Most students know the Cougarettes as the sequin-dressed and makeup-adorned group that performs at sporting events. On the surface, their M.O. may seem straightforward: dance routines to entertain the crowd. But for those involved, there’s a lot more to it than poms and jazz shoes.

The Cougarettes were founded in 1946, as a way for young women of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to become involved. Throughout the years, the Cougarettes have evolved into a team of highly proficient dancers, strong leaders and a sisterhood in the gospel.

Joni Maxwell, artistic director and spirit coordinator of the Cougarettes, spoke about the immense talent of the team. Each year, anywhere from 80-150 young women audition for a coveted spot.

“Each girl auditions every year, even if returning,” Maxwell said. “This is a strong team of dancers who have trained their entire lives. They are good at what they do, they have brought home several national titles.”

Several national titles, a tradition of excellence at competitions, and last year, the Cougarettes won 1st place in the hip-hop division and 2nd place in the team dance division.

“It was our first year winning the hip-hop division,” Maxwell said. “Our goal this year is to win both divisions: hip-hop and team dance.”

Sarah Russo, 21, a dance major from Orem, spoke about the unity of the Cougarettes. As one of three captains, the dance team has become a kind of family to Russo.

“I love that every day I get to go and do something I love with people that I love,” she said. “You spend 10 or more hours a week with girls that you didn’t know before you got here and now they’re your closest friends.”

[pullquote]“It’s a spiritually uplifting program. It’s testimony building. I don’t think there’s another team like this one, honestly.”[/pullquote]

For Russo, being a part of the Cougarettes has been more than a spot on a dance team and more than any ordinary extracurricular activity.

“It’s a spiritually uplifting program,” she said. “It’s testimony building. I don’t think there’s another team like this one, honestly.”

Megan Phillips, 20, a humanities major from Sandy, shared the same feelings as Russo.

“We’ve created relationships and friendships and a sisterhood that is really special and rewarding,” she said. “It’s a lot of time and sacrifice, especially while trying to get an education. But being with the girls really is the best part.”

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Every year, the Cougarettes put on a show, “Cougarettes in Concert,” where they can show their often unseen talent.

“It’s a time where we can showcase what we really do,” Phillips said. “Often times people only see us at games, but in our show, we’re performing in an artistic way to express what we really love to do.”

“Cougarettes in Concert” features a variety of different dance styles and genres. From hip-hop to lyrical, jazz to contemporary, and even a Broadway number, the Cougarettes carry on the tradition built by previous generations.

“The Cougarettes before us have left a legacy of excellence,” said Phillips. “It’s an amazing opportunity for us to share BYU’s message and what makes us who we are. Having gospel knowledge defines the Cougarettes.”

“Cougarettes in Concert” premieres Thursday, Feb. 23, at 7:30 p.m. at The Covey Center in Provo. The show carries on through Saturday, Feb. 25, with an additional matinee performance on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $12-$15 and are available through The Covey Center website at www.coveycenter.org or at the box office.

The BYU dance team studio has added another banner to it’s nearly filled walls after returning home from Daytona Beach with a 10th National Dance Championship. The Cougarettes earned the Division One title in the Hip Hop category, entering the competition as defending champions. The team achieved a nearly perfect score of 9.984 out of ten for the routine, with one of the judges awarding perfect 10s across the board.

The Cougarettes entered into the Hip Hop category for the first time last year, meaning they’ve won the title every year they have participated.

“Hip hop is not usually associated with BYU,” Cougarette Artistic Director Jodi Maxfield said. “So when we won last year, some people sort of saw it as a fluke.”

However, the Cougarettes showed that was in indeed not a fluke when they earned a near-perfect score and secured the title for a second year in a row.

“We wanted to show people that we could do more and be more than just a technical jazz team,” Head Captain Sarah Russo said. “And we did.”

Team President Megan Phillips said the team felt particular pressure returning as reigning champions.

“Nobody thought we could do Hip Hop,” Phillips said. “But I think we bring something unique in that we have the gospel with us, because when you think Hip Hop you don’t automatically think about the gospel, but I think that what we bring to the hip hop stage is that you can still be a Hip Hopper without compromising your standards and what you stand for.”

Russo said that while traveling and competing, the Cougarettes are often told that there is something “different” and “special” about the team.

“We (did) it in a way that was representative of BYU and we stuck to our standards and what the church would expect of us,” Maxfield said of her team’s routine.  “I think that is what I’m most proud of.”

While they attribute much of their success to sheer dedication and hard work, they also credit something more.

“Every day before practice we’d read a scripture and say a prayer,” Phillips said.

She related what it was like to be backstage, waiting to perform. “Your adrenaline is pumping, you can hear the people’s music before you, everyone is out in the crowd watching you. So we pulled together and we had a prayer and read a scripture and the spirit was so strong. I think that every single person on the team just experienced this calm feeling and this contentment just knowing that we were prepared to do this and that we were going to get out there and do the best we could.”

The BYU Cougarettes will perform a variety of dance styles at the Covey Center this Thursday through Saturday, Feb. 21–23.

The Cougarettes are well-known for performing and cheering at games. However, they are first and foremost a talented, versatile dance team.

Kaitlyn Swenson, a former Cougarette, is the assistant coach for the Cougarettes. She said the Cougarettes are capable of performing multiple dance styles.

