The Vanderbilt University Dance Team placed third in the Division IA Spirit Rally Routine category and received the Innovative Choreography Award at The National Dance Alliance College Nationals, which took place April 9-13 in Daytona Beach, Florida. This marks the first time the dance team has placed. 

The NDA is one of the largest collegiate dance competitions in the country, bringing together top teams from across the nation to compete in a variety of performance-based divisions including jazz, pom, hip-hop, team performance and spirit rally. 

Junior Eloise Sherard said she has been a part of the team since its earliest national competitions in 2023.

“I was a part of the first dance team to compete, and seeing the growth of this team has been an incredible blessing,” Sherard said. “We would not be where we are without those who helped build this team.”

The team’s third-place spirit rally performance, choreographed by Natalie Aaron and Gianmarco DeLacruz, was inspired by the team’s dances on the sidelines at football and basketball games. According to the NDA, the Spirit Rally division emphasizes synchronization, crowd leading skills, school spirit and overall entertainment value that is based on traditional school game day and sideline choreography. 

Sherard highlighted what she believes makes the Vanderbilt dance team unique. 

“One thing that sets Vanderbilt Dance apart from other teams is the genuine love we have for each other, not just as teammates, but as people,” Sherard said. “Our coach always talks about how it is great to be a beautiful dancer, but it is more important to be a great person. Because of [this team], I am a better person — and we have made history.”

Current team captain and senior Lexi Kay spoke on the years of work that led up to this moment. 

“As a senior on the team, this moment meant so much to all of us,” Kay said. “It was so incredible to receive recognition for our hard work this year in setting a program record. It truly felt like a dream, and I am so thankful for the experiences this team has given me.”

Sophomore Emma Boualaphanh said she believes the most rewarding moments take place off the stage, sharing that a notable memory for her was running into the ocean with the medals, trophies and banners following the team’s placement. 

“There’s a superstition in the collegiate dance and cheer world that you can’t go into the ocean water until your competition is over, or it’s considered bad luck,” Boualaphanh said. “Since the finals for spirit rally were on the last day of nationals, we had to wait until after the last awards ceremony to finally run into the water [but] it was incredibly rewarding to share that moment with all of my favorite people.” 

Head Spirit Coach Kelsea Giantonio spoke on the significance of the team’s unique identity as the sports dance team at Vanderbilt.  

“We embraced a theme that was specific to Vanderbilt, which made the performance even more exciting for us. It was meaningful on a personal level and helped tie all the pieces of the routine together in a way that felt truly authentic,” Giantonio said. “We are proud to represent Vanderbilt, and I feel we exemplified that perfectly on the stage.” 

Dance assistant coach Haley Kramer recalled her emotions in the moment the winners were announced. 

“I was just so excited for [the team] to hear their names be called and get to feel that burst of adrenaline of realizing they were finalists. You would have thought we already won the entire competition,” Kramer said. “Once they were called for third place, happiness and gratefulness just poured out of me.”