Gophers dance team wins a gold and silver in ICU world championships

The University of Minnesota dance team has added yet more glitter to its awards stash. On Friday, the U.S. representative took home a gold and silver at the International Cheer Union world championships in Orlando.

Nailing the pom routine, the team won gold in the finals for that category and a silver in the jazz competition.

Japan took gold in jazz and silver in pom. Mexico earned third place in both categories in the final rounds.

“We are so proud,” coach Amanda Gaines said. “The gold medal is a very rewarding feeling.”

The U dancers executed a flawless pom routine, the second one of the two contests. In the pirouettes that went on and on and on, the dancers turned like they were one entity and their tumbling skills were awe-inspiring.

The dance, choreographed by Gaines, also had moments for individual students to shine. Ava Wagner’s high kick proved a delightful mix of acting and artistry, while Matthew Greco (the sole male dancer on the team) demonstrated height in his aerial showcases.

In the jazz finals, Team USA’s routine was set to Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” which the rapper made for the movie “8 Mile.” The U’s students created the dance back in the summer of 2022, and have revamped the choreography to make it even better. The performance looked terrific. With perfectly timed spins, gravity-defying flips and clean spacing, the team shared its incredible athleticism on the world stage.

After the semifinals Thursday, the Gophers had 90 minutes of practice in order to refine its routine, including working on their uniformity and fine-tuning their spacing.

“Something that the team was hoping to improve on for finals was definitely cleanliness and finding those minor tweaks to amplify our performance,” said Brooklyn Leste, a freshman on the team.

It was the third time the U was representing the United States at the world championships. The last time the team participated in the tournament was in 2014, when just like this year it earned a gold medal in pom and silver in jazz. In 2010, the team clinched gold medals in both jazz and the freestyle (pom) and also won a silver in hip-hop.

Gaines cited the high cost, and the extended season, for reasons as to why the U doesn’t always apply for the opportunity.

Gaines said the experience at the world tournament was a bit different from what the team had at the nationals in January, where it won a gold in pom for the third year in a row and silver in jazz.

More than 50 countries participated in the world championships, which began Wednesday. Ten of those teams made it to the final round in both the jazz and pom categories.

Gaines said the dancers/athletes from the U also had a chance to engage in some cultural exchange during the tournament.

“They got to share trinkets with other countries, and just make friends from around the world,” she said. “Which is really kind of a once in a lifetime experience.”

Burnsville native Emma Le, a freshman on the team, appreciated the cultural exchange as well.

“While dance is subjective, it’s undeniable that every country boasts phenomenal dancers who have dedicated themselves to honing their craft and achieving success,” she said. “I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity to dance with people from across the world.”