The Remarkable Return of Briar Cliff Dance

BCU dance team before GPAC Championship.

When Madison Mahr took the reins of the Briar Cliff University dance program this year, she knew she was stepping into a "building phase." After all, it was the program’s first year back in action. However, the Chargers didn't just build a foundation, they built a powerhouse, punching their ticket to the College Classic National Competition in their debut season. 

For Mahr, a Sioux City native and 2022 NAIA Dance National Champion during her time at Morningside University, the journey has been a whirlwind of emotion and rapid development. She watched her squad transform from a group of individuals into a cohesive competitive unit. "The growth this team has had within our NAIA Team Performance routine has been incredible," Mahr said. "Each time we have competed, these dancers push themselves to keep raising our scores and perfecting changes that help make the routine stronger. Looking back to when they learned the choreography, a lot of the routine has been changed to show the teams' growth and adapt to them as individuals." 

The turning point for the season came early at a competition at Doane University. Mahr admitted that as a first-year coach with a brand-new roster, she wasn't quite sure what to expect. "Once their routine was done, I couldn’t  help but get emotional seeing them hit all their skills and show up at their best the first time out," Mahr recalled. "I didn’t care how they placed, but ending up in third after that performance was icing on the cake!" The success on the floor is a direct result of the grueling schedule kept by the student-athletes. Behind  the scenes, the team puts in between five to eight hours of practice a week, often working around limited gym availability to ensure every turn and leap is synchronized. 

For dancer Kaelyn Schutter, the opportunity to represent the "Blue and  Gold" on a national level is a dream realized much sooner than expected. "It feels amazing seeing our hard work and dedication pay off to a trip as big as this one," Schutter said. "As a first-time BCU dancer, this trip is huge for me.  Personally, I have always wanted to experience something like this, and being able to do it with my teammates means even more to me. This is a big experience that allows us to get our name out there and show people who we really are."

As the team prepares for the April 9-14 trip to Orlando, Fla., Mahr is looking forward to seeing how her "underdogs" stack up against the best in the country. The Chargers will not only compete in their primary category but will also bring back two  additional routines from their state competition to showcase their versatility. "I am most excited to see their hard work pay off," Mahr said. "This team has been through a lot this season and I am so proud of their perseverance and always showing up to practice ready to work. We came into this season as the underdogs since it was our first year and we have done better competitively  than I ever could have imagined." 

While the lights of the national stage will be bright, the team’s mission remains focused on the joy of the sport. Schutter noted that while they are hungry for a high score, their ultimate objective is simpler. "Our goal honestly is to go out there and have fun," Schutter added. "Yes, we want to do the best we can but we also want to be able to enjoy our time at Nationals."