LU Dance team thrives in first season under direction of former NFL cheerleader

The 2023-24 season was a transformational one for Liberty University's Club Sports dance team, LU Dance, under the direction of first-year Head Coach Christine Ewald.

Formerly known as the Flamettes until 2022, the team showcased its talents at a variety of Liberty Athletics and Club Sports events this year, from Flames Football and Men's and Women's Basketball to Men's Hockey and Men's Lacrosse games. LU Dance flew to the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Day to perform in events leading up to and during the game against Oregon at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. It also placed third in the Division I Pom division of its first Dance Team Union virtual College Classic competition, with a video entry recorded during one of its stunning basketball halftime shows.

"It's just been incredible being with the dance team," said Ewald, who formerly performed with the Dallas Cowboys and Tampa Bay Buccaneers' cheerleading squads. "I've been super blessed to have been given this opportunity as coach. The girls are talented and hard-working and they love Jesus and they just do everything with excellence, so I just feel really blessed to coach them."

Kylie Engle, a freshman from Ohio who is pursuing a B.S. in Criminal Justice with minors in Global Studies and Psychology with plans to go to law school after graduating in 2027, was thrilled to be a part of the newly flourishing program.

"As a freshman, it's been really cool to be a part of a newer team because I've got to experience all of the firsts and it's just a first for me completely," Engle said. "I've been blessed to be on this team with an amazing coach. We've gotten to do so many fun events … and had some really cool routines. I've looked up to these girls since I was a little girl and now I'm actually here so it's crazy."

Seniors such as Jill Myers and Elizabeth Hubbard have witnessed the metamorphosis of the program over the past four years.

"I've seen the team grow from being the Flamettes my freshman year and now being a Club Sport and being LU Dance," Myers said. "This year has been really cool being in the end zone for football games and this being our first year competing. So a lot more opportunities and a lot more different experiences, having lifts in the morning and Club Sports being there to support us with whatever we need when it comes to our academics as well as physical aspects with athletic trainers."

"We've had amazing opportunities this year as the program has grown," Hubbard added. "The Fiesta Bowl was incredible just to go out there and represent Liberty and just to dance for Christ out there. We've done this whole halftime show for basketball games with the Liberty Indoor Drumline team and Liberty Cheerleading and that's been a really fun experience."
Ewald said the team invested tremendous amount of time and effort into their training and practices.

"The girls do strength and training twice a week, they rehearse in the studio about three times a week, anywhere from 6 to 10 hours, depending on what season we're in," Ewald said. "I have a rehearsal with my captains on Mondays and am able to teach them, we are able to co-create, and we teach the team. A lot of work goes into all of these rehearsals for those opportunities to perform, but they do a really great job and they work really, really hard."

"We just have to come in mentally malleable, to be able to pick up choreography and be able to turn things around in a week to go out and perform," Hubbard added. "We have the unique thing of coming up with music and choreography to put out there very quickly. We're also training to be ready for competition as well."

Engle said the spiritual development within the heart and mind of every girl on the team was evident as the season progressed.

"The team wants to grow in the Lord and with that, everything else flows from it," she said. "Just being a part of this team (means) to grow with each other in Christ and also to just grow as a team, whether that's in our technique or in our skills. Everything that we do, whether it's competing or if it's in a game, we're doing it all to the best of our ability to honor the Lord. We also want to grow in competition, to use the skills, use the gifts that the girls have been given for this team to be able to grow this program overall and be able to represent Liberty the best way that we can."

Hubbard said the team has grown in confidence with the success of its first College Classic performance and is looking to continue to take leaps of faith as a program in the future.

"We hope to one day compete at (the national championships), where our cheer team here competes, too, and just pushing that level of athleticism," she said. "We just hope that this team continues being an environment where not only do we grow in dance but we grow in our love for the Lord."

Video by Kylee (Lilge) Wright/Club Sports Video & Media Coordinator

LU Dance team thrives in first season under direction of former NFL cheerleader

Players Mentioned

Elizabeth Hubbard

Jill Myers

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