As the weekend passed, for many it was just an ordinary Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. However, for dance lovers and dance team alumni, this weekend was the “Dance Super Bowl”. Top teams from all around the US came together to show off and compete their dances in Orlando, Florida. Thousands of people joined the teams to watch live in Orlando, and hundreds more watched on their screens from at home. Since I am a dance lover, I too was one of the people who sat at home counting the minutes until the dances were posted online.

Its been a kind of online concept that Ohio State University and the University of Minnesota are very very very competitive with each other. Each year, without a doubt, the teams go head to head hoping and praying that they come out on first for both jazz and pom. In 2023 Minnesota was able to place first in both, but since then, Ohio has taken first for Jazz and Minnesota has taken first for pom.

A TikTok tht circulates almost every year since people have recognized this rivalry is the fact that both team “reach for the gun” as coined in the musical Chicago

This song truly symbolizes the true rivalry between Ohio State and Minnesota. The song feels like a sort of chase of who is going to grab the gun and who is going to come out on first.

Because of the tough competition between the two teams, I wanted to got through my thoughts and opinions of both, share with you the stories shown behind the performances, and tell you my favorite parts. Most importantly, i want you to form your own opinion on which team you think deserved to win.

University of Minnesota Twin Cities: Jazz (second place)

The University of Minnesotas jazz routine was definitely a fan favorite. Last year, the U of M got critiqued for focusing too heavily of technique instead of telling a story throughout the dance. they heard those critiques and ran with them. This dance is one of the most emotional and heart-wrenching dance I have watched within the past 5 years. It features Ava Wagner who is dressed in the white and shows off her flawless technique. Although some may interpret the story as something different, I see it as losing someone who you once deeply loved. The song “This Womens Work'” by Kate Bush takes about suppressing emotions and trying to hide your sadness. My favorite part of the dance is when everyone comes together and does the same dance moves. As they whip out the rose and all run into a leap I cant help but get chills.

Ohio State University: Jazz (first place)

The Ohio State Universities jazz was also a fan favorite from this year. It’s has such weird and out of this world choreography that matches the song perfectly. It’s always a risk to put out such an odd and niche kind of dance, but Ohio State definitely understood the assignment. Since dance is a kind of art, its important to come out with brand new ways of dancing and moving your body. I think Ohio State absolutely killed this routine and it left many viewers wanting more. Although they had some turning mishaps during prelims, they did much better during finals. My favorite part of the dance is when they rippled and begin doing these weird arms. They all timed it beautifully and created such a powerful sequence of arms and movements.

University of Minnesota: Pom (first place)

Minnesotas Pom is unbelievable. It is crazy that these dancers are able to perform such a high energy, endurance filled dance without dying. Minnesotas pom is always super strong and filled with such intense jumps, turns, and choreography. Pom dances are typically filled with relevant hype up songs. This dance has one song that talks about Minnesota being the greatest. My favorite part about this dance is the silent turn set. Non-dancers dont realize how hard it is, but being able to time your turns with no music is very hard. Overall, this dance is super powerful.

Ohio State University: Pom (second place)

Ohio State’s Pom is also super unbelievable. Ohio State always has these complex turn sets and typically always hit them during their pom dance. They hit every move with such force and it really proves how badly they wanted first place. My favorite part of the dance is either the in-synch worm to the floor and when the song “Von Dutch” by Charli XCX comes on. Since they had gotten second place the last three years or so, they come to UDA Nationals fighting for that first place spot. Although they didn’t get it this year, I think they still proved themselves as a strong Pom team.