All That Glitters is Gold

by Deandra De Napoli featured in The Odyssey at LSU

Deandra is a senior studying mass communication with a concentration in public reltions.
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Commanding the field with the Tiger Band at LSU for the first time in 1959, the prestigious LSU Golden Girls represent the oldest and most established danceline on the LSU campus. The line consists 18 very talented dancers chosen each spring by a special audition. Baton Rouge native and member of Pi Beta Phi, Tess Guidry, said she has been a dancer since the age of four and had always been a tiger fan. Both of my parents went to LSU and my dad played quarterback on the football team. Golden Girls was the perfect way to incorporate two things that I love, said Guidry.

In total, the Golden Girls spend about 40 hours a week either practicing or participating in campus-related events. They practice every day except for Sunday and have However, it wasnt easy two-a-day practices on Tuesday. Anywhere the band for Tess to earn the presgoes, those girls of glittering gold are sure to follow. tigious title as a Golden Girl. I auditioned and didnt make it, said Guidry. The Golden Girls perform for all home LSU football games, selected campus events, community outreach, and away games Thankfully however, she (including bowl games) with the full Tiger Band. Additionally, was not discouraged by this they have made appearances at community events including set back and tried again the the Bella Bowman Foundation, ARC Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis next year. Tess said the best Foundation and the ALS Foundation. In 2011, the Golden Girls part about being a Golden were invited by the Hong Kong tourism board to perform for the Girl was working with other Chinese New Year Parade and Festival and are traveling to Dubgirls who were just as paslin, Ireland this St. Patricks Day to perform at the Dublin parade. sionate and dedicated as she was to the University. We take tremendous pride in representing our school wherever we go and performing for the LSU community. And of course, dancing on the field at a Saturday night football game in Baton Rouge is an exhilaFour-year Golden Girl, Allison Stewart, said that the team has been her saving grace. Im from Dallas, Texas, and I came here not knowing anyone. Freshman year my mom died from breast cancer and all I had were my friends on the team. Each year new girls audition and I get to become closer with different people. The Golden Girls are my family, my support system, my everything in Baton Rouge. I would truly be lost without them, said Stewart. According to Guidry, about 60-100 girls audition every year. It is very nerve-racking, but a lot of fun! Everyone is just as excited as you so you can feel the energy all day, said Guidry. Tess added, The team consist of 18 girls, but the captain and co-captain do not have to re-audition. So 16 girls are selected on audition day. Tryouts this year will be held on April 5. Registration will begin at 8 a.m. in the Tiger Band Hall. Each girl will perform a one-minute, 30-second jazz dance solo. After their solo performances, the judges will pick the top 30 contestants who then learn a routine on the spot and must perform that routine for the judges in groups of two-six. From there, the team is selected. Membership is open to all students who are on campus, entering freshmen, or transfer students who have been accepted to LSU by the audition date. Students in college must have a 2.0 grade-point average in order to audition for the line and previous studio dance training is highly recommended.

March 2014