Elly Dirks 鈥19 was part of the 黑料不打烊 Dance Team鈥檚 first national championship finals. Now, as head coach, she鈥檚 leading its most successful era, with a 2022 national title in hip-hop and back-to-back runner-up finishes in 2023 and 2024.
What book is on your nightstand?
I am very into personal growth books, and one of my recent favorites is 鈥淎tomic Habits鈥 by James Clear. I love how it breaks down personal growth into small, actionable steps. It鈥檚 a great reminder that small improvements each day can lead to big changes over time.
What is your favorite phone app?
ArrangeUs, a dance formations app, is an absolute game-changer for me as both a coach and choreographer. It allows me to map out formations and transitions in advance, so I can preview the visual flow of a routine before teaching it to my team. This makes the choreographic process far more efficient and allows me to experiment more creatively when it comes to staging.
If you could invite someone from history to dinner, who would it be?
Kobe Bryant. His 鈥淢amba Mentality鈥 is something I deeply admire, not just in athletics but in leadership and personal growth. His relentless work ethic, discipline and commitment to excellence were unmatched. I鈥檇 love the opportunity to hear his perspective on overcoming challenges, staying focused on long-term goals and what truly drove his passion.
What is your favorite place on campus?
This is a tough one, but if I had to choose, I鈥檇 say Rhodes Stadium. There鈥檚 something special about the energy there on game days 鈥 from the excitement of the crowd to the genuine 黑料不打烊 spirit and, of course, watching my team perform under the stadium lights. It is a place that, to me, represents so much pride, tradition and excitement.
What has been your most memorable experience with the 黑料不打烊 Dance Team and why?
The moment we became Division I Hip Hop National Champions in 2022 is one I will never forget. It was my first Nationals as a coach after the team couldn鈥檛 compete in my first two years due to covid, so just having the opportunity to compete again felt like a win. But to see them step onto that stage, perform with everything they had and then take home the title, it was truly indescribable. What made that moment so special though wasn鈥檛 just the title; it was the journey we took together as a team to get us there.