Name: Kelley Holt
Kelley Holt, from Chesterfield, Virginia is a full-time student and ODU Dynasty Dance Team Member. She is a junior studying at Old Dominion University double-majoring in Dance and Spanish.
HC: How long have you been dancing?
Kelley Holt:
I have been dancing since I was two and a half, so almost 18 years.
HC: When did you join the ODU Dynasty Dance Team?
Kelley Holt:
I made the ODU Dynasty Dance Team in April of 2018.
HC: What made you want to join the ODU Dynasty Dance Team?
Kelley Holt:
I wanted to join the team because I was on a dance team in high school and had so much fun. I love dancing! I knew some people on the team already that I had danced with at my studio back home and I knew the ODU dance team was D1.
HC: What is like being a D1 Athlete? Have you enjoyed your experiences?
Kelley Holt:
I have enjoyed my experience other than the fact that I injured myself during a practice in June. I still get to travel with the team, stand on the sidelines, learn with the team, and get all of the free benefits. We practice a decent amount and it’s a lot of pressure to not make a mistake. More people know you and I’ve gained a lot of social media recognition since football season started.
HC: What are some of the events that are expected of Dance Team members?
Kelley Holt:
We have to attend all of the home ODU football and basketball games. We also attend a lot of local events; for example, this month we will attend a breast cancer awareness walk. Sometimes we travel with the football team as well. The dance team got to attend the game at Liberty University and we are going to the one at Western Kentucky University. We go to camp in August in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina and then Nationals in April in Daytona Beach, Florida. We also go to our practices which are Mondays and Wednesdays.
HC: What is your schedule typically like?
Kelley Holt:
On Mondays, I have class from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., then I go to practice from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tuesdays are normal. Wednesdays, I have class from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. and practice from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. During basketball season, we perform at every home game for men and women which are typically on Thursdays and Saturdays. Throughout the whole month of November, games are scattered because football will still be going on. We have football games on Saturdays and are required to be there four hours before the game starts for pep rallies and warm-ups with cheer.
HC: How do you juggle being a full-time student and university athlete?
Kelley Holt:
Well, Sundays are completely open and I have nothing to do. I spend my Sundays in the library getting ahead on all of my major assignments (i.e. papers, projects, etc.), and throughout the week I’ll finish the small assignments as the days go on. It’s not very hard, you just have to come up with a plan and stick with it.
HC: What are some of the benefits of being a university athlete?
Kelley Holt:
Not going to lie, I definitely get treated completely different by teachers. They are more willing to work with me and around my dance team schedule, so that’s been a huge plus and very helpful.
HC: What are some of the downsides to being a student-athlete?
Kelley Holt:
There aren’t really any downsides, I’ve loved it. In the beginning, it was definitely a huge change. We had practiced all summer which was nice because I didn’t have school but when school started I had to adjust really fast to the change and the busy schedule.
HC: What are your plans once you graduate?
Kelley Holt:
I plan to move back to Richmond, Virginia and work for a dance studio as an instructor and in the office while I attend graduate school for business. Once I’m experienced enough with teaching and know how to operate a business, I’m going to open my own studio and hope to franchise all over the country. With my Spanish major, I just want to be fluent because it’s a good tool to have.
Kelley Holt is a motivated and driven student-athlete. She has been dreaming of opening her own dance studio for several years now and her education at Old Dominion University and experience as a D1 student-athlete will definitely prepare her for her future. Be sure to check her out on the field and on the court at ODU football and basketball games!