Welcome to tryout season! Spring is the perfect time to set your team’s foundation and plays a role in getting started on your road to nationals.

• Host your team’s tryouts. Be sure to look at the UDA divisions to start getting an idea of what division you would be competing in at NDTC.
• If you have not already, be sure to register for UDA camp! Contact your State Director to get started.
• Plan a team parent meeting. Include your goals for the team and potential costs such as UDA camp, UDA regionals, nationals and more. The more you can share on the front end, the better prepared your families will be throughout the year!
• Start working on team technique and strength training to get ready for camp.

Depending on your team, you may or may not have already started planning for your national’s trip. Be sure to double check these key items throughout the summer and into early fall.

• Plan out where your team will be qualifying for the National Dance Team Championship  (see NDTC site for qualification information).
• Get approval from administration.
• Hold a parent meeting to discuss details including dates, fees, timelines, etc.

• Solidify plans for travel to Orlando based on your location.
• • Check out the Travel Tips & Discounts section on the NDTC website!
• Contact your Varsity Rep to order any new uniform/pom needs.
  • Order early to ensure you have enough turnaround time to receive before Nationals.
• Start planning your team’s choreography if you have not already.
  • For more information on choreography through UDA or Envision, contact your State Director.
• Order your program’s music
  • Be sure to save your licensing or proof of purchase to bring with you to Orlando for registration. For more information on music and licensing, CLICK HERE.

It’s almost time to register for NDTC! Once you have registered, you can turn your focus to important details regarding the team and competition. This will be the busiest time of your dance team season with games and preparing for nationals. The more organized you are, the better!

• Register your team for NDTC! Registration opens during the fall, so keep an eye out for an email headed your way with this information. Remember that rooms are based on first availability, so the sooner you register the better!
• Read the rules in full to have a clear understanding as these may be different than other events you have attended in the past. If you have questions, you can email udarules@varsity.com for clarity.
• Review all score sheets and scoring information on the UDA website. The more you understand what the judges are looking for, the more prepared you will feel as a coach.
• Set team goals for Nationals. Having clear goals for the team can help them feel successful and understand the expectations you have for them.

As you prepare for NDTC, be sure to schedule your digital dance critique through UDA to get firsthand critiques from certified UDA judges. For more information, CLICK HERE.

It’s go time for you and your team! All the preparations up to this point will help you feel knowledgeable and ready as a coach and will help lead your team to success. Be on the lookout for email communication regarding event specifics. These emails will come throughout December and January.

• Pro Tip: Bookmark the NDTC event page to have easy access to updated schedules, email communication, scoring information and more!

Here are some important details you can expect:

• Block Schedule/Order of Competition
• Hotel Confirmation
• Ticket Information
• Coaches Webinar

Check the UDA website regularly throughout this time of year as all information and email communication will be posted there for you to review. Remember that your UDA State Director is there for you as a resource!

• Prepare itineraries for your team and your spectators. Providing detailed information about where to be at what times will help you feel less stressed once in Orlando.
• Send out a packing list. Be sure to include reminders for any poms, hair accessories, extra shoes, etc. that they might need.
• Complete all required event paperwork:
  • Athlete Medical Release Waivers (organized by first name)
  • Music Licensing (proof of purchase)
  • USA CHEER Membership for Dance Coaches
    • Required for anyone that will be accessing the warmup room.
• Join the Coaches BAND for NDTC! This link will be provided for you in our coaches’ webinar. Joining this group will keep you up to date throughout the event and will make it easy to ask any questions.
• Have the trip of a lifetime! While the main priority for your team is to compete, don’t forget to enjoy making memories as a team!

Registration for the 2025 event will open Fall of 2024.

• 2024 Sample Event Pricing

Thursday, January 30, 2025: ARRIVAL DAY

• Travel to sunny Orlando for a weekend full of dance and fun! Upon arrival at your resort, check into hotel rooms. Following resort check in, you can register with UDA to receive your event lanyards, credential cards, and all final information.   
• Take the rest of the day to unpack, explore the resort pools, or visit a Walt Disney World Theme Park! Optional Open Practice will be available first come, first served at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Coaches also will have the opportunity to attend an exclusive Coaches Tour of the incredible NDTC Venues, ask questions, and get a firsthand look at the performance spaces. Get some rest because the competition starts Friday! 