“They are able to do all these different dance styles, and they do them very well,” Swenson said. “They are very proficient. … They have an artistic side that people don’t really get to see. (Cougarettes) love games and cheering for them, but it is a small part of what they do.”

Kiley Forrest, the current Cougarette president, is excited to see her hard work pay off by showing audiences the diverse abilities the team has to offer.

“We’ve been practicing since October,” Forrest said. “People don’t really get to see us dance and perform like this, they just see us cheer. … This year’s performance will have diverse dances with really neat meanings.”

Kathy Swenson is a regular at the Cougarette performances; she has been attending them for at least 10 years.

“We made it an annual tradition of girls’ night out,” Swenson said. “Both my girls were in dance … as we attended concerts, they loved the Cougarettes.”

Both of Swenson’s daughters have been on the Cougarette dance team, and Swenson has had some personal interaction with the team. She said she is impressed with the girls’ talent as well as their character.

“I have grown to love and respect them,” Swenson said, “not just for who they are, but what they stand for. … They are more than just a dance team, they truly try to be aware of those watching them (and) be a good example for the university and the Church as well.”

The upcoming concert will showcase a variety of dance styles including hip-hop and jazz. For Swenson, some of the Cougarette dance routines are also emotionally moving.

“The technique and high level of performance is amazing,” Swenson said. “I was just awestruck. … It was stunningly beautiful and brought tears. … Whatever dance they are performing, they excel and exceed my expectations.”

Tickets are $15 for the public and $12 for students and seniors. To purchase tickets, call the Covey Center box office at (801) 825.7007.

Mother, Latter-day Saint, teacher, TV show contestant, award-winning dancer. Bree Hafen holds many titles but has recently added “accomplished choreographer” to the list, which has given her a lot of national attention in the dance world.

Hafen got her start as a dancer at a young age by performing at theme parks like Six Flags and Disneyland with her sister, Logan Smith.

“Bree has always had a natural talent for dance and performing, but she has put in the hard work,” Smith said. “I know a lot of dancers who are very talented but aren’t willing to sacrifice what it takes. She is the definition of overachiever.”

In high school, Hafen continued her dancing and became a Sterling Scholar in dance at Timpview High. Eventually she was accepted to BYU and became a member of the Cougarettes, an event that would impact her future career.

“Being able to fuse the gospel and the spiritual side of dance with the technical and artistic side of dance seemed like such a natural marriage to me,” Hafen said. “So much of the dance world is not quite as wholesome and guided by high principles. To be given the opportunity to dance in a place where I knew all the girls there had the same values and we would never be asked to wear or dance something inappropriate was extremely special. All of those things shaped the future of what I have done with dance.”

In 2003, Hafen became the president of the Cougarettes and started choreographing pieces for her team. Little did Hafen know, her career in dance was only just beginning.

After moving to Dallas and having two kids, Hafen found herself with the opportunity to audition for the TV show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“I thought, ‘What the heck,'” Hafen said. “I really didn’t expect it to turn into anything. I was wrong. Everything in my life changed!”

She made it all the way to Vegas week when she began to have hip problems. MRIs made it clear she needed double hip surgery.

“I realized very soon it was over and that I wasn’t going to be able to do the show,” Hafen said. “I realized that my dancing days, or at least my real performing days, were coming to an end.”

Hafen then turned to another strength: choreography. Hafen’s choreography sets her apart because she focuses on uplifting themes and LDS standards, which contrasts with much of the dance world. Her former instructors at BYU can attest to her example.

“We all have a great sense of pride in seeing her represent all of us so well,” said Jodi Maxfield, Hafen’s former Cougarette instructor. “Bree has gone out and is being a positive influence to many, many young people that she is working with.”

With encouragement from her friends, Hafen entered one of the biggest choreography competitions in the U.S., the Capezio A.C.E. Awards. Out of 300 applicants, she was one of 15 chosen to bring a piece before a panel of esteemed teachers and choreographers from all over the world.

To Hafen’s amazement, her show was chosen as one of the top three in the Capezio A.C.E. Awards. Now she will have the opportunity to bring her show, “Positive Space,” to New York City for four performances on Broadway. Hafen, however, still faces one large hurdle: finding a way to fund travel expenses, production costs and many other things in order to make her dream come true.

Whatever happens, Hafen says she will continue pursuing her goals and dreams and encourages others to do the same.

“Everyone has their dreams, I call them aspirations … and there are so many times in your life where you will doubt yourself. I think that God put us on Earth to make experiences and make our influence known,” Hafen said. “Don’t go out there and be intimidated. Don’t let the world creep in and tell you that you can’t do what you do with morals and values because it’s absolutely possible.”

Hafen has started a Kickstarter account, where those interested can see her video and donate to her cause.

Each year the BYU Cougarettes celebrate Halloween with creative couples costumes, food and games. Prizes are awarded for the most creative, funny and best overall costumes. Our Cougarettes sure can celebrate in style!

She takes her place on the stage while the lights are low. The audience is quiet. She feels the energy of her teammates around her, and for one split second it is so still, she can hear her heart beat. As the lights go up and the music comes on, she dances with her whole heart and soul. She is a Cougarette.

