2026 NAIA Competitive Dance National Championship
Schedule:
• Friday, March 27: Preliminary round begins at 7 p.m. CT.
• Saturday, March 28: Final round begins at 2:30 p.m. CT (awards presentation at 5 p.m.).
Additional Info:
• Location: Stormont Vail Events Center | Topeka, Kan.
• Live Stream: Urban Edge Network
• 2026 NAIA National Qualifiers / Prelims Competition Order
• Scoring: each team’s total score equals 25% prelims plus 75% finals.
At least one member of the team couldn’t even stomach the Domino’s pizza that had been ordered for the occasion. Admittedly, Concordia University, Nebraska Competitive Dance coaches and athletes were anxious as the clock neared 6:30 p.m. CT when the NAIA selection show was scheduled to air on YouTube. Based on the ARC (Area Rating Committees) ratings released the day before, the Bulldogs appeared to be a very likely at-large choice into the national qualifying field.
But they had never been here before, and they weren’t counting their chickens before they hatched. Nervousness gave way to joyous cheers as the Concordia C-Dog logo appeared on the screen, confirming that the Bulldogs had indeed qualified for the NAIA National Championship for the first time in program history.
Head Coach Mandi Maser made her way around the PE Center classroom to exchange hugs with every student-athlete on the team. Said Maser, “This moment means everything to our program. From day one, this team has believed in something bigger than themselves, and they’ve put in the work to make that belief a reality. To earn our first-ever trip to nationals is incredibly special, not just for this group, but for everyone who has helped build this program along the way.”
In hindsight, that may have been the best any Domino’s pizza has ever tasted. Years later, members of the 2025-26 Concordia Dance team will surely remember that celebratory Monday night (probably not for the pizza) when a standing goal for the program came to fruition. In that lights-out PE Center classroom (to better see the show on the screen), the Bulldogs learned they would soon be under the spotlight at the Stormont Vail Events Center in Topeka, Kan. On that Monday night, the cheering and hugging continued even as the other national qualifiers were announced.
This achievement has been a decade in the making, dating back to when the NAIA held its first official dance and cheer national championship in 2017. For senior captains Taylor Larsen and Elise O’Neill, it doesn’t get much better than this. They thought they were close to making it happen a year ago, but the timing wasn’t right. That disappointment may have been in the back of their minds as the selection show neared.
Said the All-American Larsen, “I honestly felt nervous going into Monday night knowing what was on the line, but I also felt a lot of peace knowing that God was going to put us wherever He wanted us to be. When we found out, I was ecstatic! I just felt so incredibly proud of my team in that moment. I’m really excited for us to have one more opportunity to dance for God’s glory this season.”
‘Trust His Timing’ (rooted in Ecclesiastes 3:1) became a theme throughout 2025-26 for this Concordia team. For further inspiration, the Bulldogs have rallied around the song, “Goodbye Yesterday,” a high-energy Christian anthem by Elevation Rhythm. It’s a song they play at competitions to help remind them not to dwell on the past and to put their trust in Christ.
As O’Neill explains, “We have used this song as our reminder that despite the nerves we are feeling in that moment, Christ has already made us new and that His mercy is what truly matters. I could go on for days about how special each and every single one of these girls is, but what makes our team special is just how God has decided to use us this season. This also would not have happened if not for the work and pride of so many of our alumni have poured into building up this program.”
Talk to anyone on the team and you get a sense for just how much faith plays a role in its success. That faith helped keep it together this time a year ago when the Bulldogs were left out of the national field despite carrying a scoring average that ranked in the top 10 nationally. If anything, they became more determined as the new academic year began.
A First Team All-GPAC performer, junior Hanna Bitner has played a starring role throughout her career and knows what it has taken to reach this point. Said Bitner, “This team truly is so special. I think what makes us stand out is our faith and the way we give it all to God, knowing that He has already written our story. While we all want to score well and keep breaking records, the most important thing to us is sharing the gift of dance that He has given us. Our team loves to watch each other succeed, and we aren’t afraid to push each other because we know what we are capable of.”
