EL PASO, Texas – The UTEP Golddigger’s dance camp finished up their four day clinic this past Friday at Champion Dance Studio located on El Paso’s eastside.

About 20 Golddiggers helped teach kids and teens new dances from different genres like jazz, hip hop and lyrical contemporary. Over 35 campers attended the four day clinic where each age group learned three full routines that they were able to perform on Friday for family and friends as the camp wrapped up.

“It is a chance to give the kids a taste of different dances,” first year Golddigger Suzy Carrasco said. “To find out what they love and let them see different pirouettes and jumps.”

The camp which has been around for at least 26 years and annually for the last 11 moved to the eastside of town because of better facilities. Although the camp saw a drop in attendance this year the facilities inside Champion Studio were able to give the participants a real look at what a full fledge dance studio looks like.

“Champion Studio was a really good studio” Coach Rebecca Cano Salcido said. “They were kind enough to let us have actual rehearsals because there is no actual home for us at UTEP.”

The summer campers will have an opportunity later this year to showcase what they learned this upcoming sports season. The UTEP Golddiggers will divide the dancers in age groups and have individual performances during halftime at women’s basketball games.

“They will be divided individually and showcase a Jazz dance to “Pour Some Sugar On Me.” Salcido said. “I wanted to give the girls a chance to see what it is like to choreograph, teach and mentor kids.”

With years of personal experience in professional dance Salcido is hoping to take the UTEP dance team to another level. Salcido has been apart of hip-hop touring companies like the Chicago City Breakers and has been in music videos for Huey Lewis, MC Hammer and Heavy D. She is also a Master Class Teacher and Choreographer and is a judge for many national organizations.

“I want to enter us in a competition in February.” Salcido said. “We will have to go under novice since this will be our first year but I hope we can move up to competitive soon.”

Salcido is always looking for the next best talent and has high hopes to making UTEP a legitimate dance team one day.

“We have the High School Flash Dance at Magoffin Auditorium in the Spring and try to recruit dancers.” Salcido explained. “I try to bring in one or two choreographers and hope to find new recruits from high schools.”

Things seem to be changing for the UTEP Golddiggers as they make plans to enter competitions for the first time this year. They have cut there squad of dancers from 60 down to 28 this season and will also be responsible for the entire halftime show during all football games this Fall.

“The Golddiggers will march around the entire campus onto Glory Field and hold a performance for the tailgaters. Then they will march into the stadium from there and this year will do the whole halftime show every football game.” Salcido said.

With a another successful camp behind them now and a more than qualified and passionate coach leading the way, the UTEP Golddiggers now set their sights on making UTEP a dance school that gets nationally recognized.