A dancer’s favorite holiday is coming up: the Universal Dance Association (UDA) Nationals. Even if you’re an ex-dancer like me, watching the effort and creativity that happens behind the scenes is very exciting.
Last year, Ohio State University took home the D1A jazz title with a medley to songs from “Moulin Rouge.” Second place was awarded to my personal favorite, the University of Minnesota, who placed second with a heartfelt dance to “This Woman’s Work” by Kate Bush. Lastly, third place was awarded to the University of Michigan with a unique dance to “Splish! Splash! Sploo!” by the Irrepressibles.
In the D1A hip hop category, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) secured first with a high-energy dance to “Spit Your Game” by The Notorious B.I.G. San Diego State University finished second place with a sharp dance to “Rap God” by Eminem. Finally, the University of Central Florida finished in third place with a lively dance to “Girls Night” by Latto.
Personally, I’m not a big fan of the hip hop category, but last year had some pretty good ones. In my opinion, though, nothing can top the 2024 Louisiana State University (LSU) number to “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson, which placed first in D1A hip hop. I’m excited to see what this category will bring this year and hope for a redemption for LSU’s Tiger Girls, as they placed sixth with an umbrella-themed dance to Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me a River” the previous year.
Finally in the D1A pom category, the University of Minnesota was awarded first, Ohio State University second and the University of Tennessee third. The music in this category typically involves mixed sounds and music.
As for this year, the competition is taking place on Jan. 16–18 at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida. The three-day event brings together the top college dance teams from across the country, marking the most anticipated weekend of the entire competition season.
Some of the returning champions from years past have hinted at their songs of choice for this year by changing their profile pictures on various social media platforms. The trend of changing social media profile pictures to hint at dances started last year with LSU’s dancers changing their profile pictures to M&Ms, hinting at their use of the umbrella props, which team members thought looked like giant M&Ms.
Dancers from Rutgers have changed their profiles to different characters from “The Hunger Games.” For the past two years, their jazz numbers have been to slower-paced songs, but their dancers still succeeded in musicality and expressing their emotions. I think this year they will continue with that tradition and go for something like “Yellow Flicker Beat” by Lorde. This song still has a slower tempo, but it would let them go for the intense, sharp movements they have used in the past.
The University of Michigan’s hints stumped me a bit. The dancers changed their profiles to an x-ray of a skeleton with Stranger Things’s Vecna and dogs surrounding the photo. It’s difficult to pick a song based on all of these hints, but I can confidently say that they will bring a precise, modern and abstract sense to their jazz, hip hop and pom routines this year.
The University of Oregon has changed their profile picture to a saloon door with their team’s name on it, with their dancers changing theirs to be a rose that is smoking. This year, I think they will choose The Carter Family and Johnny Cash’s “When the Roses Bloom Again.” The song has a western vibe, which fits with the saloon, but also “blooming again” can be a nod to their hopeful comeback. Last year, Oregon did not qualify for Nationals, leading me to believe that they chose this song for their jazz dance as their dancers are meant to symbolize the roses fighting for their top spot again.
The University of Minnesota has changed their official account’s profile picture to a melting ice cube. Both their 2024 and 2025 dances were to songs from the 1970s or 1980s, so I think they will stick with that trend. Going with the ice theme, I predict they will dance to “Cold Hearted” by Paula Abdul. It is a perfect song for jazz and will allow their dancers to showcase their precision and sharp movements.
As the teams arrive in Orlando, their months of preparation will finally be put to the test on the dance floor. While hints and teasers have set the stage for an exciting competition, the final results will come down to who shows up ready to perform when it matters the most.
