Last week, some of the most technically demanding performances in collegiate athletics unfolded on a single stage.
Grand Valley State University dancers and millions of viewers watched from the stands and their homes as collegiate teams competed in the UCA & UDA College Cheerleading and Dance Team National Championship. The championship concluded Jan. 18 after a three-day run at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida. While not competing in Florida, dancers at GVSU diligently watched the performances and reflected on the championship’s personal significance to them.
The event is split between two organizations: the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA), which oversees collegiate cheerleading divisions and the Universal Dance Association (UDA), which governs collegiate dance categories, including jazz, pom and hip-hop. In total, the annual championship unites top athletes from both sports in the highest level of national competition. The wide range in divisions allows the event to appeal to many…