Urban Dance Troupe claimed the title of Homecoming Talent Show champion for the third consecutive year on Tuesday night. The hip-hop group danced its way to the opportunity to perform on the main stage at THON in February.

Schwab Auditorium played host to 12 Penn State dance and a cappella groups as part of the Homecoming Week festivities.

Volé opened the night, riling up the crowd with its energetic and rhythmic synchronization behind a hip-hop beat. The largest dance group at Penn State’s very unique black outfits were highlighted by the addition of deep red sleeves.

The second group of the night claimed second place. The Statesmen, Penn State’s all-male a cappella group, won over the crowd and the judges with a variety of songs, most notably “Wagon Wheel” by Bob Dylan and Ketch Secor. Their famous matching Statesmen cardigans were the cherry on top of a great silver medal effort.

Urban Dance Troupe came on as the third act of the evening and completely blew the crowd away. Its skill, chemistry, and overall aura on the dance floor propelled it to be named the winner. Urban Dance Troupe’s hip-hop-inspired outfits tied its performance together, and the group can celebrate with a trip to THON’s main stage.

The fourth group of the night to perform was Reve Dance Co. Reve prides itself on incorporating all forms of dance into its routines, from jazz to contemporary styles. The performance was met with a loud group of cheers from the balcony of Schwab Auditorium.

The next group was Penn State’s Irish dance group, Rince Na Leon. The group started off its performance with traditional Irish tap dancing but switched the music to a “Lion King” remix and “Kernkraft 400,” two of Penn State’s biggest anthems. Rince Na Leon performed all of these songs while maintaining its traditional Irish tap dancing techniques, which made for a very unique show. The group ended “Kernkraft 400” and its tap dancing with the famous Nittany Lian roar, and the crowd relished it.

Orchesis, Penn State’s oldest dance group, performed “Leave a Light On” by Tom Walker. The dramatic onset of the performance was highlighted by the black button-ups worn by the dancers. The constant interchanging of the number of dancers on the floor highlighted the melodramatic themes of its performance. Orchesis claimed a third-place finish on the evening.

The second a cappella group was Savoir Faire. This group is Penn State’s sole all-female a cappella group that typically performs at Homecoming events every year. Savoir Faire performed “Runaway Baby” by Bruno Mars, which the crowd joined in with rhythmic claps during the bridge. Each performer showcased their personality with ranges from leather jackets to dresses in their apparel. All of these factors culminated in a very memorable show for Savoir Faire.

The Penn State Dance Alliance took the stage as the eighth act of the night. Its mission is to enhance the dance community both on and off campus through lyrical jazz and hip-hop mixes. As the group took the stage in its matching red tops, Britney Spears played over the speakers and the audience loved it. “…Baby One More Time” and “Toxic” blasted through Schwab Auditorium as a very lively performance ended with backflips and cartwheels galore from the PSDA members.

The ninth performance of the night belonged to Nittany Dance Project. The hip-hop-centered group performs yearly at the THON Showcase and THON itself. A plethora of song variety made the performance additionally energetic, and there was little shuffle of performers on and off stage, highlighting the group as a whole.

The second tap dance specialty group took center stage to perform “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” by Train. Tapestry Dance Co. also performs at the THON Showcase and Weekend, just like Nittany Dance Project. Its rustic outfits, highlighted by faded blue jeans, matched the atmosphere that the song choice created.

Atlas, a special interest organization that works all year for THON, entered the stage dressed in a vast array of Penn State athletic wear. The group performed disco songs, most notably “Stayin’ Alive” by the Bee Gees. As the performance ended, all the members went up to the cameras and made the Four Diamonds symbol with their hands.

The last competing group in the competition was Blue in the FACE, one of the largest a cappella groups on campus. The co-ed singers performed “All These Things That I’ve Done” by The Killers. The layering of the voices interpreting the guitar role of the song made for a very pleasant listening experience and a great close to the competing groups.

Whiplash, the dance team that won the Allen Street Jam competition on Monday, put together two extra performances. The group danced to a mix of hip-hop classics like “POWER” by Kanye West and “A Milli” by Lil Wayne. The cuts of the songs intersected with iconic Penn State football broadcasting calls, which made for a unique sound to be paired with the dance. The last performance of the night was by the Homecoming Court, which paired up and did a short performance of Dua Lipa’s “Dance The Night.”