Last year was my first year on the USI dance team, and we went to the College Classic Dance Team Union National Championship Competition in Orlando, Florida.
This year, from April 9 – 14, we traveled to and from Daytona, Florida, to compete in the National Dance Alliance Collegiate Championship Competition.
To get to the College Classic Dance Team Union National Championship Competition last year, we took a few flights. This year, we rode a bus there and back.
Although it was my first time flying last year, as I was nervous and my ears hurt after each flight, I liked flying better than riding a bus.
It took a lot longer to get to Florida when we took the bus. The trip was estimated to take almost 13 hours but took longer including all the stops we had to make. However, it was nice to not have to wake up at 3-5 a.m. to make it to a flight.
Another difference between these two competitions is last year, we only competed in one single-style, a pom routine and this time, we competed in one team performance three style, jazz, pom and hip-hop routine and a spirit rally routine. The team performance was “Top Gun” themed and was a mashup of songs, including “Take My Breath Away,” “Danger Zone,” “Great Balls Of Fire,” “Like A G6” and “Tick Tick Boom.”
Our costumes for this dance were green bodysuits that had an eagle, an American flag and a USI patch on them. We competed in this routine Thursday evening and placed sixth for our division in this category of dance.
We learned this routine in December 2023, and I enjoyed learning, drilling, performing and competing in this dance. I specifically liked performing the jazz section of the routine, as jazz is my favorite style to perform on the dance team . However, I liked competing in last year’s nationals routine because it was one style, pom, so I didn’t have to focus as much on switching my energy as I did this year.
Our spirit rally routine was scored based on cleanliness and game day performance. It started with school song choreography and transitioned to the song “Thunderstruck” by AC/DC. We were even able to have Archie the Eagle perform with us. Our costumes for this dance were our USI game day uniform. We competed in this routine Thursday afternoon and again placed sixth in our division for this category of dance.
This routine was a lot of fun to perform, and I hope to be able to be in this kind of routine again next year.
On Friday and Saturday, most of us spent our time watching other dance teams perform and on the beach.
Kendall Vertes, a dancer who was previously on the show “Dance Moms,” was at the competition because she is on James Madison University’s dance team. I unfortunately missed the team’s performances, but it is cool to know that I danced on the same stage as her when “Dance Moms” has been one of my favorite shows for most of my life.
It was also cool to watch other teams perform, especially in Division I categories of jazz and hip-hop. I was amazed by their skill and ability to keep up their facials and energy while performing.
After the competition, I wished I had danced better when we competed, but was still proud of the team. The team and I had fun on this trip and it grew my connections with the other girls on the team.
Being on the dance team has continued to make me step out of my comfort zone and grow as a dancer. I am definitely looking forward to getting back to practices and game days in the fall semester.
