UDA has been named the Dance Super Bowl after collegiate dance teams went viral for their intense athletic routines on apps like TikTok and Instagram.
UDA Nationals (Universal Dance Association) is an organization that holds dance competitions, camps, and clinics for college and high school dance teams worldwide. Founded in 1980, UDA focuses on inspiring leadership amongst all dance teams. UDA currently is the most prominent dance team educator, with 500-plus camp sessions teaching over 35,000 high school and collegiate dancers.
A tremendous amount of prep work and commitment goes into the effortless routines showcased on the stage. Teams compete in Jazz, Pom, Hip Hop, or Gameday. Furthermore, no matter the style or styles these teams compete in, they prepare months before nationals, perfecting their skills, teamwork, unity, and technique to set the foundation for the coming years. The preparation starts in the summer when teams attend UDA camp to work on skills and techniques and bond as a team. After camp, teams return and they start preparing for nationals by having choreographers come in and work on routines, and then the grind of the season begins. From practicing multiple times a day to perfecting their routines and making needed changes, the one thing that does not change is the goal at the end of the tunnel, nailing the routine.
Along with the prep that goes into perfecting routines, many elite athletic abilities are present. These athletes have exceptional physical and mental skills to excel in their routines. Strength and endurance are crucial, as dancers need core and leg strength to execute high-impact lifts, jumps, intricate choreography, and cardiovascular stamina to maintain peak performance throughout long routines. Strength and Endurance play a key role in performing these routines. However, another aspect crucial to dancing at such an elite level is mental focus, the ability to perform with concentration, and the ability to overcome performance anxiety.
Prestige, social media trends, and growing awareness of dance as a sport make the UDA Nationals an event to watch. One of the country’s most prestigious championships, it attracts high school and college teams worldwide, making this event a must-watch for future athletes, alums, and anyone interested in the dance world. High-level talents, intricate choreography, and show-stopping performances capture the audience’s attention year after year. Contributing to this recent surge in popularity is the influence of social media, with TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for the viral routines touting it and bringing aboard audiences who seek to see for themselves the hot performances. Other factors contributing to increased accessibility have been live streaming and professional production, which allowed the fan base anywhere in the world access to quality broadcasts with dynamic camera angles, and professional lighting. Popular social media apps, social media influencers, and college programs have helped to place dance not only as an athletic but also as an artistic discipline, putting competitive dance in the same arena as mainstream sports.
After talking with senior Lauren Kubicek on the Owatonna dance team. Kubicek said, “Every year, all of these teams bring these tough skills, and people try to one up last years, and it ups the expectations for everyone else who wants to join the dance world.” Combining prestige with top-tier talent, social media buzz, and increased accessibility has kept UDA Nationals at an all-time high in viewership, making it one of the nation’s most exciting and widely followed dance competitions.