“Dance Super Bowl” – The Forest Scout

The UDA College Nationals, also known as the “dance Super Bowl” and the “dance Olympics,” are right around the corner, and you’ve probably never heard of it. This competition is one of the most competitive events for collegiate dancers.

The competition will be held on the weekend 17-19. January at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The routines are broadcast on ESPN so everyone around the country can tune in.

The competition consists of three days: preliminaries, semi-finals and finals. All teams fight for their position on the finals floor, but only ten teams achieve a national position.

During the long weekend, dance teams debut routines from four categories: Pom, Jazz, Hip Hop and Game Day. Pom is all about visuals, power and difficulty, while Jazz showcases each team’s technique, storytelling and synchronicity. Hip Hop has become a fan favorite, especially pieces performed by the LSU Tiger Girls. Last year they performed a Michael Jackson-themed dance choreographed by the iconic Carsen Rowe and Samantha McFadden. In fact, Carsen Rowe’s first national championship team was the Lake Forest Dance Team!

Courtesy of @lsutigergirls Instagram

Game Day is a unique category that excludes most skills and difficulties from consideration. The teams show their school spirit accompanied by their mascot, cheer squad and in some cases the marching band. They compete around a three-minute routine with the goal of getting the crowd involved and hyped up for their college team.

Hofstra alum Marina LoRe is a five-time national champion and won world championships in 2023. Competing in the D1 category, Hofstra has a reputation for always adding another ring to their finger. In addition to their athleticism and skills, Hofstra recently introduced themselves to the 2020 Gameday category.

“I have had countless memories from my time at UDA Nationals while at Hofstra, but one of my favorite memories would have to be when we won our first program title in the D1 Dance Game Day category in 2023,” said LoRe. “What made this so special is that Hofstra entered this category for the first time my freshman year, and in all the years we competed in it, we always took home the silver medal. Taking home the gold in my senior season was so special and doing it with my closest friends made it a memory I will cherish for a lifetime!”

In the D1A category, the rivalry between Ohio State and the University of Minnesota dance teams has run strong for nine straight years. Both teams go head to head and compete for first place in both Pom and Jazz.

Last year, Minnesota received 1st place in the Pom. They performed never before acrobatic skills and precise and powerful images and technique.

In 2024, both teams debuted with Jazz routines that exceeded all expectations. Ohio State performed a stirring routine to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra that resonated with dancers and individuals across the country. Minnesota controversially debuted a routine to “Dream On” by Aerosmith as a tribute to their 2004 team. The dance included some of the toughest choreography ever competed at UDA Nationals, but still fell short to Ohio State University.

It wouldn’t be a true “Super Bowl” without a great family rivalry.

Senior Ellie Wagner is at Ohio State University competing in her senior year under the iconic UDA slot. Sophomore Ava Wagner is at the University of Minnesota and is competing in her second time under the castle. This competition is not new for the sisters. They grew up competing against each other at Larkin Dance Studio and their rivalry has gone viral throughout the dance community.

The preparations for the competition are time-consuming as well as being physically and mentally demanding. College teams typically practice twice a day and for the majority of their winter break.

Stevenson High School Alum, Tess Freeman is a rookie on the Alabama Dance Team and is competing at the UDA College Nationals this coming weekend. She has experienced a full-fledged competitive season at the University of Alabama, creating new memories with her teammates while pushing each other to their full potential.

Courtesy of @hofstradanceteam on Instagram

“My most memorable moment was the downtime we would have between practices. When school was out and we were alone on campus, we would make the sweetest memories and just have a lot of downtime with each other,” Freeman said. that the hardest thing is having a shortened Christmas holiday. Not being able to have the valuable family time around the holiday is hard, and not being able to go home.”

Teams from both categories face high amounts of stress during the competitive season, balancing schoolwork, performing at basketball games, and a rigorous training schedule.

“What makes the competition so competitive is the amount of talent and grit that each dance team across the country brings. Not only does each program practice with each other several times a week during prep season, but we also maintain our studies at our universities, attends sporting events to support our universities and multitasks as many outside events/commitments as spirit ambassadors for our schools,” LoRe said. “When it’s time to come together to embody our competitive world, everyone shows up 110% with their programs.”

This coming weekend, we expect to see groundbreaking routines that will change how the nation views the world of dance. This “Super Bowl” sets the bar for dance teams around the world and for years to come.

“Being on a college dance team is not the easiest journey, but having the honor of taking the floor with like-minded people like you is a victory in itself!” LoRe said.