Lancer Dancers
2/8/2018 10:45:00 AM | Cheerleading, Dance
RIVERSIDE, Calif. — In preparation for the new California Baptist University dance team, which will begin performing in fall 2018, the Lancers announced Kristy Kane Mapes as the first leader of the squad Monday.
"I'd like to thank CBU President Dr. Ronald L. Ellis, Vice President Kent Dacus and Director of Athletics Dr. Micah Parker for this wonderful opportunity," said Kane Mapes. "I'm looking forward to starting this dance team and contribute to the success of CBU Athletics."
The Riverside native has owned and acted as the Artistic Director of Kane Dance Academy for 35 years. There, she trains her staff of 15-plus employees and teaches all dance styles, along with producing shows, camps and events.
Kane Mapes has been named the Best Choreographer and Teacher of the Year for both regional and national competitions and her studio was named the Studio of the Year. As a professional choreographer, Kane Mapes has choreographed for the Los Angeles Clipper Girl, television shows, Industrials, musicals and the Peach Bowl halftime performance.
Alumni from the Kane Dance Academy have gone on to work in professional musicals like "Wicked;" work at Disneyland, Disneyworld and Disney Tokyo; work on professional dance teams like the Charger Girls or Clipper Girls; and competed on the dance television show "So You Think You Can Dance."
Kane Mapes spent the last seven years as the Martin Luther King High School Pep Squad Coach and Dance Team Director. Under Kane Mapes' reign, the Wolves are a four-time Grand National Champion at Sharp Nationals and her Dance team took second at the USA Nationals.
At King High School, Kane Mapes directed the cheer squad, first-ever dance/pom team and mascots, which included over 150 athletes. The Wolves performed at halftimes and rallies, along with competitions and specialty shows. Kane Mapes also ran King High Schools' team clinics and tryouts and created the Red Zone, a student spirit section for all athletic events.
Kane Mapes also teaches for Hollywood Dance Experience, a dance convention that travels throughout the U.S.
She has seen her alumni go on to compete at various schools, including Division I institutions like USC, UCLA, Stanford and Cal State Fullerton.
Kane Mapes grew up in Riverside and attended Riverside Poly High School and Riverside City College. She began working at CBU on Monday and will look to build her program right away.
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