As the University commences its Fañomnåkan 2019 semester, Triton’s Collective, UOG’s first-ever dance team, is back for their second season.

Established in the Fanuchånan 2018 semester, the dance team provides a platform for college students to continue pursuing their passion for dancing after high school. It also opens the opportunity for novices to engage in a local dance community.

Kiana Mendiola, an English for Education and Secondary Education major, is a Triton’s Collective founder. She served as the club’s treasurer last season and is now this season’s vice president.

“The idea of forming a collegiate dance team was my idea when I was a freshman at UOG but it didn’t happen until we found the right people who were committed to forming a team and now three years later, we have TC,” Mendiola said.

Triton’s Collective held their Spring auditions on Thursday, Jan. 31 and Friday, Feb. 1 at the UOG Calvo Field House.

The team members were selected based off their performance, technique, and style points. Unlike other dance teams on the island, Triton’s Collective is open to UOG students of all ages, different backgrounds, and does not require previous dance experience as long as the auditionee can keep up with the choreography.

Mendiola said: “We bring diversity together, which is where we got our name, Triton’s Collective. We look for mannerism and good work ethics. We want to give off that feeling that Triton’s Collective is a family. It’s a no judgement zone.”

Diversity is a driving factor of the team as their choreography consists of an umbrella of hip hop pieces. Accounting major Arvin Dimaqubo, and Exercise Science major Quinn Santos, are both captains of the team and are the heart of the group’s choreography.

The group meets twice a week and schedules their classes in the morning so they could practice in the afternoon.

“We have to practice for upcoming performances despite our busy college and work schedules. If you want to be a part of a club, you have to make the time for it,” Santos said.

To give back to the community, the team conducted a workshop for the sister islands of Tinian and Saipan where they donated all of the profits they made to Typhoon Yutu. Triton’s Collective has also performed at a Yutu concert sponsored by Okkodo High School’s dance team Hype where all the profits went to Saipan.

“I want to use our passion got give back to the community and inspire younger generations after they graduate,” Dimaquibo said.

UOG students should look forward to the team’s upcoming performances such as Charter Day, Guam Dance Community’s concert in May, and Spring Assembly.