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The Richmond-Perrine Giants Varsity Dance Team of Greater Miami Pop Warner won their 5th National Dance Title in the Hip Hop division on December 6th in Orlando. The Varsity Dance Team is now a five-time National Championship Team that holds the Greater Miami Pop Warner record for National Dance Titles.
The Richmond-Perrine team credits their coaching staff; the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club; Joyce Brumby LCDC of Pop Warner, cheer and Dance Commissioner of RPG; the team members and all the sponsors, parents and community for this win.
“It takes a village,” Coach Michelle Mosley said.
The south-west Miami dance team won the coveted Southeastern Division national title in Orlando, Florida. The team performed a creative hip hop routine with a touch of old school mixes which made them the five-time National Champion Dance team.
For the squad to reign required season-long preparation. Coach Michelle Mosley lost two dancers, an assistant coach quit on the team mid-season, and she was left to get the routine finished.
“Seeking help in every area that was needed, I reached out to people who could help me train, choregraph and get the girls in shape,” said Coach Mosley.
Each day, the girls worked diligently on their cheer funk and hip hop moves, often late into the evening.
“We began training work outs by our equipment manager Randy Mosley, who is also my husband, working on strength and conditioning.”
The collaboration, along with help from Lakisha Montford, Dushawn Fann and routine advice from Denzel Williams of Arthur & Polly Mays 6-12 Conservatory of the Arts School, made sure that the girls would amaze the judges at every level.
Michelle Mosley said she can’t forget her roots.
“I am my dad’s legacy,” she said. “He also coached and was the sports director of the Richmond- Perrine Optimist Club until he retired. Commissioner Dennis C. Moss was my biggest fan when he acknowledged our team in the BCC chambers every year on our national win. Miami Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Director Maria Nardi, who allowed me to incorporate teens from the FIT2 Lead Program when it was ages 12-14 under the leadership of our Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. This program was set in place to help the at-risk youth, so this was a perfect opportunity to help keep the program going. Charles Bethel was a big inspiration to our team’s success until his unexpected death in 2021. He said, ‘quitting was not an option’. Seven years and counting and I have not looked back!”
The coach also thanks Second Baptist Church Pastor Dr. Alphonso Jackson Sr., Commissioner Kionne L. McGhee for the transportation to Nationals last year 2022, Community Councilman Wilbur B. Bell, and Martin Memorial AME Church, The Rev. Dr. Anthony Reed of the “Purple church” for their continued financial support.
“It is really a community win.”
The Pop Warner National Cheer and Dance Championships features more than 500 of the nation’s top youth cheerleading and dance teams competing at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando in the month of December. The top teams receive a bid to Globals where they compete in Atlantic City, New Jersey from February 23-25, 2024.
Currently, the team is fundraising to purchase their national championship rings and to cover expenses for the Globals competition.
To learn more about where to donate, contact Ronald Tookes or Joyce Brumby of the Richmond-Perrine Optimist Club at 305-233-9325.
