In February, Taylor Frame received a fast pass to skip the first phase of tryouts for the 2018-19 West Virginia University Dance Team. This past weekend, she completed phases two and three with flying colors. As of 2:40 p.m. Sunday, the Bridgeport High School senior is an official member of the team, which will perform at Mountaineer football and basketball games this coming school year.

 

“I’m most excited to do football season and make new friends,” she said. “I think it will be a nice way to transition into college.”

 

Weeks before she begins studying strategic communications at WVU, Frame will begin her dance quest.

 

“We’ll have rookie camp in June for all the first-year members; practicing sidelines and getting acclimated to the team and in July, the team will travel to Louisville, Ky. for NDA (National Dance Alliance) camp to try to get a bid to nationals.”

 

In August, regular practices will begin for the entire 26-member team.

 

“We’ll typically practice three times a week and we are required to do two to three workout classes a week, as well,” Frame said. “In the spring, we’ll compete at nationals and as we get closer to that competition, practice time will increase.”

 

Dance has been a longtime passion for Frame, who first took classes at the age of 4 at Annabel Timms School of Ballet. She danced intermittently for years as she played youth sports. In sixth grade, she began taking her dance talent more seriously, returning to the studio on a regular basis. She was a three-year member of the Bridgeport Middle School Danceline and a four-year member of the BHS Danceline. She was  also a member of the BHS Dance Ensemble her sophomore, junior and senior years. Along with a desire to challenge and better herself as a dancer, those experiences inspired her to dance in college. 

 

“I love to dance and I like to be part of a team of girls because it’s a really good way to make friendships,” she said. “And I love to perform. Probably my favorite thing is being on stage or on a basketball court.

 

As January of this year rolled around, the realization hit that it was all coming to an end. That’s when Frame – who had considered trying out for the WVU team in the past – made the goal official.

 

At the February clinic – a mock tryout – prospective dance team members learned one routine and the WVU fight song, as well as technique.

 

“At the end of it, they picked nine of us to receive a fast pass,” she said.

 

Since then, she has been working closely with her older sister Kylie and friend Chiara Pulice, both former members of the WVU Dance Team, along with former dance teacher and coach Cindy Pulice. 

 

"They really helped me and it was super nice to know what to expect," Frame said.

 

Cindy Pulice, who taught Frame during her middle school years and coached her two years on the BHS Danceline, said the young dancer has always been a hard worker.

 

"She is an energetic and eye-catching performer," Pulice said. "I never had to pull a performance out of her. She has great instinct of how a certain piece should be performed."

 

Saturday evening, Frame competed in phase two of tryouts, focusing on technique, turns, leaps and jumps. Sunday’s finals consisted of three parts.

 

“First, we had to do improv across the floor. They played music and we danced for a couple of eight counts,” Frame said. “Then they did interviews. Each of us was assigned to a judge who asked us questions. The third part of tryouts was stamina training; a workout to see if we could withstand the Nationals routine.”

 

Callbacks followed, as did another series of leaps. Then came the waiting. When results were posted on social media, Frame was thrilled to see her number come up.

 

“My number was seven – which is my personal lucky number,” she said. “The last time I was super worried about a tryout was my sixth-grade year and my tryout number was seven that year, too.”

 

Frame has been involved in student council throughout her years at BHS and served as student body publicist. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Drug-Free Clubs of America and BHS journalism department. She was also a member of the BHS homecoming court. She attends Lifepointe Church in Clarksburg, where she is a member of the youth group and serves as vocalist/worship leader.