Unable to root on the basketball squads from the sidelines this year, GW’s cheer and dance teams are moving their performances online.
Members of the GW Cheer Team and GW First Ladies Dance Team said they are preparing live online performances to air on ESPN+, where fans can watch basketball games this season virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Team members said they’ve turned to social media to continue promoting games and are spending time on video calls to practice and bond.
Anna Kaji, one of two co-captains for the First Ladies, said the team shifted to filming content and editing videos to be played during halftime of the basketball game livestreams. She said the group will also post their performances on social media pages.
Kaji added that the team held virtual tryouts this semester and last spring and is planning to organize another at the end of the semester to keep the squad on track.
“As a four-year member and senior [of First Ladies], I was excited to perform in person this year for one last season,” Kaji said. “Despite this setback, I am so thankful to still be able to attend virtual practices and create video performances.”
Maggie Klee, the coach of the First Ladies, said the team practices three times per week over Zoom, focusing on technique, performance style and fitness. She said the First Ladies’ performances will be posted online, including performances for basketball game livestreams on ESPN+ and video content for the team’s social media.
“We want our fans to watch GW basketball on ESPN+ and recognize the same traditions they see on game day in Smith at home on the stream,” Klee said.
Klee said the team normally uploads videos of their in-person performances on social media, but the virtual school year allows the team to get more “creative” as they film content and edit videos exclusively for an online platform. She said the team also sold masks this fall to raise money for the GW Hospital in collaboration with GW Cheer.
“We are all making the most out of this virtual experience, even though we don’t have as many performance opportunities, to entertain our fans and support GW Athletics,” Klee said.
Josh Cohen and Tiffany Jones, the head coaches of GW Cheer, said team members have been “remarkably adaptable” as they transitioned to practicing in an online setting, reaching out to one another to ensure everyone adjusted.
“As a team, we’ve tried to use this as an opportunity to innovate and grow – instead of trying to maintain the status quo – and look forward to presenting a refreshed program that they can all be proud of once we’re all safely back on campus,” Cohen and Jones said in a joint email.
Cohen and Jones said they’ve used the shift to an online semester to consider how they can increase support for the athletic department and the University. They said GW Cheer and the First Ladies are teaming up to brainstorm ways to engage fans on virtual game days, like promoting games on social media.
Sydney Teabout, one of the captains of GW Cheer, said the team launched a social media campaign called “Buff and Blue Friday” during which participants post pictures on Instagram in their favorite GW gear for a chance to win prizes, like exclusive GW Adidas attire.
“I think school spirit is much needed at a time like this, and GW Cheer is dedicated in doing their best to keep that camaraderie alive,” Teabout said.
Madeline Taylor, a member of the First Ladies, said the team’s virtual practices are “not the same” without preparing halftime performances for live basketball games. But she added that she’s “lucky” to still have the First Ladies team to support her during the pandemic.
“Going remote this semester made me realize how important the dance team is to me,” Taylor said. “It’s the one thing that I miss most about being in person, and I’m so grateful that we’re still able to practice virtually.”