For 68 years this performing team has made its mark at BYU. Some may remember the Cougarettes wearing tall white boots, marching with the school band and doing jump splits at the football games. While they are still seen cheering on the Cougar football team, they have gone on to become national and international dance champions. This technically beautiful, precision dance team is a force to be reckoned with.

“This is the dream job,” said Cougarette coach Jodi Maxfield. “As a dance teacher and director, there is not a better place to be than with these strong and committed dancers. They are truly amazing young women, and I am just grateful to be in the position that I am.”

For 23 years Maxfield has led the Cougarettes to achieve their highest goals.

Abbey Nelsen, Cougarette dance captain, said Maxfield is “very aware of all aspects the team includes” and is a “loving and spiritual leader.”

The Cougarettes face the challenge of being a competitive dance team from a religious university, but they see the challenge as an opportunity to share the gospel through their competitions and performances.

“We had the opportunity to perform ‘Come Thou Fount’ at Homecoming Spectacular this year,” said Lea Wride, Cougarette president. Instead of performing with their normal music, they performed with the BYU Women’s Chorus.

“The Spirit was so strong in the Marriott Center, and it was such a blessing to be able to share my testimony and love for the gospel through a performance like that.”

The opportunity to perform locally and to compete both nationally and internationally allows the Cougarettes to share the gospel in many ways.

Maxfield said because dance is such a “powerful and universal language,” the team takes these opportunities to “share the mission of BYU and the light of the gospel” wherever they are able to go. Wride agreed that the Cougarettes find many great opportunities for missionary work.

“The opportunities we have as Cougarettes are incredible,” Wride said. “The missionary experiences we have and the opportunity to do what I love — (dance) through college — is all I could hope for.”

Wride went on to say that being a part of this team has helped her feel “very much a part of the university” and has made her college experience unforgettable.

“Being on a team that has national and international titles is an exhilarating experience,” Wride said.

Just two years ago the Cougarettes won an international title when they were invited to compete in the New Prague Dance Festival. Along with the festival title, the Cougarettes hold twelve national titles, including three hip hop titles awarded from the National Dance Alliance (NDA) competition held annually in Florida.

This year’s team of Cougarettes is hoping to take home two more national titles. They will be competing in both the hip hop and open dance categories.

“Winning isn’t everything,” Nelsen said of Nationals. “We train all year for national competition, and all we can hope to do is our best. But if we do win, it is nice to feel the success of all of our hard work throughout the year.”

The Cougarettes will be performing their annual “Cougarettes in Concert” this weekend at the Covey Center for the Arts. For ticket information, click here. Performances began on Thursday but will also be held Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. with a 2:00 p.m. matinee on Saturday.

Macie Gee had kept her eye on one of the coveted BYU Cougarettes team member spots for a long time when she auditioned last spring.

The freshman graphic design major and first-year Cougarette has two older sisters who were previously on the dance team. She had been watching, training and waiting for at least eight years for her turn to come.

“I was just preparing my whole life,” Gee said. “I always just took as many (dance) classes as I could and did whatever I could to be good enough to be on the team.”

Each spring 75–100 dancers audition for the 16–20 spots on the Cougarettes.

Every dancer on the team has been through a grueling audition process. Auditions for a spot on the 13-time national champion team are held every year on a Saturday in March. Registration begins at 7 a.m., and for the choice few who make it to the end of the day, auditions last until 4 p.m. Veteran Cougarettes also have to re-audition for the team each year.

During the audition process, candidates compete through three rounds of dancing to demonstrate they possess superior dance skills. Each Cougarette has training in ballet, modern and jazz technique, according to the Cougarettes website.

In the first round of auditions, dancers do several across-the-floor combinations. In the second round, they learn and perform both a jazz combination and a hip-hop combination.

Dancers in the final round must exhibit advanced-level turn combinations to demonstrate their flexibility. After the dancing portion is over, each girl is interviewed. This final stage of the audition process is the most stressful, said senior Savannah Thompson.

“They just want to see who you are and your personality mostly, and that was always the scariest part for me, because it’s like, I can dance,” Thompson said. “I know that’s what I love to do, so I love doing that and even though you get nervous, you know that that’s why you’re there.”

Coach and artistic director Jodi Maxfield said she looks for dancers who have both a stage presence and the potential to set an example for younger girls.

“Number one, we’re looking for young women who are going to be great role models, who are going to be great ambassadors for the university and for the Church,” Maxfield said. “We’re looking for young women who are exemplary in all areas of their lives. Cougarettes isn’t just a dance team; it’s a team of women who are dedicated to BYU, to growing their testimonies, to being — like I said — role models and really serving in all capacities.”

The audition process may seem grueling, but it’s only the beginning. Dancers are not only expected to continually improve their skill, fitness and flexibility while they are on the team, but also to fulfill certain requirements before they ever step onto the audition room floor.

Cougarette hopefuls must bring certain items to audition: proof of a current physical, a release form and a $20 cash audition fee. Each prospective Cougarette fills out an online application complete with a résumé.

The dancers also read an article about the differences between high school and college dance teams.

The afternoon before auditions, letters of recommendation are due to the Cougarettes office. These letters are to be filled out by people who have trained with the dancers and include sections that describe whether the dancer is a team player and if she has any “grooming or health concerns.”

When dancers arrive for auditions, they register and participate in a range of motion test before they are allowed to compete for a spot on the team.

