The team added to its crowded trophy case Sunday night, taking home the pom title at the Universal Dance Association College Nationals in Orlando. The U finished as runner-up in the jazz competition.
“It means so much,” coach Amanda Gaines said by phone. “Our whole routine was really about the legacy of what it takes to be Minnesota, so being able to take home a title with a routine that is close and near and dear to our heart is really special.”
Their routine featured a voiceover that ran through five lessons about the tradition of Minnesota dance: Legacy is your foundation, energy is nothing without control, there is power in silence, unity is our strength and unlock the spirit within.
The Gophers have won the pom title three years in a row, a category named for the inclusion of traditional pompoms in the routine.
Other Minnesota colleges had a successful weekend in different divisions. In both the Open Jazz and Open Pom categories, Minnesota-State Mankato took 1st, University of Minnesota-Duluth took 2nd, St. Cloud University took 4th and College of St. Benedict took 5th. St. Cloud also took home the title in the Open Dance Game Day category, and St. Thomas finished as the runner up in Division 1 Jazz.
The national championships are the highest level of competition for college dance teams — and are a stage that the Gophers have dominated for as long as many can remember. Their victory Sunday was their 23rd national championship, solidifying their status as the most successful college dance program in the country.
Boasting almost 160,000 Instagram followers and numerous supporters far beyond the sphere of Minnesota, the U’s dance team has taken up celebrity status in the dance community.
