The Central Methodist University Dance Team has already been wowing fans on the sidelines at football games and during halftime performances, and as they gear up for competition season, they have a lot to be excited about.
The team recently took on its first-ever exclusive head dance coach, Brenda Parisi, who has significant dance experience from Lindenwood University in St. Charles, and Francis Howell Central High School in Cottleville.
Prior to Parisi coming aboard, the team was under the direction of head spirit squad coach Terin Fuemmeler, who heads the co-ed cheerleading team and mascots.
“Having a full-time dance coach will allow more focus on our dancers,” said Ken Oliver, vice president of institutional growth and student engagement. “Brenda’s experience and background in dance will allow us to take the next step in building a complete spirit squad for CMU.”
Spirit Squad refers collectively to the CMU cheerleaders, dance team, and Eagle mascots.
Last March, Central’s Dance Team made it to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) Competitive Cheer and Dance National Championships, where they placed in the top 10.
This academic year, the Dance Team has already been busy. They attended the National Dance Alliance (NDA) camp in August and placed third overall – only being beaten by NCAA Division 1 and 2 schools. They also received a paid bid to NDA College Nationals in Daytona Beach, Fla.
In the weeks to come, the Dance Team will be learning routine choreography, as they prepare for their first competition at the end of January.
The following CMU students are members of the 2017-’18 Dance Team:
Katherine Dempsey, a sophomore biology major from Columbia; Catie Dovin, a sophomore marine biology major from Jackson; Scarlett McMullen, a junior special education major from Palmyra; Savanna Nault, a senior mathematics major from High Ridge;
Megan Pennington, a freshman communication studies major from Kirksville; Madolyn Stodgel, a sophomore biology major from Boonville; and Heidi Treuner, a sophomore education and early childhood education double-major from Sedalia.
