Aug 17, 2010 9:27:39 AM

Edgewood College announced it will make dance the school's 16th varsity sport beginning this year.

The Edgewood dance team has existed as a student organization in the resident life department for several years but will now be elevated to varsity sport status. Tiffany Campbell, who began coaching the squad last year, will continue in the same role and become the Eagles' first varsity coach for the sport.

"Establishing the team as a part of the athletics department is going to provide the dance team with an array of new opportunities," said Campbell.

Campbell, a graduate of Bellhaven College, is a professional dancer, actress, choreographer and model. As a student at Bellhaven she founded the school's first dance team. She most recently served as the dance team coordinator and choreographer for the Milwaukee Iron's Platinum Dance Team in the Arena Football League 2 in 2009. Campbell specializes in performance team training, jazz, ballet, lyrical dance and hip-hop.

The dance team will continue to perform at other Edgewood College home events but will explore new opportunities as varsity team. The Eagles plan to eventually enter competitive dance team competitions, conduct clinics for younger dance students and widen the variety of events at which they perform.

"The timing is right for the program to take the next logical step and become a varsity sport," said Athletics Director Al Brisack. "This sport has grown tremendously and the participants work very hard at their skill. The dance team will be another group of Eagle student-athletes dedicated to reaching their potential in the classroom, in their community and in their sport. I have no doubt these student-athletes will perform at a high level of precision and entertainment."

This is the second varsity sport Edgewood has added in 2010. In January, the Eagles announced that men's tennis would return as a varsity sport after a 10-year absence. Men's tennis will begin practice this fall and conduct most of its competitions in the spring of 2011.