DANCE SQUAD TO COMPETE IN NATIONAL COMPETITION FRIDAY

Southeast Missouri State University's Sundancer team will compete Friday in the NCA Division I National Dance Championships at Daytona Beach, Fla.

The 1998 squad was the first in school history to qualify for the national championships.

Kim Rambicourt, team co-captain and a St. Louis senior, said, "Last year's team was very good, and the seventh-place finish reflected the qualify level, but I believe our current squad is even more talented and will benefit from our experience at last year's nationals."

Sundancer Coach Suzanne Vaughan said, "I don't know if we can win it all this year, but we will give it our best shot." Vaughan said the team would be happy to finish in the top five.

Twenty Division I schools have qualified for the championships. The CBS and USA television networks will show a taped broadcast of the championship round on April 17 and May 30, respectively.

The Sundancers have been choreographing and practicing their national championship dance since December.

The public is invited to the final dress rehearsal at 5 p.m. Wednesday in Academic Auditorium. The team's new retro-1970s competition uniforms will be unveiled at that time.

"Although the choreography is very contemporary, we wanted to do a true disco review with fun, upbeat music and bright orange and purple costumes," Vaughan said. "If the intensity and rate of our dance moves don't keep the judges' attention, our outfits definitely will," said Vaughan.

The university has provided much of the funding for the trip. The team also has been raising money since September.