At Harvard University, excellence is built through preparation, resilience, and a commitment to growth. This season, the Harvard Crimson Dance Team embodied all three, culminating in a historic Top-10 national finish at the UDA College Nationals in Orlando, Florida. Preparation for Nationals began at the very start of the fall semester. From the moment students returned to campus, the team was already building toward this major competition. While performing weekly at home football games and representing Harvard at athletic events, the dancers were simultaneously training, learning choreography, refining technique, and developing performance quality. Balancing Ivy League academics with game-day performances and elite-level competition preparation required discipline, time management, and unwavering focus.
The work did not stop when the semester ended. Preparation continued through the holiday break, with team members practicing independently before returning to campus early to resume full-team rehearsals. Every practice built on the last, with attention to detail becoming sharper and expectations rising as Nationals approached. The week leading up to Nationals is known within the program as "bootcamp." During this intensive week, the team trains for approximately 10 hours a day. Bootcamp is both a physical and mental challenge. Routines are run repeatedly. Transitions are cleaned. Formations are adjusted by inches. Every arm angle, head snap, and timing detail is refined. Bodies are pushed to their limits, and fatigue becomes part of the process.
Even through exhaustion, the team remains locked in on the end goal: Nationals. This year, the strength, resilience, and determination of the Harvard Crimson Dance Team were on full display. Dancers leaned on one another, holding themselves and their teammates accountable. Bootcamp was not just about endurance; it was about trust, unity, and collective belief. The UDA College Nationals, held in Orlando, Florida, is one of the largest and most competitive collegiate dance championships in the country. Programs from across the nation compete, representing the highest level of collegiate dance talent. Simply earning the opportunity to perform on this stage is meaningful. Competing alongside such high-level teams is both humbling and inspiring.
Each season, the goal is to improve upon the previous year's performance. This year, one of the team's primary objectives was clear: break into the Top 10 in at least one routine. The Harvard Crimson Dance Team competed in both Division I Jazz and Division I Pom, bringing months of preparation to the national floor. Pom is a relatively new competitive style for the program. The first time the team competed in Pom was at the 2024 UDA Nationals. In just two seasons, the growth has been significant. The choreography has become sharper. The performance quality has deepened. The confidence has expanded.
After semifinals this season, Harvard placed 9th overall in Division I Pom, earning a spot in finals as one of the top 10 teams in the nation. Advancing to finals was already a milestone. But the team was not finished. During finals, they elevated their performance even further, moving up a placement and finishing 8th in the nation. The result marked a historic achievement for the program and a defining moment in its continued growth.
Hearing "Harvard University" announced among the teams advancing to finals was an unreal moment. It was validation for months of work and years of program-building. As one of only two Ivy League institutions that compete at Nationals — alongside Cornell University — the team proved that they belong on the national stage just like every other powerhouse program in attendance. Throughout the weekend, the dancers performed not only for themselves, but for the team and the program as a whole. They entered the competition wanting to prove something — not only to the broader dance community, but to themselves. They left having made history.
After finishing competition at ESPN Wide World of Sports, the team spent a day together at Disney, taking time to celebrate and reflect. The experience provided an opportunity for meaningful team bonding after months of intense preparation. The group returned to campus inspired, more motivated than ever, and excited to continue building a legacy for future dancers. The Harvard Crimson Dance Team's success at Nationals reflects the mission of Harvard Recreation: fostering resilience, leadership, community, and excellence through movement. This season's historic Top-10 finish is not just a result — it is a testament to preparation, unity, and belief in what is possible when a team commits fully to a shared goal.
Harvard Recreation looks forward to continuing to celebrate the student-athletes whose dedication and passion bring Crimson excellence to life on the national stage.
