Northwest CC dance team earns top awards at dance camp
Aug. 1, 2025 — The Northwest Mississippi Community College Dance Team continues to raise the bar nationally, earning top honors during a standout performance at the Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Dance Camp held in July at the University of Alabama.
The team not only trained alongside some of the nation’s top collegiate dance programs — including the University of Alabama, the University of Oklahoma, and the University of Miami — but they also walked away with a string of major awards, including the coveted Leadership Award, which is voted on by fellow participating teams.
“This year, going into UDA College Camp, we focused extremely hard on pushing forward our standard of excellence while also expanding on the style we have created,” said Northwest Dance Coach Patrice Christian. “Our team is extremely dedicated and hardworking, and put together a nationals-worthy home routine in just under two weeks, which earned them a very rare gold ribbon for the second year in a row.”
The team’s gold ribbon came with a first-place award for their home routine — a distinction reserved for routines that are considered ready for national competition. Northwest also earned first place in the fight song competition, a superior blue ribbon for their gameday evaluation, and a superior trophy for their A Routine evaluation.
Christian said the Leadership Award was especially meaningful, as it reflected the team’s reputation and character beyond their choreography. “To say this team is special would be a vast understatement,” she said. “I genuinely believe this speaks to the incredible culture we have, which is what I am most proud of.”
Leadership at all levels has played a part in the dance program’s ongoing success, including team manager Kamarion Hooks, dance team coordinator Michaela Myhre, Vice President of Student and Enrollment Management Dr. Tonyalle Rush, and Northwest President Dr. Michael J. Heindl.
“It’s important for our students, not only just for their growth as dancers, as leaders, as student athletes,” said Dr. Rush. “But it’s also important, like I said, just the recognition that we receive — having Northwest known as a top program in the country for Hip Hop and for Game Day is amazing.”
Beyond competition, the Northwest Dance Team is known for supporting Ranger athletics at home and away, while also engaging in charitable and volunteer efforts across their communities — living out the college’s mission of enrichment and transformation.
“That just relates to our mission and our vision,” added Rush. “We transform our student lives, we enrich our communities, and we strive for excellence in all of our educational programs and services. This team demonstrates that excellence — it takes countless hours to have a team this dynamic.”
With their UDA success setting the tone, the Northwest Dance Team looks ahead to an exciting new season filled with performances, community outreach, and a continued push toward national recognition.
