How Can I Become a Pink Panther?
Any current, incoming, or transfer student with dance experience and interested in becoming part of the EIU Pink Panther Dance Team Tradition must audition. This year the team will begin competing at regional and national UDA competitions.

Eligibility: You must be enrolled as a full-time EIU student with 12 or more academic hours and provide evidence of a cumulative grade point average of 2.00 or higher from either EIU, a transfer college, or high school. Incoming Freshmen or Transfer students are welcomed to audition and need to show proof of admittance to EIU.

Qualifications: It takes a combination of positive attitude, dance ability, enjoyment for athletic events, ability to work in a team, showmanship, fitness, and appearance to become a Pink Panther dance team member. You should demonstrate the ability to do all technical elements on left and right. This includes kicks, leaps (regular, switch, calypso, chainés center/turning disc), jumps (toe, C) splits, and turns (double and triple pirouette, fouetté, turns in second, axel, tour, chainés, piqué, etc.) as well as overall dance ability and style to perform pom, kick, jazz, and hip hop routines. You should be familiar with common ballet terms and movements (i.e.: pas de chat, penché, attitude, chassé, développé, relevé, plié, passé) . Showmanship is the result of your attitude and the energy that you put into your dancing. Appearance is a result of being physically fit and well groomed.

Forms: You will need to complete and sign the necessary forms and bring with you to auditions your $25 fee payment, a copy of the front and back of all current health insurance cards, and a non-returnable full body current photograph of you in booty shorts w/tights and leotard.

Necessary forms are: 1. Liability Release; 2. Medical Information and copy front back of Medical Insurance Card;
3. EIU Pink Panther Application . NOTE: When filling out the PDF form for the drop down list selection for sizes, be sure to click on the item after it appears as a selection to hold it as your choice. You will email the data from the form and also print the form so you may sign it and bring it to auditions with your full body current non-returnable photograph of you in booty shorts w/leotard and tights.
4. Health History Upate for current EIU students needing a physical ( please download the form to bring to Health Service) ; regular sports physical for non-EIU students . Please electronically type the required form information for both the Medical Information and EIU Pink Panther Application forms, print electronically completed forms, and then sign and date each form.
5. Proof of GPA - unofficial transcript indicating current cummulative GPA;

Fee: non-refundable $25 check or money order payable EIU Panther Athletics-Pink Panther Auditions to cover paperwork processing, facilities, and choreographers.

When: For Spring 2010, an Informational meeting will be held Saturday,March 27, in Lantz Gym at 10am. Auditions begin on Saturday, April 17th, with registration from 7:30-8:30am in Lantz Main Hallway with auditions beginning promptly at 9:000am. First Cuts will be Saturday morning with a list posted by noon. Call back auditions will begin at 12:30pm with evaluation and interviews later that afternoon with a list posted early evening. A quick mandatory meeting that evening for everyone to meet new members and get details for Sunday; A Mandatory Team meeting will be Sunday, April 18th, beginning at 10:30am until approximately 5pm. Mandatory Team Retreat will be held on Sunday, April 25th, 11am-4pm approximately.

Evaluation: On Saturday, prospective team members will be evaluated on technique, a turn sequence involving piroettes, turns in second and fouettes, a special talent that showcases your best (hip hop stall, flexibility, etc.), and kick/pom routine with call backs for the second cuts on Saturday afternoon where a jazz/modern/lyrical routine will be taught. The final routine will be judged on Saturday with interviews following the performances. A final list posted that evening. Mandatory meeting will be Sunday morning. I can't stress enough that you need to look game ready for each evaluation during the audition process - makeup and hair must be stage ready and done to project your best features . You need to look energetic, all American, and present a collegiate dancer. Please wear required dance attire as directed . Failure to do so will limit your opportunity of being on the team.

Required Attire: Booty shorts with beige/nude tights and leotard OR full length sports/fitness support top; Absolutely no tank tops; dance shoes

Auditions are closed to the public.

Collegiate dance is very demanding and rewarding.