UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA DANCE TEAM
Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
Major: Media Studies
Year of Graduation: 2026
Future Plans: Work in the media/entertainment industry
Hobbies: Spending time with friends, going on walks, baking
Best Word that Describes You: Determined
What are you most excited for this year: Experiencing my first year at Cal and exploring everything it has to offer!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Thrive Dance Company
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Go all out with Cal spirit wear and cheer as loud as you can!
What I like the most about Cal: Everyone is very driven and passionate about their goals.
Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Major: Cognitive Science & Media Studies double major
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: Audition for a pro-NBA or NFL dance team!
Hobbies: Yoga, journaling, trying new restaurants in Berkeley!
Best Word that Describes You: Bubbly
What are you most excited for this year: I’m most excited for half time performances during basketball season and traveling!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Associated Students of University of California (ASUC), Thrive Dance Company, Alpha Phi Sorority
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game?: Cal Fans should enjoy a Bears game by standing up in their seats and giving their loudest “GO BEARS!”
What I like the most about Cal: My favorite part of Cal is the diverse community of interests and people, and the accomplishments and drive of everyone on campus!
Hometown: Monument, CO
Major: Cognitive Science
Year of Graduation: 2025
Future Plans: Live and work in San Francisco and eventually try out for a professional dance team
Hobbies: I love reading, pilates, traveling, and spending time with friends and family!
Best Word that Describes You: Energetic
What are you most excited for this year: I'm most excited for dancing with my incredible teammates and performing at games!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game?: Cheer on the Golden Bears with your friends and (of course) watch the Cal Dance Team! (p.s. Don't wear red)
What I like the most about Cal: The people I've met at Cal are truly the best, and I've made some of my best memories with them!
Hometown: San Bernardino, CA
Major: Biology
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: Medical School
Hobbies: Going to Concerts and Reading
Best Word that Describes You: Generous
What are you most excited for this year: The BIG GAME!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Thrive Dance Company
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? The best way to enjoy a Bears game is with good company and a lot of snacks.
What I like the most about Cal: I like that Cal facilitates a diverse community that urges students to be the best versions of themself.
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Major: Psychology
Year of Graduation: 2026
Future Plans: I plan to study kinesiology and work in the field of sports medicine or physical therapy.
Hobbies: I love to cook and bake.
Best Word that Describes You: Determined
What are you most excited for this year: I am most excited to get close with all the girls on the team and bond over our love for dance and Cal.
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: No involvement yet
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? To enjoy a Bears game all you have to do is feed off the great energy and spirit the crowd projects. You immediately will feel so much joy seeing a huge community come together and share so much excitement.
What I like the most about Cal: I love how Cal provides students with the opportunity to receive education at a level incomparable to anywhere else while also being able to be a part of your community whether that is through athletics, volunteering activities, clubs or even internships and many more.
Hometown: Carmel, CA
Major: Psychology with a minor in global public health and health and wellness
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: I would love to do something in the field of mental health, hopefully as a developmental psychologist or psychiatrist.
Hobbies: Pilates, cycling, reading, going on walks at the beach
Best Word that Describes You: Enthusiastic
What are you most excited for this year: I am most excited to perform at football games and make new memories with the new team!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Pi Beta Phi
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Wear blue and yellow and cheer as loud as possible!!
What I like the most about Cal: I like Cal because of the amazing opportunities and diversity that the school has to offer.
Hometown: Fremont, CA
Major: Legal Studies
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: Attend law school in SoCal and dance professionally in the NBA or NFL and work in IP Law.
Hobbies: Working out, cooking, shopping, listening to music
Best Word that Describes You: Loving
What are you most excited for this year: To cheer on the Bears with an amazing group of women that share the same affinity for dance!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: The Women’s Network
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Best way to enjoy a Bears game is to go all out and cheer as loud as you can! Also don’t wear anything red! :)
What I like the most about Cal: How diverse it is, you can’t necessarily put Cal in a box, there’s something in store for every individual.
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
Major: Media Studies Major, Minor in Political Economy, and Berkeley Certificate in Design Innovation
Year of Graduation: 2023
Future Plans: Working at The Walt Disney Company doing TV Advertising in New York
Hobbies: Building charcuterie boards, going on hikes, sudoku puzzles, and watching Friends
Best Word that Describes You: Intentional
What are you most excited for this year: I am most excited to spend my senior year on the dance team, bond with 8 new rookies, and cheer at Big Game in Memorial Stadium!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Campus Ambassador; Cal Athletics Marketing Department; The Women's Network; Alpha Phi Sorority
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Make sure to show your Cal Spirit! Come head to toe in Cal gear and we can cheer on the Golden Bears together!
What I like the most about Cal: The diversity! I'm amazed by our world class university and its incredible students from around the world who are passionate about what they're studying.
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Major: Economics
Year of Graduation: 2026
Future Plans: I plan to work in the tech field while also continuing to dance.
Hobbies: Cooking, watching Glee, going to the beach, and cleaning.
