DAYTONA, Fl. – After a record-breaking performance at last year’s competition, Ball State’s Code Red Dance Team is back. The team is set to make its national debut in Daytona this week, and they’re bringing a completely fresh routine to the stage.
“We’re really focused on perfecting those small details,” said head coach Kaitlyn Molin. “The preparation process has been really intense this year.”
With long hours in the gym and an eye for detail, the team isn’t just aiming to impress—they’re aiming to evolve.
This year’s routine marks a shift for Code Red. For the first time, the team is performing to a single song, rather than the mashups they’ve used in the past.
“As a team, this is a really different, special routine for us,” said team captain Ashley Read. “It’s really unique for Code Red, so I’m really excited to show that off.”
That uniqueness doesn’t just lie in the music choice. The choreography itself has also taken a new direction, something Coach Molin says will help the team stand out.
“Our choreography is different than anything we’ve done before,” she said. “I’m really excited to showcase this at Daytona.”
But for Code Red, it's not only about the moves—they're bringing heart to the stage.
“I think our team’s heart and our passion for not only dance but our university is something that’s really unique,” said Read.
While their sights are set on the big stage, the team isn’t measuring success by medals.
“Being able to not really compare ourselves to others but to compare ourselves to ourselves—that’s the goal,” said Molin. “We want to make sure we feel really proud of what we put on that stage.”
With bags packed and a shared mindset, the team boarded the plane to Daytona with confidence—and a powerful intention.
“We have a really strong team goal and team intention this year,” Read said. “We’re all very like-minded, and that’s really going to set us apart.”
Contact Emma Deaton with comments at emma.deaton@bsu.edu