The most important preparation for Cougarettes president Meri Christensen, though, is to develop a strong mindset.

“You … have to go into any audition mentally prepared for any outcome. Because, odds are in most auditions you won’t make it, so you just have to prepare yourself mentally to go in and do your best, and that has to be enough for you,” she said.

Senior Natalie Zippi tried out for the team twice, once at the end of her freshman year and then again after her sophomore year. Her second time she prepared more extensively, from taking a daily ballet class to working with the Cougarettes’ former assistant coach in private lessons. She said that auditions were an intense experience.

“It was an intimidating environment, but I think that’s unavoidable when you’re trying out for anything at the collegiate level,” she said. “There are just a lot of girls who try out, so I think sometimes it’s hard for the judges to see everyone and sometimes people slip through the cracks, especially during the first round of auditions. You have to work hard to get noticed.”

Although she didn’t make the cut, she said that she is grateful for the experience.

“As hard as it was to put myself out there and get told no, I don’t regret trying,” she said. “If I hadn’t tried I would have always wondered. Even just auditioning taught me about myself, and preparing for try-outs kept me dancing, which kept me happy, which was maybe all I really needed anyway.”

The Cougarettes compete annually in the college nationals and perform throughout the year at football and basketball games, along with their own full concert every February. They are known nationwide for both their dance skills and the standards they uphold as BYU students.

Maxfield said the 2015 auditions are set for March 21, giving prospective Cougarettes a chance to be prepared for when their time to tryout arrives.

“People are already calling; they’re making plans already,” Maxfield said. “This is something that they’ve dreamed about for years and years, so they’re looking toward auditions and planning for it and taking classes and getting ready, making sure they’re ready to go.”

Gee said the day she found out she was a Cougarette was one of the best of her life.

“I felt so relieved and like all my hard work was paying off finally,” Gee said. “It was really good.”

BYU’s average age dropped significantly the morning of Jan. 22, as more than 1,200 sixth grade students took over lower campus.

Students came from schools across Utah Valley for Sports Hero Day, an annual event organized by BYU’s Center for Service and Learning. The event provides the opportunity for young kids to meet their athletic heroes and interact with them personally.

Groups of students spent two hours rotating through stations for various sports, including football, volleyball, gymnastics, swim and dive, tennis and more. At each station, BYU athletes talked briefly with the kids about an important sports-related value, then led an activity where the students could play with the members of that team. The sixth-graders ran drills with the football players, learned how to serve with the volleyball team, flipped into the gymnasts’ practice foam pit and shot around with the basketball team, all while learning about the qualities of a hero.

“They taught us about good sportsmanship and that no matter how much you win, you still have to try your hardest,” Canyon Elementary School student Gunner Eyre said.

But the sixth graders weren’t the only beneficiaries of the day’s activities. Parker Dawe, an offensive lineman on the football team, expressed the pleasant surprise of seeing the young students’ abilities and potential.

“We gave a speech about goal-setting, but what was amazing is that you could already tell these little sixth-graders had goals and things they want to work on themselves,” Dawe said.

Chris Crippen, director of the Center for Service and Learning, emphasized that these kinds of interactions are the reason Sports Hero Day exists.

“Sports Hero Day is all about influencing children to come to college and to participate in athletics as a positive way to use their energy and enthusiasm,” Crippen said. “Essentially we want them to identify heroes in their lives that can push them to achieve their goals, and we invite athletes to talk to that point.”

The students returned to the Smith Fieldhouse for a pep rally and assembly after rotating through all the teams’ stations. The cheer team, dunk team and Cougarettes kicked off the show to thunderous applause and cheers from the kids. Cosmo the Cougar began the assembly portion with a speech of his own, thanks to the help of a Cougar translator.

Three student athletes followed Cosmo with speeches similarly focused on the importance of picking strong role models. Anna Richey, one of the captains of the all-girl cheer team, emphasized to the sixth-graders that they can achieve just as much as their heroes through small steps and perseverance. Soccer forward Ashley Hatch and football wide receiver Mitch Mathews then spoke, sharing stories of their own personal heroes.

Thursday’s event was the fourth time Chelsea Fairbourn has volunteered for Sports Hero Day. She explained that her repeated participation derives from the effects she observes in the sixth-graders each year, specifically citing an experience she had her freshman year with one quiet student.

“He was kind of left out from his group, alone, and I watched him as he got to interact with some of the athletes,” Fairbourn said. “As I pushed him to get involved, he totally changed. He came in with such a negative attitude, and he left completely different, so happy and upbeat.”

Despite the athletes’ designation as the heroes on Sports Hero Day, the purpose of the event is to help the sixth-graders understand they can achieve their goals.

“Our hope is that we point them in the direction of positive role models that are local, so they can connect with them in an ongoing process,” Fairbourn said. “My goal is that they recognize their hero and how to be a hero for somebody else.”

The 13-time National Champion BYU Cougarettes know how to entertain any audience.

The BYU Cougarettes are currently performing Cougarettes In Concert at the Covey Center for the Arts in Provo February 19–21. The performance showcases the many talented sides of the dancers and features a variety of inspirational dance numbers.

“We always want to leave an audience feeling entertained and inspired,” Cougarette Director Jodi Maxfield said.

