The Sacramento State Hornet Girlz Dance Team will be holding open tryouts Saturday, April 14.

Applicants will be learning short routines and compete to become a Hornet Girl for the upcoming fall semester.

Held once a year at the Hornet Gym in Yosemite Hall, the team is looking for well-rounded dancers, who can fit a team dynamic, Dance Director and coach Jolie Roberts said.

“We are looking for girls who have a positive attitude and willing to the go the extra mile,” Roberts said.

After the first round of cuts, applicants will learn more routines and finalist will be asked to come back the next day for interviews.

Roberts said the team would be looking for new dancers who can “gel” together as a team. Applicants come in with different backgrounds in dancing, but Roberts said she looking to add new members who can work together.

The dance team is a spirit squad on campus and performers during the football games, men’s basketball game and various other events on campus.

“We have a great privilege to go out (on the field) at halftime,” Roberts said,” It’s quite an honor.”

Dancers selected in the tryouts will join the team and practice through out the summer, and a final evaluation will be done at the start of the fall semester.

Former Hornet Girlz have gone on to perform for professional squads, such as the Sacramento Kings Dance Team and the San Francisco 49ers Gold Rush.

Roberts is entering her fifth year as the team’s director and coach after spending the last 20 years as a studio dancer and teacher.

The Hornetz Girlz have competed nationally and won the USA College National Hip Hop Champions of 2005.

In February the team traveled to Las Vegas and compete in the USA College National Competition and placed eighth in the Open Dance Category.

Matthew Beltran can be reached at [email protected]