Conference tournaments are about basketball but also so much more: the fans, bands, cheerleaders, etc. The CAA Tournament is taking place in Washington, DC this weekend and we could not be more excited to be there in person! HoopsHD will be covering all of the angles so you can look forward to a cascade of coverage in the days ahead. Jon Teitel’s next interview subject is Elon dancer Lindsey Rothenstein, who talked about her role as social media manager and her team’s special postseason halftime routine.
You grew up in Bethesda, MD: what made you choose Elon, and are any of your family/friends here at the tourney? I have a few family members here because it is so close to home. Elon has an incredible variety of academic programs, which was a huge draw for me. I was very interested in dancing during college and fell in love with it during tryouts.
You have been on the team for a few years: how did you 1st get involved, and what is the best part? I have always had a love for performing. Being part of something bigger than myself is the best part and I love doing it year-round.
What do you think the role of a college dancer is today, and how has it changed over time? We used to be more stuck to the sidelines for entertainment value. Recently there has been more publicity/social media about women in sports, which has reestablished us as our own program instead of simply “accessories”.
You are majoring in Political Science and double-minoring in International/Global Studies and Marketing: why did you pick those subjects, and what do you hope to do after graduating? I am very interested in politics and love learning about history so maybe I will attend business school or work in marketing.
You are 1 of the squad’s social media managers: what kind of responsibilities do you have? We promote a lot of the athletic/community events and do a lot of hard work behind the scenes. We have been able to grow our following, which helps give us a better presence and allows people to make a connection with athletics.
Elon was the only CAA team to play Duke during Coach K’s final year: did you get to go, and what was it like to be at Cameron Indoor Stadium? No: I love international affairs and got to study abroad in Florence last semester, which is another great thing about being on the dance team.
What is the atmosphere like on campus this week now that the conference tournament is here? Everyone is definitely excited: we have had a phenomenal turnout in our student section this year that is the best that I have ever seen. Our friends back home are hoping to not see us in person for a while!
How does your school decide who gets to go to DC, and what does it mean to you to see your group doing their thing in front of a national TV audience? It is amazing that Elon gives the band/cheer/dance teams the chance to attend the conference tourney. We take 12 dancers out of the 18 on our squad: it is mostly based on seniority/experience.
Does your squad have anything extra-special planned for the CAA Tournament this weekend? We have 2 members who choreographed our halftime routine and we are excited to try it out. Our team has done a great job this year and will feed off of the crowd’s energy: “Go Phoenix!”