By
Maya Schechter
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona Cat Crew hosts workshop, performs at ASU
Dancers punching their arms 'N SYNC to the music playing in the background bounced across the wooden floor doing flips and kicks along the way.
While calling out step directions to "It's Gonna Be Me," Jessica Zagnoni takes a minute to catch her breath and yell "keep up the good work guys!" to her dancers.
In response, a scatter of cheers comes from the group of dancers, dressed in their dancing gear of sports bras, warm-up pants and bandannas.
As a few of them run out of the room for a drink of water, the rest fix their ponytails, tie their shoes, and wipe the sweat off their faces.
This group of dancers are the Arizona Cat Crew - University of Arizona's first-ever hip hop team.
Zagnoni, a media arts freshman, formed the team in early October and since then, has had her hands full with fund raising and planning activities for the group.
"We have some really powerful and awesome routines," Zagnoni said. "We have a group of very dedicated dancers."
The Arizona Cat Crew had a dance-filled weekend, beginning with a performance at Arizona State University Saturday. On Sunday they held a hip-hop workshop in the Memorial Student Union Senior Ballroom.
Jeremy Zach, a communication freshman, said that their performance at ASU, their first one as a group, was the opening act to a fraternity step contest.
"It was nerve-racking at first because their style of music was different than ours, and we didn't know if they would accept ours," Zach said.
But as soon as the music began and the UA group took their place onstage, it was evident that the audience accepted their dances by their ongoing cheering, Zach said.
"It was like we were a new boy band," Zach said.
Zagnoni said the "Fall Fusion 2000" workshop was very successful and the Cat Crew taught a few dance techniques to a group children between the ages of five to 13, and some UA dance majors.
Since choosing 24 students from 70 who auditioned for the team in September, Zagnoni said she has been working hard to find sponsors to fund the team and to publicize their events.
The Cat Crew is also trying to become recognized as an Associated Students club and is working on a video to submit to McKale Center event coordinators in hopes of performing at the men's basketball games.
Zagnoni has been teaching dance for four years and when she came to the UA, she said she "wanted to bring together a group of people to dance who weren't necessarily dance majors."
"I really enjoy being around people who have the same passion for dancing as I do," she added.
Victoria Franklin, a communication sophomore, said that dancing is just something she enjoys doing as an extra-curricular activity, but she may see a future in teaching dance.
"I look forward to the practices we have every week - I really love dancing," Franklin said.
At a typical Cat Crew rehearsal, every Sunday and Thursday night in the Student Recreation Center, the group watches themselves practice their routines to the music of 'N Sync and Outkast in the reflection of the mirror-covered walls.
An occasional complaint about their feet hurting or about being confused with a new step can be heard, but the overall attitude of the dancers is shown by the smiles they have on their faces despite their sweating and gasping for a breath.
Although the team seems serious about its dancing, it finds some time to have a good time together.
"I have always wanted to hip-hop dance, but I never had the chance in high school," Zach said. "Now that I am in college, it's the perfect time to have fun and meet new people."
