WHO WE ARE
The primary mission of the Loyola University Maryland Dance Team is to function as a spirit support group, and represent the University, Department of Recreation & Wellness, Athletics, and the Patriot League in a positive manner.
The Loyola University Maryland Dance Team performs at all home men’s and women’s basketball games in addition to making numerous appearances at other athletic, campus, and community events. Members of the team are required to attend NDA College Camp in August each year. Additionally, we compete at NDA College Nationals in Division I.
We typically practice 3 times a week and our practices include technical training as well as additional strength & conditioning sessions each week. In addition to our practices, we host team bonding activities throughout the season and are actively involved in fundraising or volunteer opportunities.
The Loyola University Maryland Dance Team performs at all home men’s and women’s basketball games in addition to making numerous appearances at other athletic, campus, and community events. Members of the team are required to attend NDA College Camp in August each year. Additionally, we compete at NDA College Nationals in Division I.
We typically practice 3 times a week and our practices include technical training as well as additional strength & conditioning sessions each week. In addition to our practices, we host team bonding activities throughout the season and are actively involved in fundraising or volunteer opportunities.
MEET THE COACHES
HEAD COACH | CHRISTINA GEORGE
Christina is a New Jersey native in her 10th season as Head Coach of the Loyola University Maryland Dance Team. She grew up a competitive studio dancer competing in all styles of dance including jazz, pom, hip hop, ballet, lyrical, tap, and baton twirling.
Christina is a graduate of East Carolina University where she earned a B.S. in Sports Studies while serving as a team member & captain of the East Carolina University Dance Team. During her time at ECU, Christina was recognized as an NDA Collegiate All-American, Top Gun Leaper & Turner, and had multiple top 5 finishes in Division IA Team Performance and Hip Hop at NDA College Nationals.
Since taking over the Loyola Dance Team in 2015, Christina has enhanced the team’s overall reputation by increasing campus and community awareness, growing the team’s social media following, driving increased funds, and brought the team to their first NDA College Nationals in 2022. In just 2 short years, the team finished 6th in Division I Team Performance in 2024 with their highest placement and scores in school history. Prior to competing at NDA College Nationals, Christina lead the Loyola Dance Team to back-to-back Divisional titles for Division I Pom at the UDA DC Dance Championship.
In 2017, Christina graduated with her master's degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University, and currently works for Loyola Athletics as the Assistant Director of Strategic Marketing. Before beginning her current role in Athletics, Christina was a sales rep for Varsity Spirit Fashion and served an unprecedent 3-year term as a member of the Varsity Dance Council. Christina has been a volunteer for the National Dance Coaches Association since 2020 in marketing/strategic communications and earned the NDCA’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022. With the help of colleagues at the NDCA, Christina founded and currently serves as President of the Maryland State Dance Team Association which officially launched in March 2021.
Christina is a graduate of East Carolina University where she earned a B.S. in Sports Studies while serving as a team member & captain of the East Carolina University Dance Team. During her time at ECU, Christina was recognized as an NDA Collegiate All-American, Top Gun Leaper & Turner, and had multiple top 5 finishes in Division IA Team Performance and Hip Hop at NDA College Nationals.
Since taking over the Loyola Dance Team in 2015, Christina has enhanced the team’s overall reputation by increasing campus and community awareness, growing the team’s social media following, driving increased funds, and brought the team to their first NDA College Nationals in 2022. In just 2 short years, the team finished 6th in Division I Team Performance in 2024 with their highest placement and scores in school history. Prior to competing at NDA College Nationals, Christina lead the Loyola Dance Team to back-to-back Divisional titles for Division I Pom at the UDA DC Dance Championship.
In 2017, Christina graduated with her master's degree in Sports Industry Management from Georgetown University, and currently works for Loyola Athletics as the Assistant Director of Strategic Marketing. Before beginning her current role in Athletics, Christina was a sales rep for Varsity Spirit Fashion and served an unprecedent 3-year term as a member of the Varsity Dance Council. Christina has been a volunteer for the National Dance Coaches Association since 2020 in marketing/strategic communications and earned the NDCA’s Volunteer of the Year Award in 2022. With the help of colleagues at the NDCA, Christina founded and currently serves as President of the Maryland State Dance Team Association which officially launched in March 2021.
