Dirvelys J. Allen became the head coach for the Concordia University Chicago Dance team in February of 2007.
Under Allen's direction, the Concordia Chicago dance became a competitive team and have participated and earned high honors at the national level, at the Xtreme Dance Championships, the JamFest National competition and Cheer Ltd.Canam Nationals. Her coaching has lead her teams to earned bids to the National Cheerleading Association Collegiate Championships and has received recognition for All-American cheerleaders. Most recently, CUC’s Dance Team competed for the first time at the NDA College Nationals for the first time in school history. Allen has coached one NDA All-American and had a fourth place finish at NDA College Nationals in the poms division.
Having served previously as CUC’s head cheer coach. She is a 2007 graduate of Concordia, earning a BA in exercise science with a minor in sociology. Allen, a Chicago native, was a four-year member of the Cougars' dance team, serving as the captain during her junior and senior years.
Allen says, "I am extremely proud of the growth the Concordia Chicago Cheer and Dance program has seen. I am fortunate to work with these talented young women and men to do something we all love. It has been such a honor seeing the growth of our program. We have been very successful, and I am excited to see what the future has for Concordia's Dance program."
Allen's experience includes over 25 years of dance and cheerleading. In addition to her college coaching experience, she has coached elementary through high school teams. Allen has also worked as a camp instructor for the Chicago Public Schools, as a choreographer for high school teams, and visit competition official. She is a licensed Competitive Dance Official for the Illinois High School Association (IHSA), and is a credentialed Dance Official through the National Dance Coaches Association.
Allen is looking forward to taking the next step of her career, as she focused on building Concordia’s Dance Team to be a top program in the country.
