Dance Troupe

Each year at FCSA Conference there would always be a talent show where each member school would showcase their talent through dance and compete against each other. In the Fall of 2003 three women came together to try and form a dance troupe for Florida State University to be given the opportunity to shine. With a few set backs in the Fall semester, they became even more determined to se their dream to life. After getting people to sign up and audition both Kimberly Gilchrist and Leslie-Ann Belnavis were able to construct a CSA dance troupe to perform in the Olgesby Student Union on Wednesday, February 18, 2004. The original dancers were Kimberly Gilchrist, Lesli-Ann Belnavis, Dominique Fisher, Ainsley Copeland, Kimberley Simpson, Shari Braithwaite, Danielle Donaldson, Kimberly Smith, Gregnel Garcon etc. That performance was the only performance CSA had for that semester.

With five active members remaining they were left with the task of finding a name that was memorable, distinctive, but at the same time meaningful to call CSA’s dance troupe. Names like strictly the best, tropical storm, and fire breeze, were suggested but they did not see to have the power that “Category 5” had. Though fitting at the time with 5 members, the name was suggested because anyone forms the Caribbean that hears or reads the term category 5 instinctively thinks of a catastrophic hurricane. People of the Caribbean know to stop in their tracks and revaluate their course of action when being approached by such a strong hurricane. Because of this mindset members of the dance troupe felt that Category 5 would be most fitting name for a dance troupe that would be known to cause people to be breathless, anxious, and amazed with seeing one of their performances.

In the Fall of 2004 FSU Caribbean Students Association’s Dance Troupe “Category 5” participate dint heir first competition at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, FL. At this conference Category 5 went against FIU, Barry University, FAMU, UM, UCF, and other school and placed 3rd. Since then CSA’s dance troupe has continued to grow and leave thousands of people breathless, anxious, and amazed with every Category 5 performance