By: Lucy Panicacci

News Editor

From Jan. 12 to Jan. 14, the most prestigious collegiate national championship garnered much attention following the spectacular performances of over 300 universities. Top dance universities from across the country faced off at the 2024 Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals. The championship results of Jazz Division IA, which UDA announced on Jan. 14, between the top two competitors, Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Minnesota (UMN) Spirit Squad, gained mass acclaim for their top-notch performances. The competition went viral across social media platforms with users debating the deserved winner. 

Ohio State University set their dance to Frank Sinatra’s song My Way and wore black vests with red ties to match the theme of the music. Throughout the show, the dancers displayed extreme strength, starting the dance by hoisting a dancer into the air and supporting her as she leaned to a 45 degree angle. The Buckeyes exhibited intense emotion and passion in every move and cleanly executed every transition, showing their mastery. In addition, the dancers mesmerized viewers by performing difficult moves and turns in unison. At one point towards the end of the show, the dancers ripped off their black vests and dramatically threw them into the crowd. The audience and viewers across social media platforms cheered on their excellence and skillful choreography. 

Rivaling OSU, the UMN Spirit Squad also put on an extraordinary performance for the competition choreographed to Aerosmith’s Dream On. UMN’s performance was technically perfect. The choreography included complex staging, arranging the dancers in a variety of formations and shapes. The greatest strength of the team lay in their complete mastery of turns performed perfectly in sync. The dancers’ sparkly blue outfits shined as they aligned exactly at the same time. At the pinnacle of the competition, the whole team transitioned directly from a turn into an aerial straight back into turns, astonishing the audience. 

Ultimately, UDA selected OSU as the champion of the Jazz Division IA with UMN Spirit Squad a close second. Out of a score of 100, UDA gave OSU a 98.9206 and UMN a 98.4286. In the Pom Division IA, OSU and UMN also went head to head, in which UMN ended up winning first place with a score of 98.4762 and OSU received second with a score of 97.7143. 

OSU and UMN’s competition for first place in the Jazz and Pom divisions is an annual rivalry. In 2022, OSU won the Jazz and Pom division with narrow leads ahead of UMN. Then, in 2023, UMN etched above OSU, securing first place in both the Jazz and Pom sections. The prestige and talent of these two teams is undeniable, so be sure to look for their upcoming competitions throughout the year. 

(Sources: CBS, Varsity TV)