March 7, 2012
Vanderbilt’s pregame dance circle produces energy, unity, and even laughs at times.
The routine is seen only by those passing through the basement of Memorial Gym, moments before the women’s basketball team runs onto the court for introductions.
“I feel like it brings us together and gets us all hyped up and ready,” sophomore Jasmine Lister said. “It’s just a part of our rituals that we do before every game.”
Lister is the ringleader. She owns the distinction of team dancer, according to senior Jordan Coleman. And the 5’4″ guard from Corona, Calif., isn’t afraid to bust a move to get her teammates motivated. Commodore fans might remember Lister’s dance-off against Dai-Jon Parker of the men’s team at Memorial Madness in October. (Neither player was declared the winner, but Lister claims she had the better moves. “It’s cool, he’s only a freshman,” she said confidently.)
Before the team dance circle happens, a few things must occur. Inside the locker room, Chanell Thomas, Director of Basketball Operations, gathers with players for a secret routine (so secret that no one would divulge any of the details). Then the Commodores make their way to the team entrance. “We clap it up, scream, yell, and do all kinds of crazy stuff to try and get hyped for the game,” Coleman said.
The players stop about halfway down the hall, form a circle by connecting arms, and sway back and forth as they belt out their team rap, which is a variation of Travis Porter’s Show Out. “We were listening to music before a game (two years ago) and that’s the first line to (Porter’s) song,” Coleman explained. “We were like ‘we can probably say something to this.’ We switched some words around so it applied to us getting on the court and doing our thing.”
When the song gets to chorus, one player has to “show out” in the middle of the group. It usually depends on who’s feeling it that day. Lister and Tiffany Clarke are the common culprits, but there have been spontaneous moments, too.
“Sometimes I’ll nudge Kady (Schrann) in there because she’s not a dancer,” Coleman joked.
“Yeah, we just throw them in the middle,” laughed Lister.
The team brings it in one final time and chants “hard work” before heading to the floor for game time. Watch the entire process in this exclusive 
behind-the-scenes video filmed prior to the LSU contest on Jan. 29.
As for Lister, Coleman let us in on a little secret about her past. “Don’t tell (Jasmine) I told you this but she was a little kid dancer for the Sacramento Kings when she was like four.”
Once word got out, Lister had no choice but to confirm the rumor.
“I heard Jordan had told you guys that,” Lister said. “When I was younger I was on the Hip Hop Crew, little kids dancing at timeouts and halftime of the Sacramento Kings and Monarchs games. I was like seven or eight. So I told the team and apparently they told other people, but it’s fine. It’s not a big deal.
“It was fun. I wasn’t necessarily paying attention to the basketball game. Then I was like, ‘Hmm… maybe I’ll start playing (the sport).’ So I did.”
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