When she began attending West Virginia Wesleyan College, Tristan Quinones was focused on a biochemistry education – with a passion for dance tucked in her back pocket.

 

Entering her second year, she has found herself not only on the college dance team, but also assuming the role of co-captain.

 

“I still wanted to dance, but I hadn’t heard much about Wesleyan’s dance team, but decided to audition for it,” said the 2014 graduate of Bridgeport High School. “I really didn’t expect to get the dance team handed to me. I was really excited.”

 

Quinones came on board during the 2014-2015 school year, which she describes as a transition year for the team.

 

“It really has been kind of a work in progress. There were a few years when the team was small and they’ve been trying to build up the program,” she said.

 

She said it is an exciting time to be a student at WVWC.

 

“Wesleyan is trying to build up its athletic program so it’s not just an academically-driven school. It’s nice to be part of that transition,” Quinones said.

 

Last year was the first year that WVWC featured a true marching band and the school also acquired a new football field.

 

“That was another transition for the dance team – to be able to perform on turf,” Quinones said.

 

It was during last year’s second semester that Quinones and her fellow dance team member Emily Lopez were nominated to serve as team co-captains.

 

“We knew each other when we were younger and got along well,” Quinones said. “I can really count on her to hold up her end of the bargain. We work really well together.”  

 

The girls are working with WVWC Dance Instructor/Team Sponsor Gretchen Moore to build the dance team program. Quinones said she also depends upon BHS alum Kelci Stromberg for advice.

 

“Kelci was in charge of the team all her years at Wesleyan. She did an excellent job of getting it started up more and keeping it going,” Quinones said.

 

The dance team makes frequent appearances at campus and local events. Included are WVWC football and basketball games, “Midnight Madness,” corporate-sponsored events, the Mountain State Forest Festival and Quinones’ favorite, an October breast cancer awareness event.

 

Team tryouts are held in September, usually during about the third week of school. One reason for that is that many students aren’t available until after the semester begins.

 

“Wesleyan is small, but surprisingly enough we have so many kids from across the world,” Quinones said. “We have students from Belgium, Zimbabwe and Japan. We actually have two girls on the dance team who are from Japan.”

 

Last season, the dance team had 12 members. Quinones and Lopez hope to wind up with 15 to 18 members.

 

“Instead of such a small club, we’re trying to expand it,” Quinones said.

 

The team performs jazz, hip-hop and many of the styles which Quinones and Lopez learned and performed during their years in middle school and high school danceline.

 

Quinones said it was her former danceline coaches and childhood dance instructors who have provided her with an important foundation – not only for dancing, but for co-leading her team.

 

“I learned so much from Cindy Pulice, Annabel Timms, Albert Altovilla and Marcy Mossburg,” Quinones said. Their roles were huge in my dancing career. They were like second mothers to me. I can’t thank them enough for how they have guided me along my dance career.” 

 

Pulice said from the time Quinones was a very young dance student, she was always conscientious and a hard worker - always striving to improve in her dance instruction. Pulice was later privileged to serve as her high school danceline coach and found her to be a stand out member of the tearm.

 

"She is an energetic performer and her love of dance comes through in her performance," Pulice said. "During her senior year, she did an excellent job as team captain and was always prepared to help her teammates improve. She was a great role model and leader for the young dancers."

 

It's no surprise that Quinones has gone on to become a collegiate dancer and that she is already playing a membership role with WVWC's team, Pulice said. 

 

"I'm just proud to have played a part in Tristan's success in getting to continue her love of dance at the next level," she said.

 

In addition to her inclusion on the BHS Danceline, Quinones was Miss BHS for the 2014 graduating class and also voted "Best Personality" by her peers. 

 

Editor's Note: Quinones is shown (top/cover) as a member of the West Virginia Wesleyan College Dance Team and (just above) as a 2013 member of the Bridgeport High School Danceline.