It’s halftime at Hornet Stadium and there’s a group of women with pom-poms and go-go boots on the field — this is the Hornet Girlz dance team.
The spirit squad, led by co-captain Courtney Cannon, dates back to the 1980s and currently performs for fans at volleyball, basketball, and football games hosted at Sacramento State.
“A lot of times people think ‘oh they’re just dancers’ and that we get together at games and just pop out of nowhere,” Cannon said. “It really is like a part-time job, though, and we take on that sacrifice to create entertainment.”
Some might wonder how a dance team is different from cheerleaders as both have the glitter, curled hair and smiles, but the Hornet Girlz, such as junior Ashlyn Carpenter, set themselves apart through technical work and rhythm.
“We’re more dance-oriented,” said Carpenter, who is entering her third year on the squad. “We have pretty costumes and we have pom-poms, but we do more dance technique versus cheers.”
As a part of the Sac State Athletic Department, the dancers lead the lives of student-athletes. From early morning workouts at the WELL, to studio practices twice a week, the team finds a balance between fitness and academics.
“We are definitely student-athletes,” Carpenter said. “The only thing that sets us apart is that we don’t compete. But everything else is very much a student-athlete’s lifestyle.”
Hornet Girlz coach and coordinator Jolie Roberts, who has been with the team since 2003, explains that each of her athletes dedicate themselves to team success and academics — some even find time to take additional classes to improve their technical skill.
“We are very mixed as far as our levels,” Roberts said. “I have girls that have been dancing for only three years and some who have been dancing their whole lives. I have to make them all fit (and) I encourage them to take classes either here or at other dance studios, because you can only get better with practice.”
With all the time spent together, it is only natural that a bond is formed as well.
“My favorite part is definitely the camaraderie with the girls,” sophomore Sarah Pharr said. “Just coming together and all the work we do in the studio or inside the classroom, and then translating it to the field. It’s definitely more than just dance.”
Becoming a member is a three-day process in which dancers are asked to show their technical skill on the floor, learn a routine and conduct personal interviews. The process is repeated every season no matter the dancer’s level of experience or status on the team. After all the work that goes into training and preparation, the dancers get to enjoy the atmosphere of a live performance in front of hundreds of spectators.
“It’s about eight hours,” Cannon said. “From practicing on the field to going to tailgate, getting ready together and then performing at the football games. A lot of us go eat after, so it’s the whole day combined that makes it so great.”
While most of the women will take their experience with the Hornet Girlz with them as a memory after they depart Sac State, some plan to start performing for professional teams such as the San Francisco 49ers, Sacramento Kings and Oakland Raiders.
“Whether it be with the royal court dancers or at Disneyland, dance has always been a part of my life,” junior Meghan DeGroodt said. “I’d like to keep it a part of me for as long as I can.”