The Dance Team Union Regional Competition was held last weekend on January 12th at Wayne Valley High School. Dance Team Union (DTU) is a renowned competition that hosts a variety of age groups from middle school to the collegiate level. DTU also hosts nationals, which the Ramapo Dance Team hopes to attend next year. Featuring over twenty JV and Varsity high school dance teams from New Jersey, the regional title is regarded as one of the most competitive awards. For the first time in the program’s history, both the Ramapo Varsity and JV Dance Teams won the regional championship in Jazz. Additionally, Ramapo Varsity Pom outscored six other teams in the region to secure second place in their very first year competing pom.
Coach Rachel Marsanico Daluz comments on the team’s stellar performance: “All the teams we compete against are talented and I tell the dancers they have to want to win more than anyone else. Nobody wanted it more than my girls. They were locked in. My athletes deserved to win; they left it all on the floor. Nobody realizes all the long hours, energy, planning, and repetition goes into competitive dance. The moment we heard our name called for first, I cried. All of our team’s hard work and dedication has paid off. Coach Byrne and myself are so proud of both JV Jazz and Varsity Jazz for bringing the title home to Ramapo! We are regional champs!” Senior captain Mia D’Angelica, a founding member of the team, adds, “From the creation of the Ramapo Dance Team my sophomore year, to now winning our first regional competition, I could not be more proud of this team. All the time and energy we put into these dances finally paid off and I can’t wait to watch the team grow even more.”
The Ramapo Dance program has come a long way since its formation in 2022 by ten determined dancers seeking recognition for their sport. From dancing at pep rallies to performing on the big stage at DTU regionals, the Ramapo Dance Team has made history. Congratulations to these talented athletes on becoming regional champions! We couldn’t be more proud.
