MINNEAPOLIS — The University of Minnesota Dance Team is full of pride.
They were chosen as the United States National Team and will compete in the International Cheerleading Union World Championship next week. The last time they competed at the ICU World Championships was in 2014. More than a decade later, they return to compete in the jazz and pom categories.
“We’re extremely excited. “It’s such an honor to be able to represent the country and get to this competition, and we’re just so excited to go out there next week,” said Mia Tassani, a sophomore on the team.
Tassani’s dream was to get a spot on UMDT. She had always wanted to wear maroon and gold, but she never expected to wear red, white, and blue.
“It’s such an amazing honor,” she said.
To prepare for the international stage, the team held a US National Showcase. They invited several dance studios to perform between their shows.
“The energy in Williams Arena is just unbeatable,” stated Kally Hilton, a senior on the team. “We can’t even hear the turns in the best way possible, and then you finish and you’re just smiling and beaming and so is everyone else in the room.”
Hilton stated that they train to handle the noise.
“Actually, it’s one of our running jokes at practice that we all get in a big circle and then we cheer as loud as we can at each other while you turn, so you practice in the environment that you perform in,” Hilton pointed out.
And performing in front of approximately 4,500 people is a good way to simulate that environment in Orlando, FL.
The University of Michigan dance team closed the show with their national championship pom routine and opened with a new jazz routine.
“We did it in about 12 practices, actually,” said Assistant Coach Tia Tumbleson.
Tumbleson has coached this team for four years. She was also on the team from 2019 to 2020. She explained that they are reusing a routine from a few years ago, but with some changes to meet the needs of the competition and the team.
“Within those 12 practices we filled in any gaps, we tweaked, and kind of beefed up some parts and we were able to also clean it, so it’s been kind of quick process, but the team’s been really engaged, and it’s been terrific to work on it,” Tumbleson told ESPN.
“It’s been a super fun collaborative experience, and I think it’s been really rewarding that we all got to play a part in creating and doing the dance for everyone,” Tassani told me.
Hilton stated that the team is changing it up to appeal to a larger audience.
“I believe that people are more likely to connect when they are happy. I don’t think everyone wants to go to that deep place that we brought to the collegiate dance stage this year, so I really believe it’s uniting people around a love of dance and confidence, and you know you’re representing our school, nation, and everything,” she said.
The team usually prepares for nationals over winter break, but they don’t have that luxury at worlds.
“It definitely poses some challenges again with just the timing of them being in school, we had to navigate the mental load that they could process and take, but the team was really engaged and involved in that process,” Tumbleson told me.
“It’s definitely tough. It’s challenging both mentally and physically. “A lot of us are a week or two away from finals, so it’s definitely been a grind,” Tassani stated.
The team has won 23 national titles and three world championships. When you’re this talented, there’s pressure, but Hilton says it makes her feel comfortable.
“I think we’ve been in this situation before and this whole world experience feels less like a competition and more just like an appreciation for dance and so to be able to just get into a new environment and meet new people, I think will be really impactful for our team,” says Hilton.
And it’s simple to persevere when you have the support of thousands of people.
“Dance has struggled to get recognized in a lot of ways throughout college and high school dance, so to just have the support of this crowd here and the support of the state of Minnesota and honestly, I feel like the country I feel like as well has been such an amazing experience,” Tassani told the audience.
“It’s the reason I’m still dancing at this age, and I hope to continue dancing after this. “It’s the people involved and how they support you,” Hilton explained.
Performing at the ICU World Championship is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the team, which they do not take for granted. This is why they are proud to represent Team USA and intend to compete with pride.
The team is raising money to help cover some of the expenses. They are not an NCAA-sanctioned sport, so fundraisers help to cover training and travel expenses.