The Best College Dance Teams In The Country
Cheerleaders may be the first type of spirit group that comes to mind when you think of a college game, however, the dance team may be the most successful spirit group at some colleges and universities. The best college dance teams are experts in a variety of dance styles, including jazz, hip-hop, lyrical, and pom spirit routines.
Cheerleading and dance teams both have the potential to have intricate choreography, but it is the dance squads that are more likely to incorporate flags and other props into their already technically proficient performances.
Each US college dance team performs before the game, during halftime, and even on the sidelines of each season’s sport. This activity is considered a year-round sport in the United States. College dance teams, along with other spirit squads, help keep student spirits high so that they are better able to cheer on their respective teams to victory.
What are the best college dance teams?
Which schools have the most talented dance teams? Being accepted onto the dance team at your college can feel like a dream come true. Additionally, getting on the dance team at your college can be an extremely challenging endeavor. Before you can be considered for admission, you will need to provide evidence of your value.
Possessing the ability to collaborate effectively with others is useful in every aspect of one’s life. Dance is a great activity for athletes to participate in because it helps them develop both short-term and long-term goals, as well as strategies to achieve those goals.
Continue reading as we take a look at some of the best college dance teams in the United States.
1. University of Nevada: Rebel girls & co dance team
The Rebel Girls & Company cheerleading squad represents the University of Nevada in national competitions and attends all home men’s basketball games as well as some home football games. In addition, they compete in national competitions. Because of their well-known hip-hop dancing abilities, they are a mainstay in many different divisions of the hip-hop community.
They have several national championships under their belt. Members of Rebel Girls & Company make it a priority to maintain their high academic standards while also participating in performances and competitions and acting in a representative capacity for the institution at sporting events. One of the most talented college dance teams in the United States can be found in Rebel Girls & Co.
2. University of Kentucky
At the Universal Dance Association competition in 2017, the University of Kentucky Dance Team finished in second place in the hip-hop category, which established a new record for the team. They competed at the World Championships of the International Cheer Union to represent Team USA in the sport of cheerleading.
Students enrolled in middle school, high school, and college are all encouraged to participate in the training clinics that are put on by the University of Kentucky dance team.
Participants should prepare themselves to learn both the authentic University of Kentucky audition battle song and the hip-hop style.
3. University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee Dance Team is unquestionably one of the best college dance programs in the country, having won a total of seven national championships over the course of its history.
When they aren’t busy winning championship rings, they put on shows before home basketball, volleyball, and Lady Vols basketball games, as well as football games.
The team’s most recent victory came in 2021, making them national champions for the seventh time in their history. These achievements place The Dance Team at the very pinnacle of the most successful college dance teams in the United States.
4. University of Cincinnati
The University of California Dance Team is widely regarded as one of the best college dance teams in the United States, having won ten world titles in addition to seven national titles.
The group has been successful in the hip-hop genre for a good number of years, winning national championships. The University of Cincinnati Dance Team had a tremendous showing at the 2022 UDA National Dance Team Championships, where they finished in a very respectable fourth place in the D1A Pom category and sixth place in the D1A Hip Hop category.
5. University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota Dance Team has some of the best dancers in the country, and they compete on a national level. They competed virtually in 2021 as a result of their performance in Covid-19, in which, despite the shorter season, they still appeared in second place in both Pom and Jazz.
In addition to participating in several school fundraisers and dance performances located all over the state of Minnesota, the dance team also hosts an end-of-season event at which they and dancers from other studios showcase their impressive level of dancing ability.
6. San Diego State University
The San Diego State University Dance Team is committed to energizing and positively portraying the University while entertaining spectators at all home football and basketball games in addition to countless campus, charitable, and business events held throughout the city.
Joining the team is a great way for students who have a strong technical background to fulfill their academic goals, indulge in their passion for dancing, and show their support for the school. It is widely considered to be among the best college dance teams in the country.
7. Ohio State University
The Ohio State University Dance Team is the official athletics representative for Ohio State University. The Ohio State Dance Team travels to Orlando, Florida, for the annual UDA Collegiate National Championship to compete in the category that is most relevant to their area of expertise.
The squad has finished in the top five in each of the previous seven years, most recently taking first place in the D1A Pom and Jazz Championships in 2018. The members of the dancing team are expected to devote a significant amount of time and effort to the team.
8. University of Colorado: Buff Gold Dance Team
Under the auspices of the Collegiate Sports Clubs Department, the Buff Gold Dance Team competes annually at the Collegiate Nationals held across the country.
It is not easy to join the team because new members are required to have specific abilities, such as the ability to perform double, triple, and even quadruple pirouettes.
To raise funds and provide assistance to the community, the team gets involved in a variety of different fundraising activities. They are consistently ranked as one of the best college dance teams in the United States.
9. Arizona State University: Sun Devil Dance Team
The illustrious Pride Squad of Arizona State University, or the Sun Devil Dance Team as they are more commonly referred to, is responsible for fostering school spirit and interest in student activities.
They frequently put on shows to raise money for a variety of different athletic programs. The members of the dance team get the chance to work on their dancing skills and perfect their routines.
In addition to this, a sizable audience knows it can count on them to display remarkable character growth and to provide entertaining content of the highest caliber. They are widely considered to be among the most accomplished college dance teams in the United States.
