a great mother-daughter date, family event or girl's night out."

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BYU Cougarettes stun competition, win national Hip Hop championship

The Brigham Young University Cougarettes have won their ninth national dance championship, but in a way that nobody saw coming: They took home the title of National Hip Hop Champions.

The concert is also a reason for out-of-state family members to come see their dancers perform. The family support is invaluable, as is the financial support gained from the concert: The Cougarettes use the event as an opportunity to fundraise, as individual costs for gear, competitions and some costumes can reach upwards of $1,000 a year.

From hip hop to jazz to contemporary to Broadway numbers, there's something for everyone at the concert, Maxfield says — even the men who attend are thoroughly entertained.

"The thing that I always find most gratifying is people who have never been to a Cougarette concert and have come for the first time and are blown away," she said. "All the numbers are short and entertaining with a lot of great costuming and music. People are so amazed, saying it's as good as any Broadway show that they've ever been to."

Lindsay Maxfield is a writer, the editor of the Happy Living feature section on ksl.com, and a writing coach for Deseret Connect.

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