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.
2019 Carolina Coquette Auditions
Saturday, April 13, Noon–5:00 p.m.
Copenhaver Band Hall (326 Sumter Street)
Audition Clinic
Saturday, March 30, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Copenhaver Band Hall (326 Sumter St.)
Prior to auditions you are encouraged to attend the audition clinic.
Participants will learn a jazz and pom routine and will need to be able to demonstrate
the following technical skills: Leaps in first and second (on both sides) switch leaps,
disc jump, double turn (in passé and coupe), calypso and romberse. Optional skills:
fouette turns (bent or straight), triple turns, leg hold turns, switch tilt, illusions,
other turn combinations or additional skills you wish to highlight.
Participants should wear performance half top, jazz pants or shorts with tights, jazz
shoes or non-marking tennis shoes, full hair and makeup. NO JEWELRY except post earrings
are acceptable.
Register for the Audition
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.
Questions about the Carolina Coquettes? Call the USC Band Office, 803-777-4278 or email uscbands@mozart.sc.edu