The show mixes many different styles of dance that give the audience a taste of inspirational, motivational and romantic emotions. The Cougarettes are able to portray their passion for dance and expertise as a team through their unison and chemistry on stage.

The concert also features two special numbers. One dance features three of the Cougarettes playing piano, violin and singing as the rest of the team dances alongside them.

“I knew that we had a lot of talent beyond dancing in this group,” Maxfield said. “It was a great opportunity to showcase the depth of their talents and what we can really do, and it made it so special to use our own musicians to accompany our dancing.”

The other special number features 6-year-old cancer patient Taleah Stevenson. Stevenson dances with her aunt, Cougarette Tavia Orr, in a piece to represent her fight against cancer with the constant support of her loving mother.

“It is awesome to see (Stevenson and Orr) out there and so touching; every time I watch it it makes me feel something so deep,” Cougarette Savannah Martin Thompson said. “We all have hardships, but it’s cool that she got to share hers with us and touch us all with her life story.”

The Cougarettes perform with different styles and emotions to please everyone.

“It’s awesome to see the talent of the girls on my team and show them off,” Thompson said. “We get to do everything like spiritual numbers and then also hip hop. It makes it so versatile and so fun to do.”

The 13-time national champion Cougarettes have developed into a successful, evolving dance team since 1946.

“The Cougarettes have always been an important part of BYU,” said Jodi Maxfield, spirit director and Cougarettes coach. “I have taken the opportunity to turn them into a team that performs both for the games and is artistic as well.”

The Cougarettes began as a drill and marching team but later became a dance team performing for more than just the halftime show at a game. In 2000, they joined the Spirit Squad as part of the athletic department and have participated in other types of performances and competitions.

“We always try to bring in something to make it unique and different,” Maxfield said. “Whatever will bring a new, fresh perspective to the piece and enhance our show.”

The Cougarettes entertain by bringing something new to the table every year. They have performed with live musicians such as Vocal Point, and Cougarettes have played various instruments in other performances. They have featured guest dancers in their shows and have used audiovisual presentation and props to switch things up.

“We never want our show to be the same,” said Christy Miller, a Cougarette dance teacher. “We always want to do something new.”

One of the more noticeable changes for the dance team is hairstyles. The Cougarettes have always had similar hairstyles that set them apart as a team. In the seventies, they were required to have short hair during an era when long, Farrah Fawcett hair was the style.

“It was easy to pick out the girls who were a Cougarette on campus because of their short hair cuts,” Maxfield said.

In the nineties, the Cougarettes developed the “Coug-Do,” a curly, pulled-back hairstyle. Last year was the first year that the dancers were able to perform with their hair down instead of following the pattern of the past few decades.

The Cougarettes are anticipating more changes in the future, such as more travel and performing with other dancers, according to Miller.

“It was fun to participate in a show that had a wide variety of dance and get to know other dancers from other companies,” said Nesha Woodhouse, a former Cougarette. “There was such a great energy, and it was a special experience to be a part of the dance community at BYU.”

Throughout all the years and changing styles, Cougarettes have still always shared the same love of dance and the gospel. The Cougarettes have allowed thousands of girls to share their passion and beliefs while still entertaining Cougar fans in different forms, Miller said.

“They care so much about representing the Church in the right way,” she said. “They care about sharing their light and sharing the gospel.”

“My body is a gift. I will use it as an instrument to uplift and inspire others.”

This statement is posted on a wall at Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy. It is one of several statements that represent the core values that have guided BYU alumna Nesha Woodhouse in her role as the Lifehouse artistic director.

Different values are posted on the walls of seven dance studios at the Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy. “The values are positive and personally affirmative statements to remind the dancers of their larger purposes,” Woodhouse said.

“Who I am is more important than what I can do.”

“I will focus on my potential and not worry how I compare to others.”

“This is a safe haven, in these walls we treat each other with kindness and respect.”

These values and Woodhouse’s philosophy about dance began to take shape during her time at BYU. Woodhouse came to BYU and danced with the Cougarettes.  She took classes from Kim Yandow and Colleen West, who are still at BYU. She sites Yandow as one of her biggest influences.

“Kim asked, ‘Why? Why do you dance?’ She took the time to teach us about life. She taught us that we would be accountable for how we used our talents,” Woodhouse said. “I learned that talents should never be used to make people feel small. They should be used to uplift. This changed my perspective completely,”

Woodhouse originally intended to major in music dance theater but ended up studying psychology. “I believe my studio would be very different today. I would have been more career oriented,” Woodhouse said of the decision to change majors.

The beginnings of Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy were humble. Woodhouse had just moved to Elk Ridge, Utah, with her husband and newborn daughter.  Some of her neighbors found out about her dance background and asked if she would teach a couple of classes so they would not have to drive their daughters into a different town for classes. Woodhouse agreed and began teaching lessons in her home.

“My plan was to have 20 students between the ages of three and eight.” By the end of the third year she had more than 90 students.

“If, during that time 15 years ago, you had shown me where I would be today, I would have laughed. This wasn’t anything I had ever envisioned or planned. I was led by the Spirit, step by step,” Woodhouse said.

Throughout those early years, Woodhouse continued to dance in the Deseret Dance Theater, directed by Yandow. It was during this time that Woodhouse’s vision for dance was reinforced, and she began sharing that philosophy with her students. “I care more about who the students become than how they dance, and I feel the most joy as I see students support each other,” Woodhouse said.

