COSTA MESA -- This will be the third competitive season for the Vanguard dance team and just as the athletic department is preparing to move to the NCAA Division II, the dance team has changed course and is entering a new era in 2024. Forgoing the NAIA championship route, the Lions, under Head Coach
Taylor Smith, have moved to the National Dance Alliance (NDA) Collegiate National Championship program, which begins Thursday in Daytona, Florida.
The NDA Championship event is one of the biggest in the country and takes place alongside the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) championship. Thousands will descend to the middle of the beach-front city, with the Ocean Center convention hall holding most of the competition's events. Some disciplines and select finals will be held under the band shell across the street, which is nestled between the Hilton hotel and the beach. There is almost no stop to the action between the two venues, with performances starting at 8:30 a.m. (ET) Thursday and Friday and running past 8:00 p.m. Here is all you need to know for the first venture in VU history to this historic competition.
Tickets |
Live Video |
NDA Home Page with complete schedules
Performance times (all Eastern Time)
Thursday - Pom routine - 8:39 a.m. in the Ocean Center Hall
Friday - Hip Hop routine - 10:21 a.m. in Ocean Center Hall
- if the squad makes the Pom Final, the team will compete Friday in the Ocean Center Hall around 12:15 p.m.
- if the squad makes the Hip Hop Final, the team will compete at the Band Shell on Saturday, which starts around 11:00 a.m.
Vanguard has nine dancers for both routines, as
Abigail Davis,
Colette Hogan,
Aubrey Liddi,
Harlie Martinez,
Eliana McElderry,
Chloe McLeroy,
Kylee Northrop,
Jizelle Rodas,
Ashley Southard, and
Megan Tillotson will be on the stage for the Blue and Gold. With an even split in the squad in terms of collegiate experience (three first-year dancers, three second-year, and three third-year), there is good mix of talent taking the program to new heights.
NDA has set up an NAIA level for the first time and in the Pom discipline, the Lions will be up against Point Park (Pa.), Aquinas (Mich.), and OUAZ. The top two teams will make it to the final performance. In the Hip Hop department, VU will be up against Oklahoma City, Hope International, Central Methodist, Texas Wesleyan, OUAZ, Missouri Baptist, and Roosevelt (Ill.). The four finalists will advance to Saturday.