Click here to visit the unofficial FIU Golden Dazzlers website

About the Golden Dazzlers Dance Team

he Golden Dazzlers are the dance team at FIU. They consist of 12 to 20 female, as well as male, performers. They perform at all women and men basketball games at timeouts, on the sidelines and at halftime, as well as at many school events. The team is very excited about FIU football that will kickoff next fall and is welcoming this busier schedule with open arms.

The Golden Dazzlers have been at FIU since 1989. With only three years in existence they won the NCA National Championship in Dallas, Texas in 1992. Since then the team has competed in 1995 (3rd place) and 1996 (8th place) and attends summer dance camp as part of its training for each new season. The Dazzlers hope to compete with their all new squad next year at the 2003 NCA competition.

The team has gone through a lot of changes in this past decade but has always responded positively with each change and addition. This is the second year that the squad has invited male performers (The Panthers) which is very unique for a collegiate squad.

The FIU Golden Dazzlers have a new look. The team's uniforms are more elegant. Their performances range from cutting edge hip-hop, to jazz, to old fashioned kicklines. The dancers on the team all have rich backgrounds in ballet, jazz, tap and flamenco as well as high school dance team experience and have to endure a six-hour audition process to make it on the team.

Golden Dazzlers Director

Brenda M. Popritkin he Coach/Director and Choreographer for the FIU Golden Dazzlers and Panthers is Brenda M. Popritkin. Mrs. Popritkin is an FIU alumni and was a Dazzler herself from 1992-95. She coached the squad before in 1996 and 1998. She was a Miami Dolphins Cheerleader from 1997-2000 as well as a guest choreographer for the team. Mrs. Popritkin has 16 years of dance experience and is also a dance instructor for kids ages 4-12.She is very excited to be part of the team again because it gives her an opportunity to rebuild and continue an FIU tradition.

Junior Dazzlers and Panthers

he All New Junior dance and cheerleaders program is open to kids ages 5-17. No experience is necessary. The program which began Summer 2002 is a stepping stone to many exciting additions for baskeball and football halftime events as they will be performing with the FIU Golden Dazzlers and Cheerleaders at some special games.Contact us for more information.

For more information, please contact us at 305 348-6203 or email us at dazzlers@fiu.edu.

Auditions


he FIU Golden Dazzlers ususally hold auditions during the second week of April. This year, they will take place on the Golden Panther Arena main court, Saturday, April 19 at 1:00 p.m. For more detailed information, click here to visit our unofficial website