The Hofstra University dance team has won the United Dance Association national championships seven times in past years. // Photo courtesy of the Hofstra Dance Team

Hofstra’s nationally and world ranked dance team has asked the University to allow them to practice in person, following COVID-19 safety guidelines, since the beginning of the fall semester. However, upon receiving vague responses from the school, the team decided to take matters into their own hands by releasing a petition calling for in-person practices and the ability to compete in the United Dance Association (UDA) 2021 national championships.

“We were just trying to find ways to progress and [the University] kept telling us that the lines were blurred,” said Gianna Cohan, a junior marketing major and captain of the Hofstra dance team. “So, we had to take it upon us, as a team.”

The petition, created by Cory Holm, a Hofstra graduate and former member of the dance team, has received over 2,000 signatures with immense support from the Hofstra community. The team has been entirely virtual since the closing of the school in March 2020 and the biggest struggle the dancers have faced is the availability of space to practice.

“Space is a huge issue,” said Amy Oliver, a senior political science and sociology major and member of the Hofstra dance team. “Most team members are practicing in their dorm rooms or common rooms.”

Bella LoBue, a freshman communications major, has been on the dance team for 11 months and has yet to meet in person with the entire team. “It’s always been a dream of mine to dance with these immeasurable, talented athletes that this team breeds,” she said. “Being that it’s my first year and it’s resulted in being stuck behind a Zoom screen has been really disappointing.”

In a typical season, the team practices four times a week in addition to team workouts. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the team has retained their usual practice schedule, but the entirety of it has been virtual.

However, the petition did catch the University’s eye and they have told the dance team they are allowed to compete in the UDA championship virtually, and they can utilize the new space allocations announced by the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement.

Despite these accommodations, the dance team remains frustrated. They were not given permission from the University until less than a month before their virtual submission was due, giving them limited time to prepare for a competition that they would normally spend months working toward. Additionally, the spaces they are allowed to practice in are less than ideal.

“I just don’t see it being feasible with what they’re giving us,” Cohan said. The dance team consists of about 20 members, making it difficult to find a space that is large enough and dance-friendly. They will also not be allowed to meet in person as often as they need to adequately prepare for the competition.

“Even though it is a change, and it is [a] help,” LoBue said. “It still doesn’t cut it for what it entails to be on a collegiate dance team.”

This fight for in-person practices has been particularly frustrating for the team, considering that other sports teams on campus have been allowed to meet in person throughout the past year. But since the dance team is classified as a spirit support group instead of a sports team, it has not been granted the same accommodations.

“The dance team is not … recognized by the NCAA as a Division 1 sport at Hofstra,” a statement from the University said. “It is governed by the same rules as every student club and organization, including the other spirit support groups and club sports.”

Oliver expressed frustration over the fact that Hofstra athletics and dance majors have been allowed to meet in person with certain regulations. “It just shows what Hofstra prioritizes,” she said.

“We do bring in just as much worth as the athletic teams,” Cohan said. “So, it’s very disheartening that they chose their athletic teams over us instead of in unity with us.”

“Unfortunately, it’s not a surprise to any of us, especially the alumni,” Holm said, stating that the dance team has experienced this lack of support since she was on the team in 2013.

However, the Hofstra dance team will continue to work toward their national championship and future endeavors despite these challenges. “Nothing stands in the way of this team’s work ethic and positive attitude,” LoBue said.

The petition remains active as the Hofstra dance team pleads for the University to fulfill all their requests to allow them to perform at the world-ranking level they once were.