The Jasper Dance team at NDA Nationals, 2025. @MANHATTANDANCETEAM / INSTAGRAM
Leyla J. Mercado and Barbara Vasquez, Arts & Entertainment Editor, Production / Web Editor
Manhattan University’s Jasper Dancers are finding a new rhythm through the introduction of a revamped recruitment process for prospective team members. With previous years relying solely on a traditional audition process, the team has now turned to a common application and northeast recruitment events to find new team members.
With collegiate-level dance gaining an ever-growing number of followers, MU’s dance team hopes that these new tactics make the team bigger and stronger.
Madeline Donohue, head coach of the dance team, is also an MU alumna who was a Jasper Dancer for five years. Currently in her second year of coaching the team, Donohue told The Quadrangle what prompted the reinvention of the recruitment process.
“Coming into last year, we had lost a large graduating class and in addition to that, there were some members who decided to not return to the team,” Donahue said. “Going into last season, we didn’t realize what a small number of dancers we had, but we were hopeful going into tryouts.”
In the past, the Jasper Dancers felt discouraged from recruiting, which affected the team’s numbers. Additionally, the dancers are recognized by the school as a club rather than part of athletics, despite competing at a D1 level, which has affected their funding.
“We were kind of always told no, when we were asked, which as the sport continues to grow, definitely hindered our ability to get some dancers,” Donahue said. “We dance at such a high competitive level, there’s not a large number of people, except for maybe one or two by the luck of the draw, that are already enrolled in Manhattan and able to dance at the level we need them to unless we seek them out.”
With their new style of recruitment, the Jasper Dancers hope to gain strong technical and skill-based members who can surpass their legacy as a top-performing group. Emily Babio, a childhood education major and Jasper Dancer of three years, hopes that future generations of dancers bring a new energy to the team.
“I’m really excited to see how these new recruits change the Jasper Dancer name and title,” Babio said. “Maybe one day, these recruits will finally bring us home another national title, maybe they’ll change athletics’ mind and we’ll be considered a sport or get some sort of recognition by athletics, who knows. I think as far as the team right now, it’s really exciting to think about recruits and to have that in the back of our mind in the next couple of years, and how they’re gonna change our team dynamic.”
As for the coaches, they’re looking for recruits who already have their footing in the sport, and who are excited to work to better themselves and the team.
“We are looking for technically-trained, well-versed dancers who aren’t afraid of challenges,” Brylee Watkins, assistant coach of the team, said. “Beyond skills, we look for people who truly love dance and are willing to put in the work it takes to be a top team. Traits like hard-work, dedication and determination are standout in our minds.”
No matter what the future holds for the Jasper Dancers, they’ll have a strong system of support from current and previous members alike.
“I can’t wait to be a proud alumni watching all of them do this, because at the end of the day, I’m always going to be a Jasper Dancer,” Babio said. “It’s always going to be a part of me. Watching them take this team and succeed with it is going to be so worthwhile.”
The Jasper Dancers will be holding in-person tryouts at Draddy Gymnasium on Sept. 6 as well as college prep clinics on Oct. 26 and Nov. 15.