Shockwave Dance Team elevates Tulane University athletics • The Tulane Hullabaloo

Hungry. That is the word that senior Camden Rayne would use to describe the Shockwave Dance Team’s approach to the new season. 

At the start of the year, Shockwave hired a new coach, Kristina Marquez, who has transformed the team.  

“She treats us as athletes,” Rayne said. With a master’s degree in dance science, Marquez is not only trained in dance but the nutritional and psychological side of the sport as well. Marquez emphasizes the importance of physical and mental health, an idea that allows Shockwave to train and perform their best. 

Not only has new coaching transformed the team, but changes in recruitment models have also been pivotal in expanding the Shockwave program. Through the initiative of co-captains Lily Zachariah and Rayne, Tulane University was added to a list of over 100 colleges within the National Dance Coaches Association. 

This list allows high school seniors to submit audition videos to any program in the association. As of now, over thirty girls have already submitted videos to Tulane. 

“We have never seen numbers like that before,” Rayne said.  

When looking into the future, Shockwave is not just a spirit organization. “We are athletes that deserve to have a chance to compete,” junior Ella Ahn said. 

Beginning in 2024, Shockwave has had the opportunity to compete in the National Dance Alliances College Nationals. As a Division One program, Shockwave competes in the most difficult category. 

“The main goal we have is to make it to finals,” Rayne said, reflecting on almost reaching the finals last year. 

“We are willing to do more than what is expected of us,” Zachariah said. Shockwave also plans to perform at more sports events this year, including volleyball and baseball games.  

Shockwave is a student-led organization that was built from the ground up and is still growing. This season marks only the beginning of what promises to be a powerful new era for the Shockwave Dance Team.

_{Images are for reference only.Images and contents gathered automatic from google or 3rd party sources.All rights on the images and contents are with their legal original owners.}