The Ramettes, the official dance team of the University of Rhode Island’s Athletic Department, offer their spirit and entertainment at the men’s and women’s basketball games each season.
Lia Moceri, a senior biological sciences major, has been a Ramette since her freshman year. She said she has met some of the greatest people through being a Ramette, and some of those people are now her best friends.
Moceri has been dancing at a local dance studio since she was 3 years old. She also danced for her high school’s dance team, but this was her first time performing a routine at basketball games.
“Really getting to help the community is probably the most rewarding part of being a Ramette,†Moceri said. “We do a lot of breast cancer walks and people in the community really look up to us.â€
The Ramettes, originally formed in 1960, have left their mark at URI over time. Moceri said that the dance team performs high-energy dances that include a jazz, hip-hop, pom and contemporary style that is known to please the crowd. The team acts as the featured entertainment during the halftime show at basketball games, and they perform short dance routines throughout the game to keep the Rhody fans energized.
“I think the only way to describe the feeling we get when we go out and perform is adrenaline,†Moceri said. “Sometimes it almost feels like a blackout because when the games are sold out we are performing for over 7,000 people, and everyone’s cheering and the bright lights are just on you.â€
Aside from basketball, the team also performs at university events including Rhody Madness, Rhody Rally and Homecoming. Currently, there are 18 girls on the team, and they practice two to three times per week. Moceri explained how the team hosts a clinic in the spring for anyone interested in joining, and then the members participate in a four-day training and bonding camp in Pennsylvania.
“You get really close here because you spend four days with each other,†Moceri said. “But it’s a lot of fun, because you’re also performing with other schools and their dance teams.â€
Hannah Ritchie, a sophomore doctor of pharmacy major, has been a Ramette member for two years. Originally from Santa Clarita, California, she explained how joining the team was one of the best decisions she ever made.
“It’s been such an awesome way to get involved on campus, and has given me tons of great opportunities,†Ritchie said. “I have made so many great friends, and I honestly just love everything about Ramettes.â€
The Ramettes will be performing for the American Cancer Society Walk in downtown Providence on Sunday, Oct. 18. For more information about the clinic and the history of the Ramettes check out their page at http://www.gorhody.com/information/spirit_groups/dance.