Best Word that Describes You: Observant
What are you most excited for this year: I am excited to perform at games/events with the team during my first year here!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Thrive Dance Company
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Show your school spirit.
What I like the most about Cal: My favorite thing about Cal is how diverse and ambitious everybody here is.
Hometown: Orange County, CA
Major: Media Studies
Year of Graduation: 2025
Future Plans: I plan to first pursue an internship and then a career in entertainment management or marketing in southern California!
Hobbies: Hanging out with my dog, trying new food places, and watching movies
Best Word that Describes You: Versatile
What are you most excited for this year: The chance to spread my school spirit and make amazing new friendships with the girls on the team!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: Alpha Phi, Cal TV, Business Careers in Entertainment Club
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Bring all of your loved ones and go all out on school spirit!
What I like the most about Cal: The people I've met are the most accepting and motivating community I've ever been a part of. The passion for change and growth is SO strong at Cal!
Hometown: Carlsbad, CA
Major: Legal Studies and Media Studies, Minor in Spanish
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: I plan to cultivate my entrepreneurial spirit with a goal of owning a business, and eventually go to law school.
Hobbies: Exercise, hot yoga, art, and spending time with my friends and family
Best Word that Describes You: Authentic
What are you most excited for this year: I am excited to continue cheering on the Bears and make new memories with such an amazing team.
Involvement in other Cal organizations: Alpha Phi Sorority
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Come to the games in Cal gear and cheer along with Cal Spirit!
What I like the most about Cal: The diverse, passionate, and driven student body along with the countless number of opportunities the school provides each student.
Hometown: Whittier, CA
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology with a minor in Global Health
Year of Graduation: 2023
Future Plans: Medical School to pursue a career as a physician.
Hobbies: Hot yoga, water-skiing, spending time with my friends and family, reading about studies of human behavior and disease pathology, psychoanalyzing just about everything and everyone, dancing to my favorite songs with my best friends, watching movies and shows while eating snacks (specifically), loving Disneyland and the beach:)
Best Word that Describes You: Surprising
What are you most excited for this year: Dancing, performing, and cheering at Cal events!
Involvement in other Cal Organizations: CEO of Berkeley MRI, Kappa Kappa Gamma
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Get yummy snacks and make sure to watch and cheer on the Cal Dance Team! <3
What I like the most about Cal: The Cal Dance Team, of course!
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Major: Computer Science
Year of Graduation: 2024
Future Plans: Become a software engineer at a tech company in a big city and audition for a pro dance team.
Hobbies: Baking scones and pies, surfing, traveling, art and teaching!
Best Word that Describes You: Clever
What are you most excited for this year: To have a brand new team after two years and make so many memories together!
Involvement in other Cal organizations: Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority; CS Scholars; Women in Computing and Data Science
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Be loud, proud and ROLL ON YOU BEARSSSS
What I like the most about Cal: The outstanding quality of education and vast alumni network.
Hometown: Laguna Niguel, CA
Major: Molecular and Cell Biology
Year of Graduation: 2025
Future Plans: Go to PA School then open my own medical practice
Hobbies: Making YouTube videos, discovering new music and restaurants, going to the gym, and shopping
Best Word that Describes You: Vibrant
What are you most excited for this year: I can’t wait to perform and make memories with my amazing team!
Involvement in other Cal organizations: I am part of the Middle Eastern Business Association, Blood Pressure Project, and the Pre-PA club
What is your advice to Cal Fans on how they should enjoy a Cal game? Wear as much Cal gear as you can and don’t be afraid to show your inner spirit animal!
What I like the most about Cal: It is so inspiring to be surrounded by such a diverse, dedicated, and passionate student body! Another thing I love about Cal is the history that the school holds within each building, library, person, etc.
Position: Head Coach
Alma Mater: University of California, Los Angeles
Hometown:
Bio: Areli graduated from UCLA in 2015 with a B.A. in Linguistics and Philosophy. She is an alumna of the UCLA Spirit Squad, serving one season on Yell Crew and two seasons on the Cheer Squad. Following graduation, Areli delighted in three seasons as a 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleader. She later also became a Golden State Warriors Dance Team member for three seasons, where she ultimately served as a Captain and Social Media lead during their recent Championship season (‘22), and earned a ring! While on these teams, Areli had the opportunity to cheer in international parades in China, dance an opening number for Maroon 5, and perform with artists such as a(MAZIN), P-Lo, and CeeLo Green.
Areli is currently in her eighth year as a school teacher and is enrolled in a Master of Science program in Health, Physical Education, and Recreation. Keeping research at the forefront of her practice, she is committed to living up to and elevating the CAL DANCE TEAM brand such as the CAL coaching legends that came before her!
Transitioning off the court this upcoming season, she is looking to “pass the poms” onto the next generation of student professionals. She hopes to instill confidence, humility, joy, and agency in these dancers to help them grow in their passion, and as humans. Areli is elated to coach exceptional individuals who are not only prioritizing their education at the number one public university but also honing their craft. She is beyond humbled and honored to join the Cal Spirit family and is looking forward to a fantastic season showcasing CDT's talent. Go Bears!
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