Gophers dance team wins a gold and silver in ICU World Championships

The University of Minnesota dance team has added yet more glitter to its awards stash. On Friday, it took home a gold and a silver at the International Cheer Union World Championships in Orlando, Fla.

Nailing the pom routine, the team won gold in the finals for that category and a silver in the jazz competition.

Japan was Team USA’s nemesis, taking the gold in jazz and silver in pom. Mexico earned third place in both categories in the final rounds.

The U dancers executed a flawless pom routine, the second one of the two contests. In the pirouettes that went on and on and on, the dancers turned like they were one entity. Their tumbling skills were awe-inspiring and the high kicks were a delightful mix of acting and artistry. The dance, choreographed by head coach Amanda Gaines, also had moments for individual students to shine. Matthew Greco (the sole male dancer on the team) demonstrated height in his aerial showcases.

In the jazz finals, Team USA’s routine was set set to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” which the rapper made for the movie “8 Mile.” The U’s students created the dance back in the summer of 2022, and have revamped the choreography to make it even better. The performance looked terrific. With perfectly timed spins, gravity-defying flips and clean spacing, the team shared its incredible athleticism on the world stage.

But the competition was fierce in the jazz category. Japan’s vertical lifts were impressive and Mexico’s industrial movements sharp. Australia’s team showed its beautiful use of patterns and lines, and England’s dancers performed an eye-popping piece with lots of aerial moves and spirals.

After the semifinals Thursday, the U’s team had two hours of practice in order to refine its routine.

“Something that the team was hoping to improve on for finals was definitely cleanliness and finding those minor tweaks to amplify our performance,” said Brooklyn Leste, a freshman on the team.

Gaines said the experience at the world tournament was a bit different from what the team had at the nationals in January.

“With all the different countries here, everyone is just so excited to support each other and just kind of connect and be in this dance community,” she said. “It’s competitive, for sure, but I think it’s just cool to see all the support and just watch all the teams, and celebrate each other and cheer each other on.”

More than 50 countries participated in the world championships, which began Wednesday. Ten of those teams made it to the final round in both the jazz and pom categories.

Gaines said the dancers/athletes from the U also had a chance to engage in some cultural exchange during the tournament.

“They got to share trinkets with other countries, and just make friends from around the world,” she said. “Which is really kind of a once in a lifetime experience.”

Burnsville native Emma Le, a freshman on the team, appreciated the cultural exchange as well.

“While dance is subjective, it’s undeniable that every country boasts phenomenal dancers who have dedicated themselves to honing their craft and achieving success,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to dance with people from across the world.”