Road to Nationals

The great finals stage known as "The Bandshell" at the 2016 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Competition. The Bandshell is an outdoor stage built onto the sands of Daytona Beach.

The Sacred Heart University Dance Team will be traveling to the NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Competition for the 18th time from April 4-9, 2017 in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the largest and oldest collegiate dance competition in the country with over 6,000 college students in attendance. Founded in 1994, the SHU Dance Team catapulted itself onto the nationals stage as the smallest Division 1 school in the competition having had multiple top 10 rankings in the team performance category and the now the hip hop category, as well. 

They will compete in Division 1 team performance, which is the most rigorous category incorporating jazz, pom, and hip hop styles into one, 2 minute and 15 second routine. They will also compete in the highly competitive Division 1 hip hop category, fitting the latest styles and tricks into a 2 minute routine. The goal is to make it out of the preliminary competition and onto the great finals stage: The Bandshell. The Bandshell is an outdoor stage built onto the sands of Daytona Beach (see photo above) where thousands of spectators attend. In addition, the event at The Bandshell will be broadcasted on CBS Sports Network!

The SHU Dance Team is a club sport that performs at all of the SHU varsity football and men's and women's basketball games throughout the academic year, all while preparing for their nationals journey. They work with nationally recognized choreographers to develop the most competitive routines and have had a consistent presence in Daytona Beach each year while other teams often come and go. The trip is a substantial financial undertaking and much of the cost comes directly from the dancers alone. We hope that alumni, family, and friends will consider supporting the SHU Dance Team on their journey to 2017 Nationals today!

About Sacred Heart University's Dance Team

The Sacred Heart University Dance Team at the 2016 NCA/NDA Collegiate Cheer and Dance Competition.

The Sacred Heart University Dance Team is a team that strives for excellence in all we do.  We perform at all home football and men's and women's basketball games as well as compete on the national and local level. The team, founded in 1994, consists of women with varying backgrounds and trainings from ballet, to hip hop, to gymnastics, to jazz, and all others in between.

We pride ourselves on learning from each other and incorporating unity among all team members.  Each dancer is an integral part of our team and has the opportunity to showcase their talents through choreography, which then may be taught to the team and performed. A crowd favorite, SHU Dance is often asked to perform at campus events such as open houses, spring weekend and other local or community events. Go Pioneers!