The LSU Tiger Girls brought home a national championship after winning Division IA Hip Hop at the UCA and UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday. The team also won third place in the DIA Jazz division.
Coined by social media as the “Dance Super Bowl,” the UDA Nationals Competition happens every January at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.
This three-day competition is intense and scores among teams are miniscule. Routines go viral, and new unseen skills are brought to the stage every year, setting new standards.
Led by coaches Kandace Hale and Londyn Daniel, the Tiger Girls performed two striking routines.
Hip Hop
After earning first place in 2022 with their idolized “Like a Boy” hip hop dance, the Tiger Girls were on a mission to bring the championship back to the boot in 2024.
As soon as the first note played of “Smooth Criminal” by Michael Jackson, the crowd was taken back in time by an all-around classic routine.
Using intricate locking moves and fast footwork, the routine looked simultaneously robotic and groovy. The team’s ability to accentuate cohesion and clean moves from beginning to end sold the dance.
Carsen Rowe, Nathan Cherry, Geovanna Garavelo-Bortoleto and former LSU Tiger Girl Sammy McFadden choreographed this routine. The dance’s composition highlighted Michael Jackson moves and made this version of LSU’s iconic hip hop style stand out.
The routine’s musicality and staging, along with each dancer’s ability to emulate the Classic Michael Jackson persona made the routine a tough one to beat.
The Tiger Girls bring something new to the stage every year. They take creative risks and don’t stick to the trends already seen in the college dance world.
In the semi-finals, the Tiger Girls were in first place with a 95.15 event score. University of Nevada, Las Vegas was second with a 93.79. To secure the championship title, the Tiger Girls came out even stronger in the finals and earned a 97.22.
With their continuous success in the hip hop division, the Tiger Girls have built a legacy.
Last year’s routine to “Crazy in Love” by Beyonce showcased a more feminine style of hip hop, with the team dancing in heels and tight jumpsuits.
This year’s choreography and style was a complete turn from their 2023 routine. Dancing in fedoras, ties and Nike Dunk Low shoes, the Tiger Girls presented a more funk-dance style, showing off the team’s versatility.
Jazz
The Tiger Girls earned third place in DIA Jazz with their hard-hitting routine to “Are You That Somebody” by Aaliyah. It’s the team’s first time finishing in the top three in this division in 10 years.
Choosing a song with fast, distinct beats made the musicality of the dance stand out. Choreographed by Kristin Daniel, every move appeared rhythmic with the beat and lyrics of the music.
Compared to other routines in this division, LSU’s routine had a hip hop undertone with fast footwork and groovy hip and arm movements.
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The team members were in unison in their technique, turn sections, group choreography and floorwork.
This year, the jazz division took place over three days and had prelims, semi finals and finals. LSU finished with a 96.77 event score and was approximately two points behind first and second place.
In the jazz category, Ohio State took first place and Minnesota earned second. These teams always dominate, and for the eighth year in a row they finished in the top two.
Minnesota and Ohio State had powerful performances with difficult technique and turn sections. While each of the top routines varied in style, each one played to the team’s strengths.
The UDA college nationals weekend only happens once a year, and it never lacks tough competition with ground-breaking routines that set the bar even higher.
