A recent change in the partnership between Otter Athletics and Otter Dance Team has granted the team permission to use the rebranded logo on new uniforms.
The Otter Dance Team has been sharing their spirit with Cal State Monterey Bay (CSUMB) for over 16 years now. The Sports Club Council (SCC) oversees the governance of sports clubs, providing guidelines and funds for the various organizations, including the Otter Dance Team.
“The dance team falls under a club, meaning we have to pay for everything ourselves,” said Katilyn Ball, president of the Otter Dance Team. “We just get a certain amount of money from the SCC board.”
The Otter Dance Team is not considered an official athletics team on campus, so they are not automatically granted usage of the new Otter Athletics logo.
The Otter Dance Team board members (Ball, Kelcey Simic, Giulianna Landzaat and Naia Concepcion) and their coach (Grace Sanchez, an alumni of the team) have been working throughout the spring and summer in order to get the correct licensing of the new logo.
“I would say, the longest part (of the process) was the licensing, making sure everything was right since we are mainly student run,” Ball said. “We’re one of the first clubs to initiate this usage of the new brand. We were kind of really putting ourselves out there to try to figure it out on our own, but I would say that was the hardest part, like, where to start and how to build that connection with athletics.”
The new uniforms have contributed to a more cohesive look at sports performances club members say. Additionally, the partnership has contributed to the Otter Dance Team, “gaining traction with other teams,” said Ball, with new performance opportunities in the works for the future, possibly with the Monterey Bay Football Club.
A close connection to the Otter Dance Team is the women’s volleyball team says Ball, “They’ve been super awesome”
“Otter Dance Team is seen as a safe place and area of community for its members,” said Ball. “We’re all able to dance, just have fun together, build friendships. And we have a place on campus where we all feel like we belong.”
“The members of Otter Dance Team are more than just teammates, Ball said, “We also feel comfortable to talk about all the issues that come up being a student because it’s not easy. And we found a good community to come to and lean on each other when we need to.”
This team dynamic and community isn’t held up by itself, the leaders on the team put in a lot of time and effort in order to keep the team successful, especially as a fully student-led organization it can become a lot to balance.
“We are all putting in a lot of hours outside of those designated eight hours of practice,” Ball said. “Usually that takes place on a Sunday, and we can be in the studio from anywhere from, like 3 to 6 hours on Sundays, where we’re just choreographing routines or planning what fundraisers we’re going to do next.”
These hours and dedication aren’t just within the fall and spring semesters, “Also throughout the summer, we actually meet, about once a week for on average two hours, and we just try to plan as much as we can for, the year, so that not as much is on our plates during the semester,” Ball said.
A way to support the Otter Dance Team is by participating in the workshops they hold twice a semester. These workshops are open to all experience levels, anyone can come, warm up, stretch, and learn a choreographed routine. The workshops cost $5 directly supporting the team. The best methods to keep in touch with the Otter Dance Team is through their Instagram @otter_dance_team and MyRaft.
“I think that’s what makes the club super special, too. It’s run by people who are super passionate,” Ball said, “and they want to create a space for other students to feel comfortable and welcome.”