The Simpson College dance team welcomed a new coach this year, Lindsay Taylor. Taylor is a 2016 Simpson dance team alum hired over the summer.

Taylor’s impact was noticeable on the first day of practice.

“Coach seemed very prepared even though she was hired late, as well. She was ready for the season to start with a packet so we knew the schedule and expectations,” junior dance team co-captain Leah Edel said.

Before coming to Simpson, Taylor had taught dance for several years at a studio near her hometown in Omaha, Neb. Then in 2017, she started as the head dance coach at Indianola High School. 

Coming in, team members didn’t know what to expect from Taylor.

“Coach, of course, ran things a bit different. She had similar ways of doing some activities but changed some things. We worked more on skills, strength and conditioning but still started and finished learning one state routine choreography,” sophomore dancer Sydney Alt said.

Taylor graduated with a degree in marketing and a minor in human resources, and was a four-year member of the dance team serving as captain her senior year. She also choreographed many performance routines. 

“I am extremely excited for the opportunity to be back as an alumna leading a team that gave so much to me when I was a student,” Taylor said. “Simpson College dance team has a strong history of state and conference titles, and I am eager to see what we can accomplish this year.”

Taylor came in with a plan to get to know all the team members and bring the team together.

“During camp week, coach talked to us all individually to be able to talk about our goals and get to know each other. We are mainly getting to know her by her practices and how she handles herself there,” Alt said. 

The style Taylor uses is something that the team appreciates.

“Coach has an outlook of if you have to do it, so do I. Coach gets up and does stuff with us, which makes it feel more like she cares,” Edel said. 

The team values the day-to-day communication that is sent out from Taylor.

“She is very organized. She posts what we will do in practice on our team group page, so we are mentally prepared for what we get to do that day,” Alt said. 

Youth will be a factor for the squad this season.

“A struggle this year is that we lost four seniors last year, and we have no seniors this year. Though we have three great first-years to fill those spots,” Edel said, “This year, we have two competitions: state in Des Moines and conference in Dubuque. We have started off strong learning one of three routines for state and football game shows, and we like the choreography so far.” 

To raise money to attend these competitions the Dance team has done a car wash fundraiser and they are selling dance team apparel.

For now, catch the dance team performing at halftime of the Simpson football games.