Dance Recruitment

Timeline for Tennessee Dance Recruitment:
Graduating high school seniors (class of 2026) or current UT students/transfer college students interested in being a part of the 2026-2027 Tennessee Spirit Program can expect the following timeline:
August 1, 2025: Recruitment registration form LIVE
September 1: Common Dance Team Recruiting Video Due
September – Spring 2026: Evaluation Period
November 1 & November 15, 2025: Potential in-person weekend experience for selected recruits
April 2026: 2026-2027 Team Announced on Social Media

We will be accepting video submissions until our new roster is complete. However, we highly recommend submitting your video by September 1 if you would like to be considered for an invite-only weekend.

Video submission for the 2026-2027 Tennessee Dance Recruitment:
Who: Graduating Seniors (class of 2026) or current UT students/transfer college students

Cost: $35

Next Steps:
1. Register to be considered for recruitment and included in all recruitment communication (LIVE Aug. 1, 2025).
2. Confirmation email sent to registered recruits.
3. Submit video using link provided in the confirmation email.

Registration: https://www.tennesseespiritcamps.com/
*You must register for recruitment to receive the link for video submission.

Recruitment Video Requirements:
1. Submit your Common Recruiting Video
2. We are requiring a solo to be included in the submission video. This solo needs to be minimum one minute with a maximum time limit of 3 minutes. We ask that the solo is an opposite style of your jazz combo in your common recruiting video. (If you did a more traditional jazz in your common recruiting video, submit a lyrical/contemporary in addition or vice versa)

Common Recruiting Video:
The Common Recruit Video does not need to be professionally edited but should be PUBLIC or UNLISTED on YouTube for easy viewing by the coaching staff. For skill demonstration and style combinations, full body should be visible in the frame. Female Attire: Black sports bra or tank top and black shorts. Male Attire: All black. Please see below for Video Guidelines:

1. Introduction (30 second minimum, 3 minute maximum)

Name, Age, Hometown, Studio/Team, Brief Dance Background
Answer the following questions:
Why do you want to be on a college dance team?
Why do you think you would be a good candidate for a college dance team?
What is your intended major?

2. Skill Demonstration - Required Elements (film continuously in one take)

Dancer may repeat the skill if necessary, a maximum of two attempts
Turns:
- Triple (3) Parallel Pirouette (Right)
- Quadruple (4) Parallel Pirouette (Right)
- Quintuple (5) Parallel Pirouette (Right)
- Triple (3) Parallel Pirouette (Left)
- A la seconde turn combination (showcasing a la seconde turns, changing spots, floats, variation in pom and leg position, speed, pirouette and other technical elements) - minimum 3 counts of 8 in length
Jumps/Leaps:
- Right open second leap
- Right calypso or Turning Jete Attitude
- Switch leaps - minimum 2 (any variation - regular switch leap, switch tilt, switch arabesque, switch open, either side)
- Single toe touch
- Double toe touch
Flexibility
- Side tilt
- Penche
- Leg turn (any variety)
Acro
- Walkover (front or back)
- Side aerial (right and left)

Skill Demonstration - Optional Elements
Please be sure to include any of the items that you can safely and successfully execute to demonstrate your skill range

Style Combinations
- Three 45-second combinations demonstrating different styles: Jazz, Pom and Hip Hop
- 30-second minimum, 45-second maximum per style
- Dancers may add layers for hip hop demonstration

Additional Tennessee Requirement

Solo Entry
- One solo performance - must be in technical style opposite of the jazz combo filmed in your recruitment video combo. For example, if your combo is a Lyrical/Contemporary style, then this solo needs to be a more traditional Jazz style or vice versa.
- 3 minute maximum
- Can be filmed in studio or submitted from a competition (needs to be from within 6 months of submission).

Beyond Dance:
Here at Tennessee, we value several components when selecting members for the team aside from their skill set. It’s important that we find athletes that blend with our well-established team culture and our like-minded team values. Although many people recognize us from the competition stage, our nationals season is 20% of the year. In addition to representing Tennessee Athletics on the sidelines and on the national stage, Tennessee Spirit has a very active role in the Knoxville community and takes great pride in changing lives at every opportunity. Being a student-athlete requires a strong focus on academics and a self-disciplined approach to managing a busy schedule.

If our values and skills align with you as a dancer, we highly encourage you to join our recruitment process.

Additional recruitment questions can be directed to: VolDanceRecruiting@utk.edu

University of Tennessee | Official Athletics Site