The Bulldogs showed what they were capable of the weekend of Feb. 6-7. Their confidence grew through the roof as they celebrated championships at the York Crown Classic and their own Concordia Invite. At the home competition, Concordia earned a school record score of 93.33 and even toppled defending national champion Midland. That was the moment a trip to nationals became very real.
In coming together to break records and blaze a new trail, the Bulldogs have mixed veterans and newcomers in forming a close-knit unit. At the GPAC Championships, the competition roster included captains Larsen and O’Neill, juniors in Bitner and Kaylee Powell, sophomores Brynley Cooper and Bianca Romshek and freshmen Sienna Kelly, Cam Ottersberg, Addison Sample and Lana Tillman. Impressively, eight of those athletes were named GPAC All-Conference award winners.
According to Maser and company, these Bulldogs are happy for one another when they receive such recognition. The individual accolades are secondary to so many other prominent points of emphasis. The word ‘selfless’ is one that Powell uses to describe the ’25-26 team.
Said Powell, “This team made Nationals a reality because of our strong team-first mentality. This team is one of the most selfless and encouraging groups I’ve ever been a part of. What has truly set us apart is keeping Christ at the center of everything we do. Instead of focusing on achievements, we’ve committed to dancing and working hard for His glory and trusting His timing. This season has come with challenges, but our team has responded with love, flexibility and a continued focus on our goal of nationals. This team is so special because each team member brings their strengths to our routine, allowing us to create a more dynamic and competitive performance than ever before.”
While donning black with fire-emblazoned sleeves this season, Concordia has been fire on the dance floor. What people see in competition may last only a couple of minutes, but behind the scenes, the Bulldogs have sunk their hearts and souls into making it the best possible routine. From individual to individual, each one is on the same page, something evident in the way they describe the special nature of this team.
“I felt like this season, our team fully trusted God to carry us through every performance, practice and moment,” Larsen said. “You can see it and feel it when we dance. When we’re on the floor together, it feels like we’re dancing joyfully for the glory of God.”
Understandably, Maser is a proud coach. In the days leading up to the qualifier announcement, Maser neglected to read emails about the national championships, as if fearing a jinx. She may not be superstitious, but she is, at the very least, a bit stitious.
“It’s a testament to their resilience, their commitment and the standard they’ve set,” said Maser of how this team has earned its way to nationals. “We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and we’re excited for the opportunity to represent our university on the national stage.”
Commented Powell, “Seeing all the tough practices and hard work payoff is such a rewarding and exciting feeling. Being able to accomplish this alongside my team and some of my best friends makes it even more special.”
Added Bitner, “There is something so rewarding knowing that our hard work, long practices and dedication have paid off. Talking as a team afterwards and creating a plan made it all feel real. We are all excited to be in the same room with the other top teams. It motivates us to show up and prove that we belong there.”
It’s a team worthy of a pizza party, and a lot more, like a trip to Topeka for the 2026 NAIA National Championships. Yes, it is their time.
2026 Competitions
Jan. 21 – Def. CSM in dual (83.66)
Jan. 24 – Placed 3rd/8 (85.21) at Dordt Invite
Jan. 30 – Placed 3rd/9 (87.7) at KWU Classic
Feb. 6 – Placed 1st/14 (87.33) at York Crown Classic
Feb. 7 – Placed 1st/8 (93.33) at Concordia Invite
Feb. 13 – Placed 5th/10 (87.70) at Northwestern Invite (Day 1)
Feb. 14 – Placed 3rd/9 (87.87) at Northwestern Invite (Day 2)
Feb. 21 – Placed 2nd/7 (87.79) at Midland Invite
March 7 – Placed 3rd/9 (87.68-prelims; 88.09-finals) at GPAC Championships