From practice to performance: inside the Lehigh University Dance Team

In 2022, six girls made the Lehigh Dance Team. In 2023, another six were accepted. In 2024, only four were accepted. 

In 2025, just two out of the 25 students who auditioned made the team. 

The team has been around since the early 2000s and is currently composed of 18 dancers with distinct dance backgrounds. 

Practices are held three times a week for two hours. During these sessions, the team learns new dances, assigns formations and cleans routines for upcoming performances. The captains said in the spring semester alone, the team learns about 15 pieces. 

For the 2025-26 season, the captains are Brooke Goldin, ‘26, and Natalie Werbel, ‘26. 

Goldin has been dancing since she was 2 years old and said she immediately knew she wanted to join the dance team at Lehigh.

“Dance has always been a part of who I am, and I didn’t want to give that up in college,” she said. 

One of her goals as captain was to expand the type of venues and events at which the team performs.

In the fall, during her second year serving as captain, the team performed for the first time at events such as Family Weekend, Founders Day Weekend and several football games. This semester, the group is focused on learning routines for basketball games and Dance Fest.  

After taking these initiatives, the team won Lehigh’s Excellence in Entertainment Programming Award in 2025 for providing an engaging entertainment opportunity for the entire community. 

Werbel has also been dancing since she was 2 years old and joined the team her freshman year.

She said she was inspired to become captain because the seniors before her positively shaped the team.

“(Last year’s seniors) were helpful in boosting morale, getting everybody excited and bonding the team,” Werbel said. “I was really excited to have that influence.” 

Werbel said choreography is a team effort. Over breaks, each dancer prepares about a minute of a song and performs it at the first practice back. The captains then evaluate which pieces  will be used. 

Werbel said the team is excited for the semester ahead, as those routines will be performed at many basketball games during timeouts and halftimes. Whether performing at The Rally, Bed Races or basketball games, the group consistently puts on an elaborate show for the community. 

The team is audition-only, making earning a spot fiercely competitive. 

Goldin said the captains typically teach a jazz combo on the first day for auditioners to learn and perform. Afterwards, auditioners are asked to perform a trick that showcases their personalities. 

“It’s a little insane, but it’s mostly just based on how many girls we feel would fit in with our team technique and personality-wise,” Goldin said. 

After the first round of cuts and callbacks, the captains teach the remaining auditioners a hip-hop combination before selecting the final team members. 

Beyond practice, the team works to cultivate strong bonds and friendships. 

The team has traditions such as “bring your friend to dance day,” team dinners and superlative awards. 

Sophie Dockswell, ‘28, has been a member of the team since her freshman year. She said although it can be challenging to find time for practice, it’s always worth it. 

“Even if I’m having a stressful day, it’s such a break going to practice and being active, taking your mind off of things and socializing with everyone on the team,” Dockswell said. 

Werbel said since the group is a student-run organization, the team also hosts fundraising events. Funding has been a challenge in the past, as each member must be provided with multiple uniforms. She said often the team doesn’t  have enough uniforms for everyone. 

“It is a tricky balance between being classified as a club but also having large responsibilities to represent the school,” Werbel said, “But we are all very devoted and work hard to prioritize the team.”