April 19, 2024

SVSU Dance Team Claims Multiple National Championship Honors

SVSU Dance Team pictured after winning National Championship in 2024

For the first time in school history, the SVSU Dance Team claimed national championships in D-II Team Performance and D-II Pom Performance at the Dance Team Union College Classic held in Orlando, FL on April 12-13. The team consists of 21 students and has been competing off and on for several years.

“We prepare the entire year for this competition, whether it be fundraising, choreography or practice,” commented Head Coach Jen McNally. “These amazing women gave everything they had throughout the season and this past week was an indescribable experience.”

Last year was the first year SVSU competed in the team performance division and this year was the first year in the pom division. They also earned fifth place in the D-II hip-hop performance division. In addition, the team was selected to compete in “The Battle” for team performance, a distinction usually reserved for D-I schools. This brings the best and most entertaining performances together to compete and SVSU was one of two D-II squads to be selected.

Taylor Johns-Piro, a third-year criminal justice major and Team Captain, was unsure of what to expect at nationals but was confident her team would do their best.

“Our theme for this year was Believe,” shared Johns-Piro. We believed in each other, ourselves, and our love for dance to carry us throughout the season. Before every game, practice, performance, and national championship, we would circle up and talk about our goals and what we believed we could do during our routines. We always believed in each other, and that's what carried us the furthest in the journey to nationals.”

The program operates under SVSU’s student-led club sports umbrella. Fundraising provides most of the $100,000 necessary to fund the program.

“Our community has been extremely generous in helping us reach our goals,” added McNally. A Lot of these young women are putting themselves through school, so to add the price of a dance team can be an extreme hardship. The last two years, the William F. McNally Family Foundation has been a huge help in us reaching our goals.”

The team’s annual tryouts occur on April 27 for the 2004/25 season. Anyone interested in joining can complete the tryout form linked from their Instagram (@svsudanceteam) account or email svsudance@gmail.com. You can also connect with them on Facebook (@SVdance) and TikTok (@svsudanceteam).