The UNC Dance team was created in October 1985 by two freshman from New Bern, NC.  Upon arriving to college in  Chapel Hill, roommates Christina Benfield and Kim Waller realized the University did not have a dance or drill team for them to join.  Through extensive research, leg work, net working, and fundraising these two were able to create the first team of 24 members. This team was also the first Dance Team within the ACC. The new team members voted on the name “High Kicking Heels” in order to satisfy paperwork since the University stated they could not simply be called The UNC Dance Team.

 

During the first year, the High Kicking Heels were able to perform during a JV basketball halftime with the Marching Band playing music for them. The next fall, the Dance Team was allowed to perform one football halftime with the Band as well as other performances such as Pit Pep Rallies, wrestling matches, and occasional basketball halftimes.  Over the next few years, as their popularity grew, the dance team became part of Carolina traditions performing at Freshman Pep Rally, Football & Basketball halftimes and traveling to compete in the NDA National Championships.

 

In fact, the team placed 6th in 1990 during their first competition when they traveled to Dallas, Texas.  The Dance Team is also proud to say they created history again when they were the first to have males compete within their Nationals team in 1997. This ground breaking team placed 2nd in Nationals and was the cover for the premiere issue of Dance Spirit magazine.

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Over the decades, the UNC Dance Team has performed at numerous campus and community events in addition to actively participating in philanthropic projects. The High Kicking Heels have been referred to more commonly as the UNC Dance Team or Carolina Dance Team. The name “Carolina Girls” was part of the rebranding process when the team was returned to the Marching Tar Heels in 2019.