Boston University Dance Team

          Yeah, you read that title right. The Boston University Dance Team, for the first time in the program's history has been named National Champions for their hip hop performance at the NDA National Collegiate Dance Competition in Daytona Beach, Florida. It was definitely a record breaking weekend, as the girls also placed second in the team routine competition. Again, the highest the team has ever placed in this category, and quite the jump from the fifth place finish the year prior. For anyone who has been following the team from the beginning of the semester, you know that this has been one of the toughest seasons the team has experienced yet. They had to be resilient when starting off the year without practice space, performing at an exhausting amount of events, losing team members, and of course being challenged more than they have ever before with tougher choreography, longer practices, all while remaining good students. But after this weekend, I think if you asked each girl, she would say, "The work was worth it."

          I think what made the victory so sweet, was the fact that this team never expected it. Every year BUDT comes back stronger and yet, they keep the modest opinions of their talent and skill with them. These girls love to dance, but they came to Boston University first and foremost as scholars. Sometimes, it's hard to compete with teams that live, breath and went to college for the sole purpose of performing. But if there's one thing these girls have it's heart, and knowing how to work hard. This was the nationals that the girls needed to realize their potential and start believing that they are "Top Dogs." They have what it takes, and they have the heart to take them there. If you ask any girl on the team, they would tell you they had no expectations for hip hop. It was their first time competing an all hip hop routine, and right off their second place victory in team dance, all the girls wanted to do was have fun. They knew better not to let go of all their training, but the girls took the hip hop floor without nerves, nothing but excitement to dance and perform. They had already exceeding their goal, this was just the victory lap. The result? Performing the routine the best they ever had, becoming national champs, and having the most fun they ever had performing. That's what it's all about right?

The girls know that this means it's just going to be even harder next year, but clearly challenges never got in the way of BUDT's success before and they don't planning on next year being the first. The experience has been thrilling... from basketball games, to local competitions, to their eventual success, and finally, to representing Boston and the victims of the 2013 Boston Marathon down in Daytona. There has been no greater honor then sharing the stage with 17 of the strongest girls out there, and sharing a piece of home with the world...or at least the dance world.

The team would like to thank everyone that has believed in them from the very beginning, from the super fans, to their friends and family, and of course their two amazing coaches: Liz Stilwell and Kaitlyn Busconi...this would have been impossible without you. You can catch NDA's coverage of the dance team's performance here AND here! PS. Congrats to BU Cheer for making Finals for the first time in the program's history! You can check out their videos here! Stay tuned for info on camp and auditions...as one adventure ends, another begins! If you are interested in joining the BU Dance Team or have any questions at all be sure to email us at budt@bu.edu!