By: MJ Johnson
Congratulations to all of our 2025 Independent World class finalists! Review their productions below in order of Finals placement.
1st - Pride of Cincinnati (94.900)
In To the Fullest, Pride of Cincinnati stuns in this beautiful performance. This program features a circular floor that the performers eventually break free of to fill the entire floor to its fullest.
2nd - Paramount (94.750)
With their 2025 program, Shout!, Paramount reminds us how it feels to shout into the void. These performers literally rip the floor apart to showcase the frustration and desperation that comes with letting out their screams.
3rd - Fantasia (93.800)
Fantasia gives a soulful performance with their 2025 program, Borne Aloft the Rising Tide. With props reminiscent of floating driftwood, the performers help each other navigate this rising tide.
4th - Etude (92.000)
Etude’s 2025 program brings Mary Oliver’s poem Wild Geese to life. These performers give a heartwarming and beautiful performance with their moving circular stage as they lift the verse from the page.
5th - Juxtaposition (90.950)
In their 2025 program, Architecture, Breathing, Life, Juxtaposition wows with an exciting upbeat dance pre-show. These performers create intricate and novel shapes using their bodies and fabric in ways that invoke themes of architecture.
6th - Fusion Winter Guard (90.850)
Fusion Winter Guard entertains with a bright lively program filled with lines. Their 2025 program, As Things Become, leads the audience through their story as they move lines across the floor.
7th - Blessed Sacrament (90.500)
In their 2025 program, If It Ain’t Baroque, Blessed Sacrament presents a modern take on this 17th Century style. This performance exemplifies the Baroque era style by using contrast, movement, grandeur, and surprise to achieve a sense of awe.
8th - AMP Winter Guard (87.700)
Boogie down to Disco Forever with AMP Winterguard! Inspired by a famous 70s nightclub, this upbeat retro performance will have you on your feet under the light of a disco ball.
9th - Onyx (87.250)
Onyx presents their 2025 program, Malena. Inspired by the film of the same name, this performance tells the painful tale of coming of age during a tumultuous era of the world.
10th - Tampa Independent (85.700)
Tampa Independent asks us to consider other perspectives in their 2025 program, Perspectives. This performance features the meshing of perspectives and culminates with the performers that represent these different perspectives finally beginning to interact with each other’s point of view.
11th - Vox Artium (84.400)
You won’t be able to Rest in Peace after watching Vox Artium’s 2025 program. This spooky, kooky performance tells the tale of how Betelgeuse came to be the iconic mischievous ghost. Just don’t say his name three times!
12TH - Icon Winter Guard (83.750)
Icon Winter Guard breaks down the barriers that divide us in their 2025 program, Believe in Change. These performers create and dissolve boundaries in this performance where they ask us to believe in change too.
13th - Mirage (82.600)
Take a ride through 1989 (Mirage Version)! Featuring music, graphics, and even cars from the 80s, this performance will have you on your feet.
14th - UCF Pegasus World (81.500)
UCF Pegasus World presents their 2025 program, Our World. Filled with gentle pastel costumes, UCF Pegasus World invites us to experience their wonderful world with this touching performance.
15th - Elevate (IN) (80.850)
Inspired by the 1893 Chicago World Fair, Elevate presents their 2025 program In All FAIRness. Take a ride on this merry-go-round as these performers take you on a journey through this fun and whimsical fair.