10. University of Michigan
The University of Michigan dance team will perform at both the high school football game and the high school basketball game. They are full-time students, so they are required to meet academic requirements while also participating in strenuous practice sessions approximately five times per week.
During the dance team camp that took place in August of 2012, the dance team was presented with the Most Collegiate Award. The University of Michigan has one of the most talented dance teams of any college in the United States.
11. Florida State University: Seminole Dance Team
The Seminole Dance Force was established in the year 2001 at Florida State University to serve as the university’s official sports club dance team.
Since then, this team has taken part in several competitions at the national level. The dance team’s D1a hip-hop performance is currently ranked fifth in the country, and their D1a jazz performance is ranked sixth.
The entire team performs at a variety of school events, such as the homecoming procession and Homecoming Live, in addition to the annual showcase that takes place in the month of February.
12. University of Wisconsin
A prominent and well-known club at the University of Wisconsin that promotes Badger athletics is the University of Wisconsin Dance Team. This club is comprised of undergraduate student-athletes.
In a nutshell, the Dance Team is required to perform at all home men’s basketball and football games, in addition to participating in a wide variety of public relations activities and university events.
In a typical year, the University of Washington Dance Team will support the football team at a Bowl game as well as one away game during the season. They are consistently ranked as one of the best college dance teams in the United States by numerous publications and websites.
13. Rutgers University
The Rutgers University Dance Team is recognized as the official dance squad for the Rutgers Scarlet Knights athletic teams. They are the face of the organization at a wide variety of sporting events and other community gatherings, such as football and basketball games.
The team has earned a reputation for being generous in its support of community gatherings and charitable causes. The members of the team come from all over the United States and have performed a wide variety of dance styles in the past.
In addition to mastering and presenting brand-new routines every week, the group places a significant amount of emphasis on technique in the hopes of improving the harmony of their dancing.
14. North Dakota State University: Bison Dance Team
The North Dakota State University is represented by its dance team called the Bison. They go to almost all of the home football games and cheer for the university team while standing on the sidelines.
They put on a show during halftime, particularly when the basketball season is in full swing. When competing at the national level, the team demonstrates its extraordinary potential. Over the course of the previous few years, they have achieved top-five placements in six different competitions.
They competed in the jazz and hip-hop categories of the Universal Dance Association National Competition in 2010, and their performances earned them a sixth-place finish.
15. California State University
The Titans Dance Team and the Titans Cheer Squad are the two components that make up the Cal State Fullerton Spirit Squad, which is highly regarded. Each year, the teams take part in a wide variety of community activities to enhance both the game experiences and the fan engagement offered by Titan Athletics.
The mission of the CSUF Spirit Squad is to promote Titan Athletics by fostering an atmosphere that is conducive to collaboration among the various teams, the student body, and the sports community.
What to know about choosing a college dance team?
What factors should be considered when selecting a college dance team? If you are interested in participating in one of the best college dance teams listed above, the first thing you should think about is the colleges that you are considering attending. After you have narrowed down your list, the next step is to research the various college dance teams.
Every single dance group possesses a particular market niche as well as a distinct reputation. Some dance teams aim to compete on a national level, and this serves as the primary focal point of their efforts. Other dance groups exclusively perform during sporting events, which is their area of expertise.
A significant majority of college dance teams favor a combination of the two. They split their time between learning the dance routine for the national anthem and preparing for the activities that take place on game days. In addition to the question of whether or not they are a competitive team, each group also plays a unique style that they specialize in.
While other dance teams have a jazzier aesthetic, some dance teams have a more poetic or trendy aesthetic. Some are experts in hip-hop, while others concentrate on pom dance. If you are aware of the preferred style of the dance team, you will be able to determine whether or not it will complement your dancing skills.
How to get into the best college dance teams?
How can one join the most prestigious dance teams at the collegiate level? It is possible that going through the process of selection or auditioning for a collegiate dance team will be nerve-wracking for you. It is not only extremely competitive, but it also relies on the opinion of a single person, making it highly subjective.
There will be over 200 people auditioning for a variety of college dance teams. The inability to organize traditional collegiate dance team auditions led to the development of the recruiting process, which is a relatively new method of finding and choosing new team members. This was done because traditional auditions could not be organized.
It is necessary for you to make an appearance at the recruiting clinics if you want to be hired. Even though tryouts have transitioned into a procedure for recruitment, these preseason clinics allow coaches to get a sense of which players they want to recruit for the following season. Every school that is interested in growing its student body will run its clinics throughout the academic year.
You may be able to obtain information about the specific dates and locations of these clinics by visiting their online websites or profiles on social media platforms. When you attend these clinics, you will be taught various dance combinations in the distinctive dance styles that are utilized by the college team.
It is essential that you finish your research before attending these clinics so that you are aware of the styles that the dancers on the team use. Only then will you be able to perform the techniques that the dancers on the team are capable of doing.
Having all the necessary information is important before choosing any course of action. AdmissionSight is always here to assist you if you have any questions or concerns. We have more than ten years of expertise assisting students in successfully navigating the challenging admissions process.
Consult with AdmissionSight and find out what we can do to help you get into the school of your choice by ensuring that you are sufficiently aware and well-prepared for the application process.