ASSISTANT COACH | ALEXA BLANCHARD
Alexa returns to the LUDT for her 6th season, and second season as Head Coach. Alexa has over 25 years of dance experience anchored by her classical ballet training at the Washington School of Ballet in DC. She then joined her high school’s dance team in Montgomery County, MD where she helped lead the team to multiple county-wide wins as a captain. Alexa graduated from Wake Forest University in 2015 with a B.S. in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Neuroscience. While at WFU, she was a 4-yr member & captain of the Wake Forest Dance Team and 4-yr member of the WFU Dance Company. Alexa traveled with the football team for two years, performing across the country at other ACC schools including Clemson, Notre Dame, Miami University, and Florida State.
In 2015, Alexa returned to Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD as the Head Coach of the Poms Team. Over her five-year tenure, the team won three county-wide championship titles, multiple invitational competitions, and moved from competing in Division III to Division I. Her high school dancers have gone on to dance at Hampton University, Duke, University of Delaware, and Boston University. During this time, Alexa also began her medical school training as a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In 2022, Alexa and her husband Zac welcomed their first baby, Jude, to their family!
In 2015, Alexa returned to Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda, MD as the Head Coach of the Poms Team. Over her five-year tenure, the team won three county-wide championship titles, multiple invitational competitions, and moved from competing in Division III to Division I. Her high school dancers have gone on to dance at Hampton University, Duke, University of Delaware, and Boston University. During this time, Alexa also began her medical school training as a graduate student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. In 2022, Alexa and her husband Zac welcomed their first baby, Jude, to their family!
ASSISTANT COACH | SOPHIA BENFIELD
Sophia returns to Loyola as the assistant coach for her 2nd season, after graduating Loyola in 2020. Before college, Sophia danced competitively at Arts ‘n Motion in Odenton, MD, and has experience in jazz, lyrical, contemporary, ballet, and tap. She attended Archbishop Spalding High School where she joined the dance team and was on the team all four years she was at Spalding. The team competed at UDA High School Nationals in many different styles, including jazz and pom, and consistently placed top 15 in the nation. During her time there, the team placed 13th both her Junior Year and Senior Year where she served as captain.
After graduating, Sophia attended Loyola University Maryland and was on the dance team for all four years. While on the Loyola Dance Team, Sophia performed at all home basketball and lacrosse games, attended UDA camp, and competed at regional UDA competitions. She was appointed the team's first ever junior captain and held the role through her senior year. Sophia's senior season was unfortunately cut short due to COVID, but she did graduate with her Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Writing. She currently works in the technology field, and is excited to return to Loyola as an assistant coach of the Dance Team as dance has been in her life for so many years!
After graduating, Sophia attended Loyola University Maryland and was on the dance team for all four years. While on the Loyola Dance Team, Sophia performed at all home basketball and lacrosse games, attended UDA camp, and competed at regional UDA competitions. She was appointed the team's first ever junior captain and held the role through her senior year. Sophia's senior season was unfortunately cut short due to COVID, but she did graduate with her Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Writing. She currently works in the technology field, and is excited to return to Loyola as an assistant coach of the Dance Team as dance has been in her life for so many years!
The Loyola Maryland Dance Team Coaches are proud members of the National Dance Coaches Association.
Christina and Alexa collaboratively co-founded the Maryland State Dance Team Association and serve on the Association's Executive Board.
Christina and Alexa collaboratively co-founded the Maryland State Dance Team Association and serve on the Association's Executive Board.
MEET The leadership team
Captain: Kaitlyn C.
Co-Captain: Kimmy P.
Co-Captain: Olivia L.
Social Media Coordinator: Asia G.
Social Media Co-Coordinator: Mary Kate M.
Fundraising & Community Coordinator: Livia S.
Co-Captain: Kimmy P.
Co-Captain: Olivia L.
Social Media Coordinator: Asia G.
Social Media Co-Coordinator: Mary Kate M.
Fundraising & Community Coordinator: Livia S.