The New Year has just begun, but Oakland University is wasting no time in welcoming three new club sports: Nachale dance, women’s rugby and winter guard.

Nachale Dance Team

The club began as a student organization in October 2012 and just became a club sport this month.

“Nachale Dance Team is a Bollywood dance team that draws inspiration from modern Bollywood style and music,” said club treasurer Erin Moore.

Bollywood is the informal name used to refer to the Hindi-language film industry.

The team’s 11 current members began practicing on Jan. 17. The team will practice every Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Vandenberg dance studio until they have no more performances, according to Moore.

Students wishing to join are required to attend “the recruitment meeting held at the beginning of every semester and the try-out after that,” Moore said. “If a student makes it through try-outs they are on the team.”

Moore urges anyone interested to not hesitate to join, the club welcomes all.

“Anyone interested in dance or learning about a new culture should join,” she said. “Race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality do not matter. It is a good way to meet new people, perform and have fun.”

Please contact [email protected] for additional information.

Women’s Rugby

“The idea has been around for years to start a team at OU and finally we have the numbers, motivation, and excitement to see it through,” club president Marie Burchi said.

Burchi checked out a couple men’s rugby practices last year to see what the sport was all about, and proceeded to fall in love with it.

“I wanted to see the building of the club through because I knew there were other girls like me who wanted to play,” she said.

The team currently is training for competition with ten members and is coached by men’s rugby members Hunter Michaels and Devon Medows. The team trains in the Recreation Center on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5-7 p.m.

The club plans to move practices outside in a of couple weeks to the field at Walton Boulevard and Adams Road. The club will be run year-round.

“Rugby isn’t seasonal, it is a lifestyle,” Burchi said.

Women wishing to join must a $40 entry fee and a to-be-determined club due fee. Additionally, prospective club members need cleats and a mouth guard.

“You don’t need to have played a sport, you don’t need to try out, you just have to give the sport your all and train hard,” Burchi said. “We are a very welcoming group and support system.

“Any girl who loves physical activity, competition, and friendships that last a lifetime should come out and give it a try. You will be surprised what you can do. The sport is full contact and there are no differences between a men’s game and a women’s game.”

Please visit https://www.facebook.com/RugbyatOU for additional information.

Winter Guard

“Winter guard is a form of performing arts,” club founder Laura Coan said. “It’s dance with equipment thrown into the mix. We spin things such as flags, rifles, sabers and some other forms of equipment.”

The club began just last week but has already committed 20 members.

“I knew that they’re had to be more guard people at Oakland (so I) took a chance to starting the team,” Coan said. “And I am so blown away by the response I have gotten. I am so excited to finally be getting things going.”

The only cost for entry into the club is to participate in every club fundraiser.

Next year, Coan plans on entering the club into competitions within the Michigan Color Guard Circuit. Since the club isn’t able to compete in the circuit this first year, Coan plans on putting on a performance at the end of the season.

While the team has not yet decided on practice times, Coan is looking at practicing on Wednesdays from 6:30-9 p.m. and Sundays from 12-5 p.m.

“A normal season runs October-April,” she said. “However, with this as our startup season, recruitment officially ends Feb. 5 and (we plan) to run it until April.”

The club will having a short meeting on Feb. 5 following the end of recruitment at 7 p.m. in Kresge room 224.

Despite the shortened season, Coan anticipates to have plenty of time to teach the spinning basics to newcomers and get the team up to a competing standard.

“Anyone who spun on a guard previously should definitely contact us,” she said. “Besides that, anyone who enjoys different forms of dance, competition and making great friends/memories should also look into it.”

Please contact [email protected] for additional information.