The Carolina Coquettes dance team is an elite and integral visual component of the Carolina Band, and a prominent organization on the USC campus. Comprised of experienced dancers from across the United States, the Carolina Coquettes perform with the Carolina Band at all functions and perform in a variety of styles ranging from jazz and high kick to pom.

The Carolina Coquettes rehearse daily throughout the fall season and members are selected through a highly competitive audition process in the spring before each football season. Members participate in all rehearsals and performances and receive a scholarship for their participation in the Carolina Band.

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Kortnei Seabury, instructor

Kortnei Seabury is the Carolina Coquette Instructor. She is a Troy University “Sound of the South” Dance Team alumna, where she served as a captain her senior year. She was also a member of the Troy University Basketball Dance Team and held the captain position for two years. During her years at Troy, Kortnei worked with several high school marching band dance teams across Alabama, providing instruction and choreography for their marching seasons. She was also a clinician and choreographer for the Troy University “Sound of the South” Summer Leadership Camp for dancers. After graduating from Troy with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education, she returned to Troy to choreograph and participate in the Alumni Marching Band shows. Kortnei now lives in the Columbia metro area with her husband, Bailey, the Carolina Band Drumline instructor/arranger. She is in her fifth year teaching 5th grade math and science at Langford Elementary. Kortnei is excited to get back to dancing and begin her second season with the Carolina Band Coquettes.

Mikaela Rea, co-captain

Mikaela Rea has been dancing since she was three years old and it quickly became her passion. Mikaela danced at a studio in Fort Mill, SC, until she graduated from high school. She was a student assistant at the studio for many classes and even taught some classes. Mikaela performed many times in Charlotte, NC, including performing for the Singing Christmas Tree, the Charlotte Civic Orchestra, performing in the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art and filming a commercial for the Democratic National Convention. She was also on her high school dance team and served as captain her senior year when the team traveled to Orlando, FL, to compete in the National Dance Team Championship among the top-ranking teams in the United States. In addition to dance, Mikaela did competitive gymnastics for many years. Although she loved gymnastics, dance was really where her heart was. Mikaela has been able to maintain her gymnastics skills throughout the years by taking tumbling classes and teaching acrobatics classes to students aged 2-17 at Jolie South Dance Academy in Charlotte, NC. At Carolina, Mikaela enjoys staying involved on campus by serving first year students as a University 101 Peer Leader and working a part-time job in Student Affairs. This is Mikaela’s fourth season with the Carolina Coquettes and third year as a captain. To Mikaela, there is nothing more exciting than dancing in Williams-Brice Stadium with the Mighty Sound of the Southeast on Saturdays in South Carolina.

Brianna Harris, co-captain

Brianna Harris is a senior at USC. She has been a member of the Carolina Band and Coquettes Dance Team since 2015 and is starting her second year as one of the co-captains. She is majoring in exercise science and plans to become an athletic trainer, hoping to work with collegiate and professional sports teams in the future. She has danced since the age of six, starting at Dee Krump Dance Studio (3 years), Center for Dance Education (3 years), and concluding her competitive dance years at Southern Strutt, where she danced for five years. Brianna was also a part of Dreher High School’s dance team for three years and served as captain her senior year. Although Brianna has been heavily involved with dance throughout her life, she also found time to participate in girl scouts, become a black belt in karate, and play the violin. As a high school violinist, she participated each year in Region Orchestra and All-State Orchestra. She continued her study with the violin when she came to college and completed three years with USC’s Symphony Orchestra. As a member of Tau Beta Sigma, a band service organization, Brianna held the offices of corresponding secretary and music director for the organization in spring 2017. Brianna is excited and looking forward to the 2018-19 band season to be working with the other captains, Mikaela and Hannah and their coach Kortnei.

Hannah Moore, co-captain

Hannah Moore has been dancing for 17 years. She began her dance training at Fascinating Rhythm Dance Studio in York, SC. She is trained in contemporary, ballet, tap, jazz and lyrical. At the age of 10, she auditioned to be a part of the competitive company at her studio. She quickly realized that competition dance was her niche. Hannah competed until she graduated from high school and was selected to dance in many group numbers, duets and solos for her studio. Hannah competed at different regional and national competitions across the southeast, and she received many high awards during her numerous years of competitive dance. Hannah also performed in events all around her community such as Relay for Life of Western York County, Summerfest, Christmasville in Rock Hill, SC, and other local parades. Hannah was a student assistant for her dance studio and really enjoyed teaching young girls how to dance and perform on stage. In high school, she was involved in Fellowship of Christian Athletes, cross country and was a delegate at Palmetto Girls State. At USC Hannah is a Capstone Scholar and a University Ambassador. Her passion for dance and her love for Gamecock football led her to audition for the Carolina Coquettes Dance Team as an incoming freshman. This is Hannah’s fourth year on the team, and she is so excited to lead as a co-captain this year.

2018-2019 Coquette Roster

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Questions about the Carolina Coquettes? Call the USC Band Office, 803-777-4278 or email uscbands@mozart.sc.edu