Former Doll D’Tara Frank to direct ‘Dancing Dolls’

BATON ROUGE, La. - Southern University alumna D'Tara Frank has been selected as the new sponsor-director of the world famous SU Dancing Dolls.

The Lake Charles native is a former four-year Dancing Doll and a 2010 graduate of Southern's Civil Engineering program. She is set to begin her new position just before the fall semester.

She was selected by Interim Director of Bands Nathan Haymer. He said he chose Frank not only because she is a former Doll, but for many other reasons. "She is one of the most outstanding captains the dance unit has had in the last 20 years and the energy she brings to the team will further enhance group," he said.

"She's capable, trustworthy, and I've known her since she was in the ninth grade. I've watched her grow and she was a great leader then and will be a great leader now," Haymer said.

Frank, a superintendent with Turner Industries, is elated that she can have the best of both worlds. Her day job at Turner consists of a managerial position where she coordinates new industrial construction projects from start to finish. Not only will she continue to work and use the skill set that she obtained from Southern, but now she will give back by working with Dancing Dolls.

To Frank, who's been dancing since she was 10 years old, said it's more than a hobby. "I've always wanted to dance. Dancing is my stress reliever. It's that hobby that takes you into another world and takes your mind off of the things that life has thrown at you," said Frank.

Her mission with the Dolls, she said, is to lead fundraising efforts for scholarships and uniforms, and to help develop choreography for the football season and other events. Frank said she will continue to maintain the standards of being a Doll and impress upon the student-dancers that they are honorary ambassadors of the university.

Although she won't meet the dolls until tryouts in August, she is eager to share the knowledge and wisdom from her experiences.

"I remember tryouts and how nerve wracking they were," said Frank. "There were hundreds of girls there who all wanted the same thing."

Although Frank did not make the squad on her first try, she returned with the same passion the following year and made the team. "You dance with your heart more than your feet," Frank said.