The Super Bowl is the most important time of the year. But I am not referring to football, I am talking about the dance Super Bowl, the Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals.
Every year, in January, over 300 college dance teams travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, FL. Teams can compete in a variety of categories, including jazz, pom and hip hop, each with its own subdivisions of Open, D1 and D1A. Teams are placed in these subdivisions based on the size of the school. The Big 10 schools fall in the D1A category, along with a few others, like the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Texas Tech.
The D1A division is always the one to look forward to, with routines that are filled with complex tricks and transitions, high-quality technique and beautifully executed storylines. This is not to say one should count D1 and Open out. These other two categories have teams that are just as talented. In their first-ever debut on the UDA stage, Weber State University (WSU) brought home the title of D1 hip hop champions. With varying formations, sharp lines and complicated and sped up movement throughout their dance, it was clear why WSU managed to score the top spot. As a growing number of teams continue to use more stylized hip hop routines rather than traditional, WSU combined both variations, creating an impressive routine. The top-scoring team for D1 jazz was Grand Canyon University (GCU). GCU used a popular 1993 hit, “What’s Up?” by 4 Non Blondes, which kept the audience engaged. The popular song choice was not the only reason viewers were on the edge of their seats. GCU filled their routine with visuals, difficult tricks and incredibly synchronized turns. In the D1 pom category, California State University (CSU), Fullerton came out on top. CSU achieved this feat in the 2025 UDA season, making this a back-to-back win. Sharper movements and high jumps were some of the stand-out characteristics of their routine that led to the team’s achievement.
The Open division is the other underrated group to watch. Smaller, but equally talented schools perform for their chance to win it all. In the jazz category, Minnesota State University, Mankato (MSU) came out on top. The team’s use of movement, songs and emotion conveys a story every year they are on the UDA stage. Winning the title this year gives MSU a three-year consecutive win streak in the jazz category. MSU is a dominating team in the Open division, as they also took first place in pom. This team performs at the D1 level, shocking fans that they are in the Open division. The synchronization of their turns and the level of difficulty of their tricks certainly stand out from the rest. In the hip hop category, Northwest Community College (NCC) brought home gold, stunning the judges with their routine. The sharpness and skill began in their entrance and continued throughout their whole routine. NCC won their first championship title back in 2024 and since then has had two more, all in the hip hop category.
D1A division is the most popular, and for good reason. D1A is the larger, more well-known colleges and universities, making it easier to cheer for a team you are familiar with. Every year, the top teams are Louisiana State University (LSU), the Ohio State University (OSU) and the University of Minnesota (UMN). The debate over which team will take first place in the jazz category is one that never ends. With subtle digs at other teams and the competition itself, D1A jazz is a category fans do not want to miss. This year, OSU took the top spot in jazz. Their routine resembled the story of the black swan, with black costumes and skirts that looked ragged and torn in layers. The team’s classical ballet technique and song tied together this theme, and by adding tricks and lifts, it was perfect for the UDA stage. In the pom category, it was no surprise that UMN came out on top. UMN is very well known for their advanced turn combos, especially their al secondes into an aerial, back into turns in their 2024 jazz routine. This year, there were many solo turns with complex variations and partial team and solo flips that wowed the crowd. The complexity of UMN’s routine impressed the judges and audience members, putting them in the first-place spot. This is UMN’s fourth first-place finish in a row for the pom category. For hip hop, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) dancers found themselves on top. UNLV has won seven total D1A championships, including two back-to-back wins, one of which was this year. Audiences and judges alike enjoy the traditional hip hop style that many teams are losing. LSU was a perfect example of more contemporary hip hop as their routine included clips and songs from Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show. UNLV used complex transitions and difficult tricks throughout their routine, keeping the audience’s eyes glued to the stage or screen.
UDA is a national stage that allows smaller schools to get their name out there. For many Midwest colleges, they did exactly that. Teams from Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota all participated in the competition. They varied in the styles they participated in and the level at which they competed. Nonetheless, each team, no matter where they were from, took the time to create a routine to perform in front of millions, and that deserves credit.
