When you’re a dancer who makes use of social media, you’ve virtually actually seen movies counting right down to the 2025 “dance Tremendous Bowl.” For these of you who aren’t acquainted, these movies are referring to UDA Nationals, a contest marking the tip of collegiate cheerleaders and dancers’ seasons. Lately, because of a number of viral performances, the occasion has garnered consideration from dancers and nondancers alike. Final yr’s Ohio State jazz efficiency was iconic sufficient to encourage a number of Halloween costumes.
In January 2022, LSU’s Tiger Women went viral with a crisp, synchronized, first-place–winning hip hop performance to “Like A Boy” at UDA Nationals. The win was a redemption a yr within the making, since LSU had barred the group from attending the competitors in 2021. A kind of uncommon dances which are virtually unattainable to look away from, the routine is a mix of one-of-a-kind choreography and stellar efficiency high quality. The video quickly racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram.
Senior Tiger Woman Isabella Avila, a freshman on the time, remembers how shortly issues modified for her group. “It erupted an entire new fanbase for us. As quickly as we gained, we acquired a variety of consideration from our faculty and had much more followers come as much as us and ask for footage.”
The college put aside extra assets for the Tiger Women after their win. They’d elevated time with private trainers and added choices for restoration. Now, simply days from their subsequent look at UDA Nationals, Avila says that each different video on her TikTok feed is a fan expressing pleasure for the Tiger Women’ 2025 efficiency.
Freshman Tiger Woman Alyx Gardner remembers watching Like A Boy as a excessive schooler. She had been planning on majoring in dance throughout faculty slightly than being on a dance group, however after a screening of UDA Nationals at her dance trainer’s home, she modified her thoughts. “Particularly the way it’s blown up up to now few years, it actually influenced me to think about a dance group.”
Since then, the Tiger Women have gained one other nationwide title in hip hop and positioned third in jazz in 2024. This yr, their purpose is to clinch two consecutive titles within the hip hop class, medal within the jazz class, and step off the mat with satisfaction of their efficiency. “This system hasn’t seen a back-to-back win. After we really feel like we’re dropping motivation, that’s sort of what retains us going. We would like to have the ability to carry one other title again for this system,” Avila says.
This yr is Avila’s ultimate UDA Nationals, and Dance Spirit caught up together with her and first-timer Gardner to talk in regards to the competitors from each views.
The Lifetime of a Tiger Woman
Avila and Gardner apply three or 4 occasions per week for about 4 hours, and restoration is offered to them at any time. On the weekends throughout soccer season, the Tiger Women carry out at dwelling video games. As soon as basketball season begins, in addition they dance at weeknight basketball video games. Throughout Nationals season, which lasts from finals week in December till UDA Nationals, they apply each single day, adopted by an hour or so of restoration. And don’t overlook, they’re full-time college students, as nicely.
Teammate Bonding
Firstly of every yr, the Tiger Women are paired up with “sisters,” with one upperclassman and one underclassman to a set. Throughout Nationals season whereas the dorms are closed, these sister pairs reside collectively whereas they continue to be on campus, coaching day by day for the competitors. “You simply have somebody to go dwelling to and have that assist from on the finish of the day,” says Gardner. And past their sister pairing, the group is extremely shut. Avila provides, “We love the dancing, in fact, however what we keep in mind most in regards to the yr is simply the recollections we made collectively.”
A Fourth UDA Nationals for Avila
A younger dancer from Beaumont, Texas, Avila has gone from studying the ropes of collegiate dance herself (coming from a studio, she hadn’t but skilled the extent of precision in spacing and motion required to be on the group) to ushering in new group members. Her recommendation to dancers auditioning for school groups? “Use your assets. Attain out to dancers on totally different groups and do a variety of analysis to search out one of the best match.” She could also be taking her personal recommendation quickly as she continues to comply with her dance goals after commencement, as a dancer for both the NBA or the NFL. “As I develop up, I’ll all the time be concerned with dance, whether or not that’s proudly owning a studio or one thing else. Dance will all the time be part of my life.”
Gardner’s First Time on the Mat
“It’s simply gonna be very surreal for me, as I used to be watching ‘Like A Boy’ after I was a sophomore in highschool and now I get to be on the group and dance with them,” says Gardner when requested about her upcoming debut on the UDA stage. Heading into the competitors, she says she’s feeling a combination of nerves and pleasure. “I gave up so much to return to Louisiana from Illinois. I simply wish to make everybody—our coaches and teammates, our choreographers, our alumni, and my household—proud.” What made her so assured in LSU? Gardner did a tour of the campus, and when she met the coaches and her future teammates, she knew that these can be her folks for the following 4 years. Certainly, Gardner’s upperclassmen teammates have closely formed her expertise this primary semester. “They actually educate us the true which means of Tiger Women tradition and what it means to be a Tiger Woman. In addition to being our leaders and function fashions, they’re our buddies.”
Quickfire Questions
Dance bag necessities?: The Tiger Women want their headphones to get within the zone. Though their music tastes differ extensively, they will all the time agree on Drake.
Preshow rituals?: Spitting for good luck and for good turns. These dancers spit on the ground and rub their jazz sneakers in it for friction!
Present favourite warm-up music?: Something associated to Depraved, in fact
Which groups are they most excited to observe?: Avila says she’s prepared to observe Ohio State, College of Minnesota, and Washington State. Gardner will probably be listening to Florida State College, College of Arkansas, and College of Michigan.
Favourite factor about being a Tiger Woman?: It’s all in regards to the teammates. Avila and Gardner agree that the friendships they’ve solid will final a lifetime.
