Sienna Dilling
The Chapman Dance Team captured its 17th consecutive national title at the annual USA Collegiate National Championship, placing first in Division II and III Jazz.
As a student-run club, rather than a dance major class, members balance full academic course loads with demanding rehearsals. The team is audition-based, with dancers competing against majors, minors and other interested students for a spot.
“I auditioned freshman year and somehow made it,” said Zoe Braggs, a senior BFA dance performance major. “Dancing was a really prevalent thing that I wanted to do at Chapman. It’s one of the reasons that I came. Being on the team all four years is something I’m very proud of.”
Braggs said being part of a student-run team adds another layer of responsibility.
“Since we are a student-run club, it really puts responsibility on us to keep morale up during the late rehearsals and the hard months of dedication,” she said. “You feel proud, but you also know how much work goes into it.”
The week leading up to nationals includes extended rehearsals, sometimes from 10 p.m. to midnight.
“It’s definitely grueling, but you prepare yourself for it,” Braggs said. “Everyone shows up with great positivity and great energy. We’re all there to work really hard.”
The 2026 championship, held Feb. 21–22 at the Anaheim Convention Center, brought together nearly 1,000 collegiate athletes from community colleges and four-year institutions across the globe.
“It never gets less nerve-racking,” Braggs said. “You’re holding hands with all your teammates and waiting in anticipation. It’s really exciting to hear second place called and know your name is coming next.”
Faculty advisors say the team’s success is rooted in community.
“This team really thrives in community,” said Wilson Mendieta. “The consistency isn’t just about their amazing talent. It’s about trust and a shared commitment to one another. They show up for each other and that matters.”
Steven Sofia added that the broader Dance Department culture reinforces that standard.
“There’s a deep culture of support, accountability and excellence,” Sofia said. “The dancers bring unmatched dedication and passion to USA Dance. That consistency of effort and belief in one another is what keeps the standard so high year after year.”
Both advisors said the achievement reflects strong student leadership across campus.
“The Dance Team represents what many of us already know about Chapman,” Mendieta said. “It’s a place filled with strong, thoughtful students who are driven not just by excellence, but by purpose.”
“They aren’t just strong performers,” Sofia said. “They are organized, thoughtful and accountable leaders who understand what it takes to represent something bigger than themselves.”
For Braggs, the foundation of the team’s success is simple.
“It really is dependent on the team as a whole,” she said. “Each person is such an essential part of it. The team fuels the team.”
