UNLV dance team wins top honors at national tournament
Members of UNLV’s Rebel Girls & Company dance team are once again national champions.
Competing over the weekend at the Universal Dance Association’s College Nationals, UNLV’s co-ed dance team took home first place in two of the three categories in which they competed: game day and hip-hop.
Having previously won in 2023, 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2013, this year’s win marks the sixth time the team took home the top honors in the D1A UDA hip-hop category, according to the team website.
Additionally, in the game day category, the team previously claimed the top spot in 2023, 2020, 2019 and 2018.
The team is led by head coach Marca DeCastroverde, who previously moved to make the team co-ed. This decision prompted criticism from competitors who questioned whether programs like UNLV’s relied on male dancers to perform tricks that elevated their choreography.
But the decision to go co-ed was one that DeCastroverde previously told the Review-Journal was a dream years in the making.
“I wanted there to be an experience and opportunities for young males to not only get their education but to be a part of a dance program,” DeCastroverde said in 2023.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