Friday, January 31, 2025: PRELIMS DAY

• Teams registered with the hotel travel package can board the NDTC buses from the Championship resorts to ESPN Wide World of Sports for day one of competition.
• Upon arrival to your performance venue, UDA staff will guide you to the warm up and performance areas. 
• Following competition, enjoy Friday Night Extended Park Hours at a select Walt Disney World Theme Park for those registered with the hotel travel package.   

Saturday, February 1, 2025 : DAY 2

Sunday, February 2, 2025: FINALS DAY

• Most of the division finals will be held on Sunday. We can’t wait to see who takes home the white jacket!
• The Celebration Party happens on Sunday night where you are the star of the show at a select Walt Disney World Theme Park! The park will be open exclusively to those attending the National Dance Team Championship. The celebration includes a DJ and select Disney rides operating for your teams to commemorate your weekend at Nationals!  

Monday, February 3, 2025: DEPARTURE

• Teams travel home from Orlando with unforgettable memories and experiences from the National Dance Team Championship. Travel safe! 
• Teams can elect to stay additional nights before or after the event.  

Teams attending the National Dance Team Championship can compete in the following: 

• Two (2) performance categories (Hip Hop, Jazz, Kick, Pom) 
• One (1) Game Day category (Game Day and Game Day Live) 

Example: ABC High School competes in Varsity Jazz, Varsity Pom, and Varsity Game Day. XYZ High School competes in Varsity Hip Hop and Varsity Game Day Live. 

CLICK HERE to view more information on UDA Divisions, Rules and Scoring

UDA offers a convenient hotel travel package for teams attending NDTC.  Teams, as well as friends and family, can take advantage of these travel package options.  

There are 2-, 3- and 4-night hotel travel package options as well as a commuter package. Additional nights can be added if more than 4 nights are desired. UDA’s travel hotel package offers a variety of resorts. 

Hotels offered: 

• Disney’s All Star Resort
• Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

CLICK HERE for more information on the Hotel Travel Package and sample pricing.

Coaches Tour

• Thursday, January 30th, UDA will offer an optional ESPN Wide World of Sports tour.
• Throughout the tour, coaches will visit each NDTC event venue including athlete entrance, warm up area, backstage, competition floor, video playback area, and exits of each venue. This exclusive coach tour will allow coaches to ask questions and see the venues before the competition. This is optional but HIGHLY recommended for new coaches.  

Coaches Hospitality Room

• During select times during the competition, there will be a Coaches Hospitality Room available for coaches. This is a place to get away, relax, and grab some snacks. Additionally, there will be a live stream of the competition in the Hospitality Room. 

National Dance Team Championship Awards 

• ALL dancers will receive a National Dance Team Championship drawstring bag 
• Semi-Finalist and Finalist receive a ribbon 
• All Coaches receive a Coaches Bag 
• All Finalists receive a placement trophy 
• 1st, 2nd and 3rd place teams receive bronze, silver or gold medallions 
• National Champions receive the coveted White National Champion Jacket! 

Judges selected for the National Dance Team Championship have completed the following to become credentialed: 

• Varsity Spirit Compliance Course which includes: 
  • Background Check 
  • Code of Conduct 
  • Understanding, Recognizing and Reporting the Maltreatment of Children 

• Affidavit of Good Moral Character 

• UDA Judges Training Courses and Assessment 

 This additional criterion is used when selecting our National Championship judges: 

• Preferred to have judged or will judge 2 or more “Regional” type events during the season. 
• Preferred to have been a judge or equitable experience for at least 3 years. 

We ensure our judges have no direct affiliation with any team/gym attending in a division they will judge. This includes coaching, choreographing, cleaning, etc. 

CLICK HERE for more information on UDA Divisions, Rules and Scoring.

CLICK HERE to learn more about Envision, Varsity Spirit’s dance choreography brand.

CLICK HERE to view the Varsity Spirit Fashion Catalog!

• To get started with your order, reach out to your VSF Rep.

CLICK HERE to learn more about our Varsity Spirit Fundraising partners.