Homecoming Talent Show: Recap and Top Five Ranking

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Penn State Homecoming week is officially here! One of the many celebratory events this week was the For the Glory Talent Show, which was held at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 10. Roughly 200 students and families filled Schwab Auditorium to watch 13 talented groups compete.

A panel of five judges sat front and center, carefully watching in order to determine a winner by the end of the night. The first-place group was crowned with the opportunity to take on the main stage at this year’s THON fundraiser.

All 13 performances showcased a wide variety of talent, music, and overall style. From an acapella rendition of Disney’s “Moana” to an “Eras Tour” inspired tap number, the audience saw it all.

“I’ve never been to the talent show before so I’m excited to see what it's all about and [watch] all the different groups perform, and to just be involved,” said first-year Grace Oves. Many audience members were students who came out to watch their friends compete in the show or members of the organizations who weren’t participating on stage.

Without further ado, the following list compiles the top five competitors from last night’s talent show, with the top three being accurate to the judges’ decisions.

Fifth Place: Penn State Dance Alliance

Sharing their passion for jazz dance, this troop of 25 girls brought their skills to the stage with a fun mashup of Kanye West’s “All Of The Lights,” Justin Bieber’s “Maria” and Icona Pop’s “All Night.”

Fourth Place: Volé

Volé, Penn State’s largest dance organization, surprised viewers with a contemporary dance that followed the rhythm of what sounded like a guided hypnosis.

“What’s cool about Volé is that all of our dances are student-choreographed,” said Sofia Mahairas, a sophomore who dances for the organization. “We’re able to work together and share ideas. I think that's what makes Volé so special.” Mahairas said.

The number was certainly hypnotizing.

Third Place: The Statesmen

This choir of all-male students blew the crowd away with an impressive rendition of “Wagon Wheel” by Darius Rucker. The lead singer’s voice was perfect for the song, and his backup vocalists blended together without overpowering each other. The audience’s on-beat clapping made for a memorable performance.

Second Place: Rince Na Leon

This performance was an unexpected crowd-pleaser. The dance company is Penn State’s first and only Irish dance group. Their routine featured a seemingly classic Irish jig before the music transitioned into a spirited medley complete with “All Of The Lights” by Kanye West, “Better Off Alone” by Alice Deejay, and of course, “Kernkraft 400” – the pump-up anthem of Penn State football.

The whole auditorium singing along made the performance even more energetic.

First Place: Urban Dance Troupe

As soon as this group took the stage, the crowd could tell they were in for a show! Performing a medley of old-school hip-hop classics, Urban Dance Troupe’s choreography was clean, impressive, and engaging. This talented group certainly worked hard for their win – get excited to see them dance on the main stage at THON 2023.

Before the judges announced their top three at the conclusion of the show, Whiplash Dance Team delivered a stunning encore performance. Whiplash was the winning team at Penn State Homecoming’s event on Oct. 9, Allen Street Jam – a downtown block party and dance competition.

Congratulations to all who participated.

Alicia Ernst is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact her, email ace5455@psu.edu.