While attending a sporting event on the Sacramento State campus, not only will you see athletes challenging the opposing team, but you will also see young women performing, trying to get the crowd involved.

The Xtreme Dance Team performs at volleyball matches, football games and soon will be at basketball games.

But don?t get the dance team confused with the cheerleading team, which also attends Sac State sporting events.

According to the Xtreme Dance Team?s coordinator Monique Chilcutt, wife of former Sacramento King and NBA journeyman Pete Chilcutt, there are definite differences between the two performance teams.

“There is a huge difference. We do dance routines, they (cheerleaders) do cheer and stunts. We are more like a song leader. We cheer as well as dance,” Chilcutt said.

This season marks Chilcutt?s first year as coordinator of the dance team. But do not get this team confused with The Stinger Girlz. That was last year?s team. With Chilcutt?s arrival came a new name and a fresh start.

“It?s way more organized,” senior Lisa Silva said, referring to Chilcutt?s arrival. “Our team is bonded and it?s a lot of fun.”

Chilcutt, a graduate of Sac State in 1992, is a dancer herself. While at Sac State, she was involved in Dale Scholl?s dance company, Jazz Works, as well as the student company, Jazzy. Chilcutt was also a Kings dancer from 1990-93, as well as an instructor for United Spirit Association.

Since taking over the dance team, she has been trying to give the 13-member team a fresh start, including a new approach to performances.

“This is the first year where we are trying to do a more collegiate performance,” Chilcutt said. “(The fans) can see the difference.”

The dance members not only devote time to practice twice a week, three hours each time, but some dancers perform for dance companies as well. But what does it take to get out in front of crowds and perform? According to Chilcutt, the dancers do it because they are artists, and given the chance to perform, they will do it.

“We have girls who dance for different companies,” Chilcutt said. “A lot of girls teach dance. It?s all about the love of the art of dance.”

What about the feeling that is experienced when performing in front of crowds?

“It?s kind of a rush. We love it,” senior Tiffany Jensen said.Silva said, “You get a rush at first. It?s a lot of fun once you get going.”

Starting in February, not only will the Xtreme Dance Team be performing at home sporting events, but it will begin participating in competitions.

The team will take part in Nationals, which will be held in Las Vegas, Nev.

Just like a sports team, this dance team must devote a lot of time and practice into the routines.

“It?s very demanding. We devote a lot of time. It?s a lot of work,” junior Victoria Gonzales said.

Until then, get ready to see a lot more of the Xtreme Dance Team when basketball season starts.

“We will be doing a lot more routines during basketball,” Chilcutt said. “You will see a lot more of us.”