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Arizona State University’s Dance Team Is Returning to UDA

Back in October, Arizona State University’s dance team dropped a sizzling post with some exciting news: For the first time since 2020, the Sun Devils would be returning to the Universal Dance Association College National Championships. After consistently placing toward the top at UDA in jazz and pom (the group won third in Division 1A jazz and fourth in D1A pom in 2020), ASU’s dance team pivoted after the pandemic, taking a year off from competing before switching to The College Classic (TCC) for 2022–25.

Now, the team heads back to Orlando, FL, for the 2026 UDA Nationals, which run January 16–18 at the Walt Disney World Resort. ASU Spirit Squad coordinator and dance-team coach Bianca Caryl sat down with Dance Spirit to talk about their return.

We’ve all been wondering: Why did ASU leave UDA?

When things were picking up again after COVID, it was brought to my attention by the university that we should be focusing more on game day, and that it would be okay for us to compete during a different time of year. January is a demanding time when it comes to games and other events on campus.

Through the National Dance Coaches Association, I know the founders of Dance Team Union. Their event [The College Classic] is in April, and it seemed really up-and-coming. I liked its music rules and genre specializations—pom really needs to look like pom.

The Arizona State University Dance Team. Photo by Thomas Fernandez, courtesy Bianca Caryl.

When and how did things change?

UDA’s rising popularity has changed dance-team culture. We kind of hoped when we shifted to TCC that more D1A teams would follow. There have been some great teams there, but it didn’t necessarily grow in the way we were hoping. And, honestly, we were having FOMO in January!

We’ve also had new administration in the athletic department. We used to be considered more as an accessory to the athletic teams, but this new administration said, No, you are an integral part of the department, and how can we develop your progression? Talks about returning officially started around last spring.

What genres will the team be competing in?

We’ll compete in jazz, and we’re switching from pom to hip hop this year! Over the past few years, I’ve been able to recruit more through combines and events, so I’ve had the opportunity to curate a wonderful team culture with technically advanced dancers who are also strong in hip hop.

This summer, we worked on Chicago-style fundamentals with Toya Renee Ambrose, who directs the Chicago Bulls 312 Crew and the Luvabulls. She was also one of ASU’s choreographers during the early 2000s, so there’s a cool connection there. We want to make sure we’ve really mastered the style through genuine education. And ASU has always been strong in jazz—we’re known for it.

The Arizona State University Dance Team. Photo by Mark Quinones, courtesy Bianca Caryl.
The 2026 ASU dance team seniors with coach Bianca Caryl at Desert Financial Arena. Photo courtesy Caryl.

How have you been prepping?

For the past five years, the dancers have not been used to having a competition on top of our hardest time of year. In the fall, it’s one game after the other, and we also do events and volunteer. I told them, “If you guys want to do this, you have to understand: There’s no winter break. You may not get to go home for the holidays.” It’s a full-blown commitment and lifestyle. But they are all in, and they’re having a great time.

What’s your approach this time?

The last time we were at UDA, we were placing high and pushing to level up. The focus was on the medals we were bringing home. But this time, we just want to make it to finals. We don’t have any specific expectations about placement. It’s really just about us being back, showing people who we are and what we can do. However people judge us—there’s no control over that.

That doesn’t mean we’re not competitive—we are very competitive—but we’re taking the numbers and the placement out of it.

ASU dance team members with hip hop choreographer Toya Renee Ambrose (center). Photo courtesy Caryl.

What does it mean for ASU to be back at UDA?

I was very happy at TCC. But coming back to UDA is significant because it means we’re back on the scene. My dancers feel a validation in showing that, for the people who didn’t know that we’ve continued to be a very competitive team, we are still here.

UDA has brought light to the fact that dancers are athletes. It’s definitely a different culture that we’re walking into this year with the athleticism and the level of difficulty. But we don’t want to try to be anyone else. We need to be ASU. We do choreography that’s different. We’re edgy and funky. That’s not going to change.

The post Arizona State University’s Dance Team Is Returning to UDA appeared first on Dance Spirit.

Tapas Das: Tapas Das, a young entrepreneur of our times started TWIST N TURNS in 2005. A person who is kind, generous, creative and down to earth wanted to start his own one of a kind dance academy. According to him, Dance is a language of movements that involves space, time and the human body. He was born and grew up in Kolkata, the cultural hub of India. Being appreciated in the field of dance all his life, he is extremely talented. He has been dancing since the age of four. Once he finished his high school, he learned jazz/modern and contemporary dance. His horizons were broadened even more when he started dancing Bollywood with Beat Busters for 4 years, which then was the most upcoming dance crew in Kolkata. After that exposure, he studied how to be a dance teacher, which later started helping him impart his knowledge about dance. Thus, in 2005, with the help of family and friends, he started TWIST N TURNS. Starting with a mere number of 40 students, today TWIST N TURNS currently has over 500 students. Over the time Tapas has taught and performed all over the country. He has performed in cities such as Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Jhansi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Udaipur etc. He has been an active participant in the Salsa India Congress in the cities of Bangalore and Bombay, and he has also visited various International Salsa Congresses in Europe, namely in Berlin ,Singapore, Hong Kong,Dubai. He is been also trained recently at Broadway Dance Center (New York), Alvin Alley (New York) and Steps on Broadway (New York). He is not only a dancer or teacher. He is a successful choreographer and has coordinated various shows without difficulty in our country. His leadership skills are exceptional, thus he is where he stands today. His aim in life would be to become a dance educator. He wants to share his tremendous knowledge in the right way to the right people. He is also, simultaneously running other brands like Zumba Kolkata, Bollywood Studio ArtistWala.com and India International Dance Institute.