Last year, the University of Minnesota Dance Team found success and support beyond the dance floor when their nationals performance went viral on social media. This week, The U returns to the UDA College Nationals to defend their position.
It’s a big year for the university dance team. They have the eyes of the world on them and their moves, and for many of the dancers, this is their first attempt at national success. Eight freshmen joined the team this year, the largest rookie class the university has ever seen.
Winning is important to any group of dancers, especially those who train hard and balance hours of studio time with school work and everyday life. This is true for the UMN team, but they’re also working to add another title to the university’s collection. The team has won 22 national titles since 2003.
Ahead of this weekend’s big competition, the Minnesota Dance Team hosted their annual Best of the Best Dance Showcase on January 10. At the showcase, the dance team performed the dance and pom routines they plan to take to the UDA Championships. The jazz routine was choreographed by two-time Emmy Award Winner Tessandra Chavez who choreographed the viral “Dream On” performance from last year.
The team shared with Minnesota Public Radio that their focus this year is storytelling. “Our pom this year is really special because it talks about what it means to be on the University of Minnesota dance team,” said senior Taryn Pfeifenberger, “which I think is really cool and unique because this program has been around for so long, and the legacy is what keeps us going.” This year, the jazz routine is dedicated to audience members who have lost a loved one.
Bringing their story and passion to the dance floor is important to the UMN Dance Team, but according to CBS News, they’re also aware of their impact on the global perception of dance as an intense art and a competitive sport. For some dancers, this is their dream come true or a family legacy (rookie Brooklyn Leste is following in the footsteps of her older sister Aubree who danced with the Gophers for the past four years). Regardless of their connection to UMN’s legacy, each team member is a competitive dancer who wants to see dance thrive. “[Competitive dance] seems to have a really bright future, so being able to be a part of that change, it feels really good,” said Alyssa Jacobs, one of the team’s freshmen.
At this stage, getting ready for the competition is all about mindset and small details. Every hand gesture, extension, and expression matters when you’re working to prove you’re the best of the best. No matter the outcome, the dancers want to be proud of what they did—like they were with their second-place jazz win last year despite the internet’s outrage. “We also want to come out feeling confident and like we did our absolute best on the floor, and at the end of the day,” said junior Maggie Fandel, “that’s all we care about walking off the floor. We want to walk off, watch the routines, feel confident in what we put out there.”
Want to watch UMN dance? The UDA College Nationals begin streaming on Varsity TV January 17. The Gophers will take the stage for the jazz preliminaries at 8:49pm central time.