Family Dancers

Dance Team Coach Madison Hebrink’s focus on connection and confidence fuels a culture that has earned six national titles in three years.

By Joe Tougas '86

Madison Hebrink ’20 has a family to look after at Minnesota State University, Mankato.

Hebrink is in her third year coaching the MSU Dance Team—the same team she performed with as a student. In each of those years, her dancers have earned two national titles. That’s six national championships under her leadership, including wins this year in open jazz and open pom at the Universal Dance Association College National Championships in Orlando.

Hebrink credits the team’s consistency to its focus on connection and growth rather than trophies.

“We don’t think about the win. We think about our team dynamic and loving each other like a family,” she said. “If you walked into a practice, you’d see the most encouraging, positive group of girls. Even without a title, we’d be proud of each other and of what we accomplished.”

The team typically includes about 25 dancers, chosen through a highly competitive process. Hebrink scouts the Midwest for talent, and high school seniors submit audition videos in hopes of earning a spot.

Once selected, dancers commit to nearly a year of training together, performing at football and basketball games, and working closely with the MSU Cheer Team.

The Dance team and Cheer Team are two distinct programs that come together as a “spirit squad” at MSU football and basketball games. 

“We [the Dance team] are doing more of the actual dancing side of it. You’ll see us, but we’re not the ones doing stunts on the sides, we’re not the ones doing actual cheers. We’re the people doing the hip-hop, the swaggy hip-hop. … We’re two completely separate things but we motivate each other.”  

As nationals season approaches, the Dance Team members spend most of their waking hours together.

“After so many hours a day with each other, it’s hard not to become best friends,” said team member Karli Turner, who recently finished her fourth season with the dance team. “During nationals season, there are only about six hours a day we don’t see each other.”

Turner began dancing at age 9 in Alabama before moving to Maple Grove, Minnesota, where a neighbor introduced her to competitive dance. Now 21, she said MSU’s team stood out to her long before she joined.

“You could tell they loved being around each other,” she said. “That’s important with how physically and mentally demanding this is.”

She believes the team’s authenticity is one of its greatest assets.

“Lots of teams say they’re close, but you can’t fake this. We genuinely love each other,” Turner said. “At some point, you’re not doing it for yourself anymore. You’re doing it for the people around you. That’s one of our biggest advantages.”

While athletic skill is essential, Hebrink says the mental side becomes just as important as nationals approach. Her goal is for the dancers to be so prepared that the competition feels exciting rather than stressful.

“Nationals shouldn’t feel nervewracking,” she said. “They should feel confident in what we’ve practiced and excited to show it. And whatever happens, we want to be proud of our performance.”