Tarleton State University’s very own Texan Star Dance Team took first in the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championship (Nationals or High School Teams) on March 29 at the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas.

The team will compete at the National NDA contest for team dance and hip hop in Daytona Beach, Fla. on Wednesday, April 9 – 12.

Leticia Ryan-Carr, Director/Instructor Kinesiology Department and coach of the Texan Star Dance Team, gave some insight to what goes into a winning performance and what’s in store for the team in coming dates.

The team “competed in Division 2 team dance and Division 1/2  in hip hop,” according to Ryan-Carr, at the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championship at UNT’s campus.

The team starts training early in the season. Coach Ryan-Carr said, “We start when we hold tryouts. Returners, officers, assistant, and myself talk about goals for the next year. We go to a dance camp towards the end of July to obtain a bid to compete.”

The Texan Stars have been a part of Tarleton tradition since the spring of 1974. They are considered an athletic team and are held by the same standards and regulations as other recognized sports teams, according to their biography. Dance team members may also qualify and be awarded scholarships, and all Texan Stars receive two credit hours of physical education, which is transferable and applicable to most degree plans.

“I am extremely honored to be coaching this group of young ladies. We have a great deal of talent on the team,” said Ryan-Carr to the press after their 2012 victory in Denton at the American Dance/Drill Team Collegiate Championship. “As a coach, you want your team to strive for perfection and excel in every aspect of their lives. Even though we brought home a first place trophy, these girls are still striving to better themselves for the bigger picture, nationals.”

Aside from competing and winning the team is involved on campus in many ways. According to their biographical page on Tarleton’s website, the Texan Stars perform at halftimes of all Tarleton home football games, Traditions Rallys, “Midnight Madness”, pep rallies, and home basketballs games.