It was during these early years that Jessica Purdy, a dance major and current member of the Ballet Showcase, first began dancing with Woodhouse. “I think the studio environment is especially nurturing at Lifehouse,” she said.

Another former student, Shanae Sainsbury, said, “Nesha always taught that family and the gospel were more important than anything else in our lives. The gospel should be at the root of everything we do in this life,” Sainsbury said. Sainsbury is a dance major and member of the BYU Theatre Ballet Company.

Soon the students outgrew Woodhouse’s first home, then a second home. After her third year, Woodhouse hired Christy Hill, the current director of ballet and also a BYU alumna. Hill helped manage the growth, but the number of students continued to increase, and the studio soon moved to a new space in Payson.

“With each move to a bigger location, I thought for sure that was the end,” Woodhouse reflected.

After a few years in Payson, her students had once again outgrown the facility, and Woodhouse decided it was time to build, this time in Salem. Today, Lifehouse has approximately 500 students taught by 16 teachers, 14 of whom graduated from BYU.

“BYU produces amazing talent,” Woodhouse said. “I have been fortunate to hire and find people who shared my vision for Lifehouse, and it would not be what it is today without them — both in size and in excellence.”

Finding a personal balance has been a constant issue for Woodhouse. She describes her balance as “busier” and notes that she is happiest with a full schedule. She has learned that balance is something that has to be re-evaluated along the way.

“I taught 12 classes last year; this year I only teach four. This has allowed me to get to know the teachers and students better. It has been a huge transition, but it allows me to spend time with each of my company students and present a seminar about the values I hold dear. We discuss what makes each dancer valuable and ask them, ‘Why do you dance?'” she said.

As the studio and her family grew, Woodhouse had to adapt. Over the years, she has chosen to home-school her children, and her husband left his career to help with the family and the studio full time.

“My favorite moments are when I can just be a mom. My kids study piano with Dr. Irene Perry-Fox here at BYU. I love doing that. I can just be totally there for them,” Woodhouse said.

Woodhouse also makes time for philanthropic work as a member of the board for Cambodian and International Children Friend Organization, an organization that benefits orphans in Cambodia. She was recently able to assist them on opening their own dance show featuring the Cambodian traditional style of dance, Khmer.

Unlike many studios, Lifehouse does not participate in competitions. Rather, rehearsals are focused on opportunities to perform. The studio holds five regular performances each season: a fireside, a children’s show, a ballet, a musical theater show and a spring recital. Lifehouse focuses on technique and individual improvement. These qualities attracted Tessa Fitzgerald, a pre-nursing student and BYU Ballet Showcase member, to Lifehouse.

“It’s not about competition or how good you are but rather what you have to offer, and that is a beautiful thing, because everyone can offer something beautiful,” Fitzgerald said.  “During my time at Lifehouse I learned how to work with people and love others and become at peace with my body.”

There are no established plans as to the future of Lifehouse. For now the studio will continue to accommodate as many students as it can. “I do believe in the way we teach dance,” Woodhouse said. “I think it is needed in the world. We have talked about opening other locations, but we will see.”

Woodhouse believes that everyone has a purpose for being alive. “Lifehouse has been one of my purposes, and I have learned so much and have been so blessed to know parents, students, and teachers,” she said. “It has been such a rich experience.”

For performance dates and additional information about Lifehouse Performing Arts Academy, visit www.lifehouseacademy.com.

The Cougarettes  leave a lasting spiritual impression on people’s hearts through dance and find missionary opportunities while competing, thanks to the dedication and vision of their coach.

Coach Jodi Maxfield has been dancing since she was a little girl, leading up to a stint with the Cougarettes from 1976 to 1979 as a BYU student. She returned in 1991 to coach the team and has helped the team to grow and reach new levels every year.

Maxfield told a story of a dancer several years ago who saw the Cougarettes perform at a competition and was so impressed with the team that she wanted to know more about them. As she became familiar with BYU, she began to take the missionary discussions and was later baptized. She then attended BYU and became a Cougarette.

“I think it is our responsibility as dancers to use dance in a positive way and uplift people,” Maxfield said. “My goal is to keep (the Cougarettes) raising the bar and becoming better as individuals, dancers and in the way we represent the university.”

Maxfield introduced the team to the competitive world outside of Provo back in 1994, which has led to 13 national championships. But it’s the increase in missionary opportunities, not the titles, that has Maxfield most proud.

“Through our performances and our success at competitions we have been able to spread the gospel,” Maxfield said.

Maxfield has dedicated 27 years to the Cougarettes and understands the importance of finding fulfillment on the stage as the team spreads the joy of the gospel.

“Jodi has worked really hard to build the program, and she really believes in the girls,” former Cougarette Nesha Woodhouse said.

Maxfield finds her pride in the light that the dancers let shine as they perform and seek to spread their love of Christ. She has helped the team to change and improve every year, but her goal is always the same – to help the girls become better people as they share the light of Christ.

“They are so much more than what you see on any basketball court or football field,” Maxfield said. “People don’t know what they are capable of, but then they come to their concerts and are blown away because they have felt something special and seen that light about them.”

