Holy Cross
Ballroom Dance Team
Emily Fischer - 2016
Co-Chair
Email: emfisc16@g.holycross.edu
Major: English & Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration
Hometown: Westwood, NJ.
Dance Level: Silver
Favorite Dance(s): Viennese Waltz
Emily is a junior who works in Dean Paco’s office, loves to binge-watch Netflix, and has an obsession with decorating for the holidays. She is involved with SIP (summer internship program), has a younger sister and a dog, and loves Harry Potter. Emily enjoys dancing, singing, baking, and rearranging furniture. She has many talents outside of ballroom, including speaking Parseltongue, being an expert procrastinator, and being an amazing roommate. Originally dragged to a ballroom practice freshmen year, Emily has since found a family on the team, and loves her teammates! She also believes that ballroom dance is great exercise.
Justin Grabowski - 2015
Co-Chair
Email: jagrab15@g.holycross.edu
Major: Philosophy
Hometown: Beverly, MA.
Dance Level: Silver
Dance Partner: Taylor Silva
Favorite Dance(s): All of them!
Justin Grabowski is a senior currently serving as the Student Resident Director of Carlin Hall. Although these days he can't stop dancing, he originally joined the team to find a place where he could be himself. Over time, through the gentle encouragement of the team, Justin learned to love dancing. In his free time, Justin makes philosophical efforts to determine the nature of the spice of life, but also likes magic, hypnosis, and mentalism. Many moons ago, Justin was a professional magician, until "The Incident.
Melanie Collins - 2015
Captain
Email: mecoll15@g.holycross.edu
Major: Biology
Hometown: Beverly, MA.
Dance Level: Silver
Favorite Dance(s): All of them!
As the honorary team gymnast, Melanie is a senior who loves to climb things. She enjoys standing on her hands, singing, and reading novels. Melanie dances because she believes it is the absolute best feeling, and has found that the ballroom dance team is her favorite part of Holy Cross. Interestingly, Melanie has once flew a plane, lived in East Africa for three months, and has earned a black band at Camp Berea by swimming 1.9 miles across a lake at 6 am.
Taylor Silva - 2015
Captain
Email: tnsilv15@g.holycross.edu
Major: English & Peace and Conflict Studies Concentration
Hometown: Bethel, CT.
Dance Level: Silver
Dance Partner: Justin Grabowski
Favorite Dance(s): Viennese Waltz & Swing
Taylor is a senior silver-level dancer and team captain who is also a student worker at Dinand Library, a member of HC Dance Marathon's Steering Committee and co-chair of the Purple Patcher yearbook. If she isn't in the ballroom you can most likely find her tucked away somewhere with a book. Her favorite color is green, she was once bit by an emu, and she probably wouldn't function without coffee, preferably caramel-flavored. Taylor says she can’t imagine what her college life would have been like without the HC Ballroom Dance Team, and she will miss the Thursdays in 401 when she graduates.
Kira Niederhoffer - 2016
Treasurer
Email: klnied15@g.holycross.edu
Major: Chemistry - Bio-Chemistry
Hometown: Weston, CT.
Dance Level: Silver
Dance Partner: Rob Chevalier
Favorite Dance(s): Watlz
As a chemistry major in her junior year, Kira is involved with the SPUD program, and provides ESL to Holy Cross staff. She works in an inorganic chemistry lab, is a member of the science ambassadors, and is addicted to young adult fantasy novels. Kira has many talents outside of ballroom dance. She can eat fire, juggle, and make a mean chicken potpie. Kira dances because it gives her a break from her academics and time to hang out with her friends!
Shannon Kay - 2016
Competition Coordinator
Email: smkay16@g.holycross.edu
Major: Psychology & Sociology
Hometown: New City, NY.
Dance Level: Silver
Dance Partner: Lauren Tilmont
Favorite Dance(s): Cha-Cha & Swing
Shannon, aka “Ray of Sunshan”, is an active junior, who is involved with the Student Art Society, Sader Nights Crew, Carlin House Council, and the Running Club. In her free time, she loves to bake, decorate, listen to music, and goof off with her friends and roommates. Those who know Shannon well know that she also suffers from a serious chocolate addiction, and will begin attending Chocoholics Anonymous with team Co-Captain Melanie Collins. Shannon is a member of the team because no matter how crazy things can get on campus, all of the stress stops at ballroom for great music, tons of fun, and friends! Ballroom is the place where Shannon became friends with some of the “most wonderful people” she has ever met, and she has her lovely Lady Leader, Lauren Tilmont, to thank for persuading her to become a part of this amazing team!
Natalie Correa - 2017
Secretary
Email: nacorr17@g.holycross.edu
Major: English
Hometown: Fair Lawn, NJ.
Dance Level: Bronze
Favorite Dance(s): Cha-Cha
Natalie is a busy sophomore, who is involved with The Crusader, the Writer’s Workshop, Holy Cross Admissions, A.C.T., and the Fashion Society. She is an English major from New York City, and has two younger brothers. Natalie was once asked to be featured in a song for a Christmas album, which is currently on iTunes. She is a member of the team because it has always been an aspiration of hers to practice ballroom dance. She has found that ballroom dance has allowed her to learn a life skill, meet new people, and have fun in the world of costumes and glam! In addition to that, ballroom serves as a stress reliever for Natalie, leading her to happiness, friendships, and many memories.
Natalie Sanchez - 2016
Publicist & Website Designer
Email: ncsanc16@g.holycross.edu
Major: Sociology, Visual Arts - Studio Minor
Hometown: Nashua, NH.
Dance Level: Silver
Favorite Dance(s): Rumba & Tango
Natalie is a junior who, when not at ballroom, works at Dinand library, is a member of COPE, occasionally writes for The Crusader, and photographs for the Purple Patcher Yearbook. In her spare time, she enjoys playing with her younger siblings, baking, taking pictures, and hanging out with friends. Natalie is an expert at napping, making apple crisp, and giving hugs. She is addicted to Chipotle, but refuses to acknowledge her dependency on burrito bowls. Having danced her entire life, she was attracted the ballroom team at the start of her freshmen year. As time went on, she realized that ballroom was the perfect place to derp around with her friends, channel her sass through dance, and be herself.
Gary Jacobik & Pat Connolly
Coaches
Jamie Herrick
Faculty Advisor
Jamie Herrick has worked at Holy Cross for 19 years. For 17 years she was the Organic Chemistry Lab Supervisor and is now the Chemical Hygiene and Radiation Safety Officer for the College. During the Spring 2006 semester she participated in the first "Dancing with the Stars" event at Holy Cross dancing the Tango with Nate Campbell, '08. Since then she has become an avid watcher of the TV show, Dancing with the Stars, and has gained a huge respect for the ballroom dancers at Holy Cross.