April 11, 2023

Two weeks ago, Ramapo College Dance Team Co-coach Valentina DeSantis shared, “Our hip hop routine this year is something like no other!  I have full confidence that if they go out on that floor and perform it the way we know they can, there is NO REASON why the Ramapo College Dance Team would not sweep in this category!” 

And they did, placing first in Division III for the Hip Hop Performance category at National Dance Alliance (NDA) in Daytona Beach, Florida, and being crowned national champions. “It is always a crazy concept to grasp. We work so hard all year for two minutes. That is it. It is nothing like any other sport,” DeSantis said.  “Having those two minutes to show what your team represents is always an incredible and surreal feeling.” 

The love on social media for the team continues to pour in from alumni: “I’ll say it again–forever proud to be an alum!”

“Proud alumni! Congratulations girls on bring home another ‘ship!”

The team also placed fifth overall for the Team Performance category, which now makes 14 consecutive years of placing in the top 5 nationally every year. Without competing for two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the team invested even more time into training for their two top 3 wins in 2022 and became even more determined this year. Their hard work paid off. Congratulations to the Ramapo College Dance Team! National champions has a nice ring to it.

Follow the RCNJ Dance Team on Instagram to view their title-winning hip hop and top five team performance routines.