It is a priority to Maxfield to impress upon her team the importance of the gospel mixed with their dance talent, according to senior Cougarette Meri Christensen. Maxfield starts practices with a prayer and spiritual thought and never takes a break from the team.

“At the end of the day, what you really remember is how you changed and how the Spirit influenced you,” Christensen said. “It’s those experiences that have changed me and those experiences that I will take with me as I leave the Cougarettes.”

Entertainment and class, that’s what the BYU Marching Band exemplifies every year. This year is no different.

With three shows to perform multiple times during the 2015 football season, the members of the marching band start preparation during a week-long band camp before school starts.

The band camp, nicknamed “sweat week,” holds the promise of long hours in the sun and sore bodies — but this year it held an additional surprise.

Canyon Road, located west of the stadium, was under construction during sweat week, meaning that construction equipment had spread into the west parking lot. A problem for band members, since the lot doubles as the marching band’s practice field.

BYU Marching Band Director Fred K. McInnis said he was surprised at the condition of their secondary practice “field.” Because street lights in the parking lot were being rewired, several holes had been drilled into the asphalt of the parking lot.

The construction on Canyon Road not only created potholes to avoid during drills, but also blocked band members from entering their asphalt practice field — since the marching band’s instruments, lockers and band room is located on the west side of the stadium.

“It got to be not only, ‘How do we rehearse on the west parking lot,'” McInnis said. “It got to be, ‘How do we even get to the west parking lot?'”

Blaine Blackman, the 23-year-old BYU Marching Band President and computer science major, explained that the only specific band formation that was really effected was what is called the “Stick Y” — the formation that is created by band members during the pre-game performance for football players to run through.

Though Blackman said that “construction wasn’t a huge deal,” flutist Rachel Miller, 22, a Classics major with a Ancient Greek emphasis, disagreed.

Miller explained that even after the holes were filled, the gravel filling made pivoting, or making sharp quick turns for the formations, difficult.

“We didn’t want to kill anyone,” Miller said.

Despite the unexpected state of their practice field, McInnis summarized the marching band experience in a few short words. “It worked, I wouldn’t want to do it again, but it worked.”

And things look like they will continue to work. Throughout the semester, the band meets three days a week for two hour practices in preparation for upcoming shows.

In the next home game, fans can expect to see the same precision drill show, but with a surprise twist that Cougars can look forward too. Future shows will also feature collaboration with the BYU Ballroom Backup Team,  the BYU Cougarettes working with a special needs dance group, and a surprise for their final show.

The Cougarettes will perform during the halftime show at the Connecticut game with a group of special-needs dancers from around Utah Valley on Friday night.

BYU marching band director Fred McInnis approached the Cougarettes over the summer with the idea to do the halftime show with special-needs kids. The Cougarettes perform various service activities throughout the year as part of their involvement in the program.

Cougarettes coach Jodi Maxfield coordinated with dance captains Erika Cox and Kayla Bagshaw to choreograph a routine for both the Cougarettes and the special-needs dancers. They recorded the routine and sent the video to all the dancers to learn on their own before coming together to rehearse.

The Cougarettes are a 15-time national champion collegiate dance team. Working with special-needs kids of various ages provided a new and exciting challenge for the team.

“I think we’ve all had experience working with special-needs dancers,” Maxfield said. “We just kind of knew we had to scale it down and do something fun for them.”

Maxfield wants the focus to be on these dancers and them having a fun time performing in such an energetic venue.

“Cougarettes are so focused on being really clean and together and precise, but that’s not what this is about,” Maxfield said. “This is about letting these sweet, beautiful young people come and have this experience of performing.”

Cox and Bagshaw had to work with a lot of external factors for this performance they aren’t used to. Typically the Cougarettes dance by themselves with a track playing. For this halftime show they’ve coordinated with the color guard and the band will play the music for their performance.

“We decided what would look best in a big setting like the stadium” Bagshaw said. “And as far as the band goes, we definitely had to play off their timing.”

Choreographing with so many different elements at play was a big challenge, but the hardest part was not having rehearsal with the special-needs dancers until the day before the performance.

“The biggest challenge was we didn’t have them with us so we made it up without them there,” Cox said. “But when we choreographed it we focused on what would be fun for them.”

Cox could feel the energy and excitement from the rest of the Cougarettes about performing with the special-needs dancers.

“Honestly we are so excited to work with the special-needs kids,” Cox said. “It is something so different from what we do everyday that honestly I’ve heard a ton of the girls be so excited about that.”

Bagshaw was excited to be able to perform at a football halftime show for the first time in four years.

“We don’t get the opportunity to perform at halftime very often,” Bagshaw said. “Even though it is with more people involved it’s going to be fun to do something and see the Cougarettes out on the field at halftime.”

Some of BYU’s most popular performing groups will share center stage with David Archuleta at this year’s BYU Spectacular during Homecoming week.

BYU Spectacular producer Michael Handley said there has never been such a high demand for tickets to the show.

“There’s a particular interest in David Archuleta,” Handley said. “That’s triggered the terrific box office response.”

Tickets went on sale in July, but after they sold out the BYU Alumni Association added 1,800 seats to each show — 3,600 extra seats total. This is possibly the first time a performance of BYU Spectacular has ever sold out, according to Handley. With the additional seating added, tickets are still available online.

