The world champions of 2024 for jazz and pom left the world speechless. Ohio State’s dance team was created in the 1950s and has been a national phenomenon ever since. Choreographers Pearl Primus, Bebe Miller, Caroyln Adams, Dianne Mclntyre created an internationally famous dance over the 2023-2024 season labeled “My Way”.
The dancers took the stage on January 17, 2024 at the Universal Dance Association national competition in Walt Disney World, Florida. The group performed two numbers, a jazz routine titled “My Way” and a Ohio State themed mash up titled “Ohio State Pom 2024”. Pom is a style of dance that is very upbeat, energetic and has an emphasis on synchronized arm movements and skill while Jazz is more of a high-energy dance with more of a traditional ballet twist. These types of dance are the two most common styles performed at UDA. One of the biggest competitors against OSU in dance is The University of Minnesota’s (UM) dance team.
The schools do not have a set rivalry between each other, but are most commonly placing first and second against each other. Minnesota’s dance team performed a jazz piece titled “Dream On” and a self put together Pom routine titled “University of Minnesota 2024 Pom”. Both routines blew the minds of fans around the world, with stunning leaps, turns and emotions. The final rank of both teams at the end of UDA was Ohio State Jazz 1st, Minnesota runner-up and UM Pom 1st, OSU runner-up.
Following UDA, Ohio State was chosen to represent America in a global wide competition. OSU took home the gold at the ICU world championship in Orlando, Florida for both the jazz category and pom.
Headed into the off season, the girls got a small summer break, then headed right back to practice to start the next year. Dance is a year long sport that takes a lot of hard work and dedication to stay committed. Ohio State’s dance team is the most sought after group in the entire nation. While hundreds of girls request to try out, only a handful are selected for the actual tryout process and only around 22 girls officially make the team. Dance is a competitive and difficult sport, but Ohio State overtakes the criticism with their routines.
