Behind the spirit of Colorado's dance team

Colorado's dance team performs at the CU Events Center during halftime of a basketball game against Montana State on Nov 3. (Photo by Kekoa Brown/Sko Buffs Sports)

Colorado’s Dance Team doesn’t just perform; they compete. 

Ahead of their showcase at Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals, the Buffs have been working to put their best foot forward. 

While they are notably seen on the grass of Folsom Field providing entertainment on game days, the dance team’s spirit extends far beyond the football field. Unlike other sports at CU, the never-stop schedule and rigorous joining process create an inseparable bond amongst the group.  

Making a college dance team is a difficult feat in itself. There is no recruiting or coaches looking to pitch their university to high schoolers. Instead, the students have to market themselves at clinics specific to the school they choose. 

For Colorado, there are only two clinics a year for recruits, one in the spring and fall. Here, athletes perform in front of coaches to demonstrate their skills and prove worthy of getting to try out for the team. 

Current sophomore Sophia Elliott, who earned the team's Rookie of the Year as a freshman, reflected on what the process was like for her in high school. 

“You have school and events and all your own training to do, and so it is really difficult having to make time,” Elliott said. “I know, I had two clinics in one weekend. I came here at night and then flew out the second the clinic ended, and I went to another one in another state.”

As much as skill, relationships matter too. Coaches look for character and personalities that gel with the team in order to strengthen performance on the floor. Junior Chloe Sauer, who joined the team as a transfer her sophomore year, expressed the importance of camaraderie amongst the group. 

“Schools aren't coming to use a dancer, and you have to go search out your opportunities. Everything happens for a reason,” Sauer said. “I feel like each one of us on the team is very similar personality-wise, and that's another thing that just makes us click so nicely.”

Once the team is formed, that’s when the fun starts. During the fall, they’ll work closely with Cheer and Band to practice sideline routines, halftime shows and make it to the home games of other varsity sports. 

Workouts often begin early to make room for class and academic responsibilities. Between supporting their fellow student athletes and attending pep rallies, the team is often together.

“This sport is so special because it's not seasonal. We are together year-round. and especially in such a special time, like Thanksgiving and Christmas, which are very family-oriented holidays,” Sauer said. “We just grew really close, it's just sharing that love of dance and then just being together all the time.”

Once the fall season winds down, all energy shifts towards preparation for UDA Nationals. The Buffs compete in Division 1A in the Pom, Jazz and Gameday categories. Taking place at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in Orlando, Florida, the Buffs will compete against colleges from across the country.

“We’re 12 hours a day, two-a-days all Christmas break getting ready for that,” Elliott said. 

At nationals, the three-day-long event is stretched from Friday to Sunday. There are preliminary, semi-finals and finals rounds, which the team is able to advance in as follows. Per UDA guidelines, preliminary groups are split based on previous placement and geography. Only 65% of teams will advance to the Semi-Finals round based on judges’ scores. From there, 50% of teams make it into Finals, where a champion is decided. 

“It’s really an awarding experience no matter the turnout of placement and things like that,” Elliott said. “For us its more about being proud of what we put out on the floor.”

In an era when college athletics are heavily tied to NIL, dance is a sport done for love. Without scholarships, the athletes work for their own passion.

“I think what separates us from other sports is that no money's involved for us,” Elliott said. “There's no obligation to stay or leave or transfer, those types of things. We're truly here because we want to be here and got picked to be here.”

The Buffs compete Friday at 12:38 p.m. MT in Game Day, 4:52 p.m. MT in Jazz and Saturday at 8:13 a.m. in Pom Semis, all on Varsity TV.