The additional tickets mean that the audience will fill half the seats of the Marriott Center for the performances on Thursday, Oct. 8 and Friday, Oct. 9.

Handley said BYU students and alumni are not the only ones excited about Archuleta’s performance in the BYU Spectacular.

“All of the performing groups have expressed interest in performing with David,” Handley said. “I think the audience will really enjoy seeing our groups interact with him.”

Most of the music in the show, including Archuleta’s music, will be accompanied by the BYU jazz band Synthesis. Archuleta will also sing with Women’s Chorus and Vocal Point. The Contemporary Dance Theatre will also perform alongside him.

The Cougarettes will dance while Archuleta sings “Glorious,” the song he debuted in the movie “Meet the Mormons.”

Jennica Overman, a fourth-year Cougarette majoring in exercise and wellness, said she is looking forward to performing in BYU Spectacular.

“This will be extremely memorable for the Cougarettes,” Overman said. “It’s a unique experience to work with someone as well-known as David Archuleta.”

Overman said she also felt honored to work with the performing groups in BYU Spectacular.

“It’s great how all the different teams get to come together and celebrate the school’s history,” Overman said. “I’m excited to see what everyone brings to this year’s show.”

Handley said Archuleta seemed enthusiastic about performing with BYU groups as well.

“He was extremely interested and excited at our request to pair him off with our ensembles,” Handley said. “This is an opportunity that I don’t think he normally gets.”

This year’s Homecoming theme is “Make Your Mark.” BYU Spectacular will recognize Abraham O. Smoot for the way he influenced BYU history and made financial contributions during the school’s times of need.

“We owe a great debt of gratitude for his life and service to the university,” Handley said. “He is one who left his mark here, even though he died more than 100 years ago.”

BYU Spectacular will include a video presentation about Smoot’s life and influence on BYU.

Glenn Anderson, the producer of the video on Smoot’s life, brought up the great impact Smoot had on BYU.

“He has a fingerprint on so much of what BYU is today,” Anderson said. “He took a great interest in the academy.”

The video will segue into the show’s final numbers.

“There will be this long thread about making our mark,” Handley said. “The purpose of the university is to prepare us to go out into the world and make our own individual marks and fill the world with love.”

BYU Spectacular is one of many school-sponsored events during Homecoming week. Other popular events include True Blue Foam and the Homecoming dances, all leading up to Saturday’s football game against the East Carolina Pirates at 5:30 p.m. at Lavell Edwards Stadium.

The 2015 BYU Homecoming week officially begins Tuesday, Oct. 6, and ends Saturday, Oct. 10. A full schedule of Homecoming events can be found at homecoming.byu.edu.

Four hours in and everyone is dripping with sweat. Mentally and physically exhausted, the Cougarettes aren’t even halfway through their practice.

Royal Flux Dance’s Artistic Director Jaci Royal came to BYU for two days in November to teach the Cougarettes choreography for an upcoming show. The Cougarettes typically spend a few hours a day practicing, but when a choreographer like Royal comes to town, they go all out.

Jennica Overman is one of three fourth-years on the Cougarettes and has worked with Royal three times now. Overman loves working with Royal even though the choreography is extremely demanding.

“She’s unlike any other choreographer,” Overman said. “She definitely pushes you to your limits.”

The Cougarettes always put on a great show, but the hours of learning choreography and perfecting it often go unrecognized. Between rehearsal, games and individual practices, the Cougarettes spend upwards of 20 hours a week dancing.

Expectations for learning the choreography are high for the Cougarettes. They’re required to have it the first or second time through. Sometimes they’ll even learn a piece, dance it once or twice, and then head up to whatever game they’re performing at.

McKenna Juergens is another one of the three fourth-years on the Cougarettes. She’s used to the expectations now, but the adjustment was a challenge at first.

“At my studio we learned [choreography] pretty slow,” Juergens said. “When I first came on the Cougarettes I was stunned at how fast we had to pick it up.”

The Cougarettes have a wide variety of experience in dance, from hip hop to ballet. They also have varying talents for picking up choreography. Rachel Nash was on Alta Dance Company in high school and while she’s a fantastic dancer, choreography hasn’t come easily to her.

“You have to pick up choreography really fast,” Nash said. “All growing up that was the thing that I struggled the most with.”

Many of the Cougarettes have their own way of remembering choreography. Juergens says what the move looks like to herself and rarely uses counts. Nash uses similar techniques with noises and sounds that match how short or long the movement is. Ultimately, it comes down to practice.

“Whenever I get a second I’ll go over it as full out as I can,” Nash said. “I’m just constantly doing it so when I come back to practice next time I have it down.”

One of the major differences for a lot of the Cougarettes is that they weren’t used to performing or competing, especially at such a high level. Shanae Sainsbury had never worked with Royal before and she really had to push herself beyond what she’s used to.

“The bar is set really high, but it inspires you and pushes you to reach that bar,” Sainsbury said. “It helps you to find potential within yourself you didn’t know you had because that expectation is there.”

The Cougarettes continue to bring Royal back because she has such a unique perspective on choreography. Royal’s choreography has been featured most famously on FOX’s Emmy-winning show “So You Think You Can Dance.”

“[Working with Jaci] was amazing, she’s so visionary,” Juergens said. “It was one of my favorite experiences on Cougarettes.”

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