We are excited that you are interested in the Clemson Rally Cats Dance Team. The Rally Cats are the official dance team of Clemson Athletics. They perform at home football games, varying soccer games and basketball games. They also compete nationally each year at the NDA National Championships. They represent CU in various capacities and due to this they must be highly skilled and technical dancers, as well as well-rounded students.
The college experience is an exciting time and there is a lot of factors that go into this decision. The Coaching Staff is thrilled you consider CU in this decision-making process and look forward to watching you dance and learning more about you.
RECRUITING APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
1. All interested applicants must complete recruiting application below. Please read this whole section in its entirety before you complete the application. You will need the following information: GPA and class ranking information, current coach/dance teacher contact information, as well as completed your video and links ready to submit.
- Recruiting portal is continuously open for all High School Sophomores, Juniors, and Seniors to submit their information to be entered into our database. Only those dancers who are serious about attending Clemson University need to complete the application process.
- All transfer students/current CU students interested in applying to be recruited need to complete the application process as well.
- Once application is received, the Rally Cat Coaching Staff will review all items. If your application meets the requirements/needs of the upcoming season's open positions the Coaching Staff will contact you.
- The recruiting cycle for upcoming seasons are as follows:
2025-2026 Season closes on February 15, 2025.
Any applications submitted AFTER deadlines above will roll into the following season considerations.
- All open positions will be offered to the recruits selected no later than March 15, 2025. Positions can be offered at any time for future positions. It is suggested to submit into the portal or attend recruiting clinics prior to this time as decisions are also made on a rolling basis.
2. All applicants must complete the following video submission requirements to start their recruitment consideration.
- Introduction: Name, Hometown, Why you want to attend Clemson, intended major, etc. This should be no more than 2 minutes.
- Technique Video Skills: Both Right & Left Sides required / Video has to be filmed consecutively - No cutting or editing the footage is allowed. You can perform at least 3-4 skills in any given video take, and then you can edit them together with other skills. We just do not allow you to perform each individual skill and edit that together. Multiple skills in one filming is required. You are welcome to perform a skill twice if you need to do a retake. PLEASE do not attempt any trick or acrobatic skill that you are not proficient in performing. It is suggested that you film in the order listed below.
* Flexibility Skills - Splits: R/L/Center, leg holds: R/L both front and side.
* Pirouettes - Triple and Quad+
* Battement Pirouettes/Kick Turns
* Turns - a la Seconde/fouette Combination - to include changing spots and at least a triple pirouette in the combination. You need to do do this to a quick tempo - try to use a song that is at least 135-140 bpm.
* Leaps - Grand Jete, Second/Center Leap, Calypso, Switch Leaps: switch split leap, switch tilts, switch second, turning switch leap, firebird leap/jump.
Double toe-touch
* Tricks: Kip Up, Head-Spring, Aerials (R/L/Front), Rubberband,
* Optional Acro/Gymnastic Tricks or any leaps/jumps not listed above that you can do.
- Dance Showcase: This portion can be anything you film showing you dancing. Jazz/Contemporary/Pom/Hip Hop genres are preferred. This is a time that you can share solos, improv, etc. This portion can have multiple edits to include various performances.
Video Submission FAQs: Videos do not need to be professionally edited. They just need to be able to be viewed and all skills performed in adequate/appropriate space. Make sure that you have them uploaded to YOUTUBE and submit the link(s) in the space below. They will not be accepted in any other format! If you send them to us in a google drive, Vimeo, etc. we will not reveiw them and your application will be discarded. Your video will need to be "unlisted" in order for it to be viewed, but please do not have it set to "private" as we will not be able to view it. We suggest unlisted so that it isn't left open to be commented on or viewed by anyone that you don't want to. Any videos that we cannot open/view will not be counted towards your application.
3. Once all applications and videos are submitted, you will receive a confirmation that they have been received and are being reviewed once the season submission timeline is closed.
4. Next Steps: Keep working on skills! Your advancement doesn't stop when you send in your first set of videos. You are able to resubmit updated videos at anytime! Simply resubmit them via the form below.
We look forward to reviewing your application!