UDA College Nationals, also known as “the dance Super Bowl” and “the dance Olympics,” is just around the corner, and chances are you’ve probably never heard about it. This competition is one of the most competitive events for collegiate dancers.
The competition is held the weekend of Jan. 17-19 at the ESPN Wid World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL. The routines are aired on ESPN for everybody around the nation to tune into.
The competition consists of three days: preliminaries, semi-finals, and finals. All teams fight for their placement on the finals floor, but only ten teams will earn a national ranking.
Over 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, specifically 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 champion team was the Lake Forest Dance Team!
Game Day is a unique category, excluding most skills and difficulty from consideration. Teams show off their school spirit accompanied by their mascot, cheer team, 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 five-time National Champion and won Worlds in 2023. Hofstra competes in the D1 category and has a reputation for always adding another ring to their finger. In addition to their athleticism and skills, Hofstra has recently introduced themselves to the Gameday category in 2020.
“I’ve had countless memories from my time at UDA Nationals while on Hofstra, but one of my favorite memories had to have been when we won our first program title in the D1 Dance Game Day category in 2023,” LoRe said. “What made this so special is that Hofstra entered this category for the first time my freshman year, and within all the years competing in it, we always took home the silver medal. To take home the gold in my senior season was so special and doing it alongside my closest friends made that memory one I will hold on to for a lifetime!”
In the D1A category, the rivalry between The Ohio State and University of Minnesota dance team has run strong for nince consecutive years. Both teams go head-to-head competing for first place in both Pom and Jazz.
Last year, Minnesota received 1st place in Pom. They executed never before acrobatic skills and precise and powerful pom visuals and technique.
In 2024, both teams debuted Jazz routines that exceeded all expectations. The Ohio State performed a touching routine to “My Way” by Frank Sinatra that resonated with dancers and individuals nationwide. Controversially, Minnesota debuted a routine to “Dream On” by Aerosmith as a tribute to their 2004 team. The dance included some of the hardest choreography ever competed at UDA Nationals yet still fell short to The Ohio State University.
It wouldn’t be a true “Super Bowl” without a great family rivalry.
Senior Ellie Wagner is at The Ohio State University competing her last year under the iconic UDA castle. Sophomore Ava Wagner is at University of Minnesota competing 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.
Preparations for the competition are time consuming along with 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 UDA College Nationals this coming weekend. She has experienced a full-fledged competition season at the University of Alabama making new memories with her teammates and while also pushing each other to their full potential.
“My most memorable moment was the down time we would have in between practices. When school was out and we were alone on campus we made the sweetest memories and just had a lot of down time with each other,” Freeman said. “I would say the hardest part is having a shortened Christmas break. Not being able to have that valuable family time around the holidays is hard, and not being able to go home.”
Teams from both categories face high amounts of stress during the competition season balancing schoolwork, performing at basketball games, and a rigorous practice schedule.
“What makes the competition so competitive is the amount of talent and grit each dance team across the country brings. Every program not only practices with each other multiple times a week during the preparation season, but we are also maintaining our studies within our universities, attending athletic events to support our universities, and multitasking so many outside events/obligations as spirit ambassadors for our schools,” LoRe said. “When it’s time to come together to embody our competitive realm, everybody shows up 110% with their programs.”
This coming weekend expect to see groundbreaking routines that alter how the nation views the dance world. This “Super Bowl” sets the bar for dance teams worldwide and for years to come.
“Being on a college dance team is not the easiest journey but having the honor to take the floor alongside people that are just as like-minded as you is a win in itself!” LoRe said.
