A typical Saturday game day is an all-day event as the University of Wisconsin Dance Team has many activities and events to attend. Each event has special meaning and reflects the tradition and pride of being a Badger dance team member.
A few hours before kick-off, the team meets at Camp Randall to get ready to head out for our pre-game events. The team arrives in our locker room to store their belongings, put W tattoos on their cheeks and warm-up for the upcoming appearances. Our pre-game appearances could include Badgerville and tailgates surrounding the stadium, then end with Badger Bash at Union South with the UW Marching Band. The team lines up on the “Tortilla Stage” to get ready for the band to begin the performance. After the UW Band marches in, the dancers cheer with the crowd and perform dances to fight songs and popular concert pieces for approximately half an hour. Near the end of the performance, an enthusiastic Badger fan is chosen to chant in front of the crowd for their favorite Wisconsin fight song, "You've Said It All"; better known as "Bud". The crowd claps, polkas, and chants "When You Say Wisconsin, You've Said It All!" to bring an end to the tailgate performance. Afterwards, the dancers join the band in marching over to Camp Randall Stadium to start the football game.
After freshening up quickly, the dancers proceed to the game tunnel where they wait for the start of pre-game. The dancers receive their cue from the notorious beat of the UW Marching Band storming the field. The dancers then run out of the tunnel and onto the field to join the band where they perform for 80,000 enthusiastic Badger fans. After pre-game, the team heads to the north endzone for the National Anthem and then lines up the big Motion W flags that make up the team tunnel. After the team storms the field, the dancers take their places to perform drum chants and fight songs throughout the game. The dancers not only perform traditional fight songs during the game, but they also perform jazz and funk routines. The UW Dance Team travels around the stadium performing the traditional kickline called "Drumbeat" during 3rd quarter. At the end of the game, the dancers make one last tunnel for the team to exit the field as the crowd cheers and claps.
The University of Wisconsin then continues their game day festivities in the unique and infamous "Fifth Quarter". At this time, the UW Marching Band, the UW Cheerleaders, and the UW Dance Team take the field to lead the crowd in singing, dancing, celebrating, and continuing to show their Badger spirit. The Fifth Quarter also includes the singing of our "time-honored, Varsity". Everyone in the stadium links arms and sways while singing their alma mater to show their pride in the University of Wisconsin. Badger football game days are filled with pride and tradition that the University of Wisconsin Dance Team is proud to be a part of. On Wisconsin!
