Blog

University of Minnesota Dance Team | College of St. Benedict Dance Team | MN State Mankato Dance Team

About 18 months ago, we noticed a dance photographer pop up in our feed named Cobey Rouse, from Rouse Productions  Since then, we've slowly watched his connection in the dance community grow - from photographing high school dance teams in his Lakeville, Minnesota community to traveling to UDA nationals with some of the most talented collegiate dance teams.  

What's been even more fun to see is Cobey's approach to his photography and business.  We've never interacted with a more humble and giving photographer, and his mission - to promote the sport of dance - comes through in so much of his work!  It's clear he has a passion to elevate the sport, and this passion fuels his photography. 

We asked Minnesota local, to give us a little more insight into his passion for preserving these extraordinary moments, particularly when working with dancers.  Check out his answers and some of his work below! 

Photos via  Quinnipiac Dance Team, Hofstra Dance Team, Villanova Dance Team, University of Minnesota Dance Team

Dance athletes are continuously pushing the boundaries and redefining the limits of the sport, and this holds particularly true at the 2024 UDA College Nationals.  With unique choreography, transitional costumes, and tributes to dance history - this year brought numerous surprises that will continue to linger in our thoughts!

We feel fortunate to have collaborated with many exceptionally talented teams for their custom dance costumes. The vision, creativity, and performances not only inspired the dance community this weekend, but resonated worldwide.   We are truly in awe of the talent and dedication poured into perfecting these routines. 

Congratulations to all the athletes at UDA!  Watching you perform is the best part of our job. 

Check out performance videos and photos from some of the collegiate dance teams we had the privilege of outfitting for the competition, below! 

Team: Capital Ice Synchronized Skating
Head Coach: Becky Gallion
Location: Bismarck, ND
Style:  Synchronized Skating 

Team: University of Minnesota Dance Team
Head Coach: Amanda Gaines
Location: Minneapolis, MN
Style:  College Dance Team - Jazz + Pom 

One of the easiest ways to save on dance costumes is to plan ahead and take advantage of early bird discounts. 

Dance is a highly seasonal business, and when everyone wants their costumes in the fall, this can translate to an increase in lead-time and cost to you, the coach. To help offset this seasonality, every year The Line Up hosts an "early bird" sale from January to May, where teams can save on their custom dance costumes. However, the most common objection we hear is this "I don't have my team yet"! Here's a simple hack that many haven't considered:

You can take advantage of early bird savings by getting started with your design and prototype before you have your team formed. 

Team: Northwest Mississippi Community College
Director/Head Coach: Patrice Christian and Liesl Mote
Location: Senatobia, MS
Style:  College Dance Team - Hip Hop 

Grit and glamour collided this past weekend at one of the most prestigious collegiate championships - UDA College Nationals. 

After months of hard work and determination, dance and cheer teams from all over the nation showed up in a big way. We're lucky to collaborate with so many incredibly talented teams on their custom dance costumes and we were inspired by the creativity, performances and sparkle! Congratulations to all of the athletes! Check out some of the teams we had the honor of outfitting for this event. 

When it comes to photoshoots, it's hard not to be in awe of our models - their flexibility, technique, and artistry never fails to impress us!  But we were a little thunderstruck last year when we heard that on of our models, Emy Urdahl was selected as Tremaine's 2021 Senior Dancer of the Year! 

Emy just finished her senior year at Dance Arts Centre in Chanhassen, Minnesota, accomplished studio in our back yard that holds a special place in our hearts (it's home for our Choreographers, Pam and Mollie). We've been lucky enough to work with her for a few years.  She came to us through a model call audition, and actually started her first shoot with us as a last minute replacement - how lucky for us! 

We chatted with Emy about her experience this year in the convention world, and what her plans are for the future.  Check out the Q & A below! 

It's safe to say the past year has been anything but ordinary. From postponements to virtual competitions, this year brought many new challenges for competition. But it also brought us so much joy to see you work through the ups and downs to finally dance together again! It may not look the same, but the spirit and passion only dancers embody are still there!  

We had the honor of working with so many local teams this year, helping routines come to life with outfits that embody each team's theme.  Check out some of the Minnesota teams we were lucky enough to help create their very own #LineUpLook.