The University of Michigan Dance Team, which performs on the sidelines at every home football and basketball game, is adding a new member to its successful squad — a member who will make history.
Future Dance Team member Brendan Ryan is “the first boy in history to make the University of Michigan Dance Team,” as he tweeted Sunday afternoon.
Final cuts for the team took place over the weekend, after which Ryan was officially named to the team.
Ryan’s accomplishment was widely celebrated by family and friends, and one of Ryan’s previous dance partners was particularly excited about the news.
The Michigan Dance Team is composed of over 20 undergraduate students and, in addition to performing at sporting events, performs annually at the Universal Dance Association’s College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship held in Orlando, Fla. The team consistently places in the top 10 at this national competition.
Prior to the addition of Ryan to the team, the Michigan Dance Team was an all-female group. In fact, one of the “Frequently Asked Questions” on the team’s website asks how many girls are usually taken on the team.
Ryan could not provide comment to the Michigan Daily.
The addition of Ryan to the team will add a new face to the sidelines next year, but for now, as one of Ryan’s Twitter supporters noted, this is history in the making.