RHS Ritmo placed second in the Best in Show group dance category at the Baila4Life Latin Dance Competition on Nov. 20. Captain Amy Acosta and Nathalie Arias also received a second place trophy in the Merengue couples category and Acosta and her father received second place in the Parent/Student partner group.
Ritmo is Rockville’s only Latin Dance team, performing at school events and regional competitions. Ritmo helps connect students with their Latin heritage and promotes health, exercise, and unity through dance and cultural events. The team engages their culture through dances like bachata, merengue, and salsa which are all traditional Latin American dances. The Ritmo team also ensures that they maintain a supportive and uplifting environment.
“The team environment is amazing. When it comes to performing the little solo dances all of us are there hyping each other up,” junior captain Amy Acosta said.
This is Rockville’s second year competing in the Baila4Life Dance Competition. Ritmo members love performing because it’s an opportunity to showcase their talent and hard work in front of a large audience as well as spread awareness of Latin American dance.
“The energy [for the competition] is stressed but definitely hungry,” Ritmo Coach Ivan Castillo said. “They are more hungry for it than last year.”
Coaches Ivan Castillo and Maya Vargas worked together to choreograph the dances and ensure preparation for the competition. As volunteers, they dedicate themselves to the team because of their own passion and commitment to Latin dance and the Ritmo community. The two create the primary choreography for the team.
“We usually listen to the music first, feel it, hear the beat, the rhythm, and then just start making ideas for dances from there,” Castillo said.
As the only all female team in the competition, RHS Ritmo wants to prove that girls are capable of performing on their own.
“The girls have such a good vibe, you can just bond with them so easily,” junior Emily Luna said. “They’re so outgoing, they’re never doubting one another, they’re always giving good comments to each other, and helping each other out.”
In preparation for the competition, Ritmo members all placed jewels on their costumes by hand. Supplies were paid for entirely by members of the team. Ritmo spent countless hours preparing dances, costumes, and coordinating before the competition.
“If I were to describe [Ritmo] in one word, I know it’s cliché, but family,” Acosta said.
Ritmo hopes to continue performing and winning competitions by practicing hard and maintaining close relationships between team members. With a lot of new members, Ritmo works hard to make sure everyone feels comfortable and included in team activities.
“In Ritmo you get to enjoy seeing others succeed as well as watching you succeed. It’s really nice seeing the other girls progress,” Luna said.
Ritmo will soon begin preparing for the Baila4Life spring competition at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC.
“We’re all very excited for the spring competition. This time we want to aim for that first place and snatch it,” Acosta said.
