For our very first Captain's Corner, we're focusing on the history and legacy of the Queens College Dance Team (QCDT). The QCDT returned this season after a successful run at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) College Nationals in April 2025. This was the first time since 2016 that the team competed nationally and the first time since 2014 that the team competed with NDA. The QCDT is in the studio almost every day, preparing for their second season back in competition. With new and exciting choreographers, team members, and even uniforms, a new era for the team is on the rise. Take a look at the team's history and what is to come:

FOUNDER AND COMPETITIVE HISTORY

The QCDT was founded in 2004 by coach and choreographer Shawn K. Garnier. The team has historically trained in jazz, pom, and competition-style hip-hop. Garnier led the team to a number of competitions and victories: first in Pom and second in Jazz at Jamfest in 2013; second in Pom and seventh in Jazz at the New England Dance Championships in 2013; and third in Pom and fourth overall in the Team Challenge Cup at Universal Dance Association (UDA) College Nationals in 2016—both program records. After a brief hiatus from competing, the team received a silver bid at NDA Camp in 2019, along with the Most Improved Team award, under the direction of Coach Robyn Cascio. Two Queens College dance team members also received the prestigious nomination for All-American (the opportunity to be NDA staff) before the season was cut short in 2020.

ALUMNI

Over the past 20 years, dozens of QCDT alumni have gone on to pursue careers in dance and on professional dance teams, including Robyn Cascio of the NY Riptide Dance Crew and NY Lizards Dance Team; Naomi Lucas of the Jets Flight Crew; Angelene Alers of the LI Nets Dance Team; and Kailani Estrada of Torch Dance Theatre. Several have also gone on to share their knowledge, including Jacquelyn Correa, coach of the Sewanhaka High School Cheerleaders and instructor at The Dance Space on Long Island, and fitness specialist, trainer, and influencer Tatiana Lampa.

THE TEAM TODAY

As life on campus returned post-2020, the team rebuilt under the leadership of head coach and choreographer Kelly Ireland in 2023. Since the start of the 2023 season, the team has performed in showcases, recitals, parades, collegiate and professional sporting events, and focused on competing while spreading Knight pride! The team has also had the opportunity to learn from remarkable choreographers like Erica Hines (Monsters of Hip Hop A-team Captain), Lexi Lombardi (NFL Cheerleader and owner of Lombardi Dance Academy), Arden Boyle (former NLL cheerleader and choreographer), and Allison "Buttons" Bedell (Mean Girls The Musical Movie and principal dancer in various music videos), creating halftime and competition pieces for them.

The team has begun learning their competition pieces for the year and will be competing in Hip-Hop with choreography by Erica Hines and Pom with choreography by Kelly Ireland. In addition to competition rehearsals, the team's schedule consists of two choreography-based rehearsals, two technique- and drill-based practices, and two weight-training sessions a week to stay sharp as they gear up for the NDA Walt-Whitman Regional Competition this winter and for the remainder of the QC basketball season through February. The team performs at every home game for the Queens College women's and men's basketball teams. You can find them dancing on the sidelines and at center court for select media timeouts and at the start of every halftime.

To stay up to date on all things QCDT, watch out for "Captain's Corner," a bi-weekly blog coming soon, written by the 2025–2026 captains: Yoselin Ramirez, Gabriella Saareste, and Talia Melamed.

If you're interested in learning more about the Queens College Dance Team, find us on Instagram @queenscollegedance or email head coach Kelly Ireland at kelly.ireland@qc.cuny.edu.