Last Friday, April 4, marked the date of the annual Rosette tryouts, and determined who will be a part of the 2014-2015 team.

Tryouts consisted of a Monday to Wednesday clinic where candidates learned jazz and kick dances. Thursday was a mock tryout, and Friday was the actual tryout.

“The week before tryouts, the current Rosette officers teach you both a jazz dance and a kick dance,” freshman Caitlin Middleton said. “You also learn across-the-floor combinations so the judges can see your technique.”

Girls trying out for Rosette officer for next year are required to attend and help out with the clinics. Each tryout group is assigned to an officer candidate to help them learn the dances and prepare for tryouts.

“It’s an intense and fast-paced process,” Caitlin said. “We learn the dances on the first day at the clinic and clean and practice them as much as we can the rest of the week.”

This year, there were 86 Rosette candidates trying out, organized into groups of 5 based on height. Tryouts lasted late Friday night and results were posted on the Rosette website, announcing that 22 new girls made the team.

“It’s just really nerve-racking,” sophomore Michelle Bassil said. “We’re performing routines we learned four days before in front of three judges who are looking at every detail of what you do. We’re expected to be able to do the dance like we’ve known it for months.”

Incoming freshmen through juniors are allowed to try out, whether they are already on the team or not. Once they’ve made the team, Rosettes are required to try out two years in a row before they are part of the team by default.

“I’ve been working on preparing my mind,” freshman Caroline Mullins said. “I try not to imagine the future either way, whether I make it or not, and just focus on being the best dancer I can.”

There are many options for candidates who don’t make the team. Rosette director Hannah Elmore offers a Drill Team Prep class to work on drill team techniques for next year.

“I took Drill Team Prep last semester and it helped a lot,” Caitlin said. “We worked on leaps and turns that are key for tryouts, and Ms. Elmore really helped us learn how to be sassy and truly perform.”

After tryouts, the rookies have extra practices with the rest of the team for Rosette Showoffs on this Saturday, April 12.

“No matter what happens, I love dance and I’ll keep working at it,” Michelle said. “It’s a good experience, and we’re all going to enjoy it.”