Rutgers Junior Spirit Program

The Rutgers Junior Spirit Program is a youth dance and spirit team connected to Rutgers University that gives young dancers the opportunity to train and perform in a college athletics environment.

    • It is a performance-based dance team for youth (ages 8–18)

    • The program is run by the Rutgers Spirit Program, including coaches, current team members, and alumni. 

    • Participants learn dance technique, choreography, and performance skills tailored to their experience level. 

    • Perform at major college sporting events, including:

      • Rutgers football games

      • Rutgers men’s and women’s basketball games

    • Attend regular practices (typically a few times per month during the season). 

    • Take part in additional showcases or spirit events throughout the year. 

    • Dancers receive instruction from experienced collegiate-level performers and coaches. 

    • The program emphasizes:

      • Technique and skill development

      • Teamwork and performance quality

      • Exposure to a “big stage” college atmosphere

  • The Junior Spirit Program is designed to:

    • Build dance and performance skills in young athletes

    • Provide a pipeline/feeder experience for future Rutgers dance or cheer teams

    • Promote school spirit and engagement with Rutgers athletics

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Meet The Coaches


  • Elevate Dance Center Founder & Director of the Rutgers Spirit Program

    Christine began dancing and cheering at the age of 5, going on to become a member of nationally ranked high school teams in both the U.S. and in London. She was on the first Rutgers Dance Team invited to compete at the UCA & UDA National College Cheerleading and Dance Team Championship in 1993, and led the team as captain to a seventh place finish the following year. Upon graduation, Christine became an Assistant Coach for the Cheerleading and Dance Teams. She was named Head Coach in 1998, which proved to be a great year for the program, ending in the first National Championship won by the Dance Team. While Christine continues to oversee the entire Spirit Program including Coed Cheer, the Dance Team, and the mascots, she works on a daily basis with the nationally ranked Dance Team. In 2018 and 2019 she was the head coach for the US National Pom Team when Rutgers represented USA at the ICU World Championships, the team won gold in 2018 and silver in 2019. As the current head coach of the Rutgers Spirit Program she works closely with Marketing and Fan experience for football and basketball. She is a graduate of Rutgers University, receiving both a BA and an MBA. She is married and has two beautiful sons. 

  • Senior Instructor
    Junior Spirit Coach

    Christine “Rizzo” DeMartin has been studying, performing, and teaching dance for over 20 years, including competing, teaching and coaching atthe regional and national levels. Throughout the years she studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, hip hop, and pom. Christine graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Sociology. During her time at Rutgers, she was also a four year letter winner and captain of the nationally ranked Rutgers University Dance Team. After graduation, she became a certified UDA instructor with Varsity brands, and created and coached a nationally ranked high school dance team in NJ. Christine works in marketing full time at the Rutgers University Foundation and enjoys continuing to share her passion for dance by consulting with and teaching dance teams and being a dance team advocate. 

  • Junior Spirit Coach

  • Junior Spirit Coach

    Cameron is excited to return for her second season with the Rutgers Jr. Spirit Program! She started dancing at age 2 and trained in several styles such as ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, and hip hop. Cameron was a four year team member of the Rutgers University Dance Team and was a captain her senior year. She graduated from Rutgers Business School in 2023 with her Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing. Since graduation she has worked in account management and social media for Student Athlete NIL, as well as marketing for NBC Sports. She is currently back at the Rutgers Business School pursuing her Master’s in Digital Marketing and working full time as an Account Executive for a media agency. Cameron has a life long passion for dance and Rutgers and can’t wait to start her second season!

  • Senior Instructor
    Junior Spirit Coach

    Alexis, a Long Island native, began her training in New York City through the Children and Teens Program at Broadway Dance Center, where she also performed with their Arts in Motion Company. She went on to dance with prominent East Coast companies including AbstraKT Beings, directed by Theresa Stone, and Catastrophe!(too), under the direction of Cat Cogliandro.

    Alexis continued her dance career at Rutgers University, where she was a four-year member of the Rutgers University Dance Team, competing annually at the Universal Dance Association Nationals. She served as team captain during her senior year.

    Since graduating, Alexis has remained actively involved with the Rutgers Spirit Program. In 2021, she began assisting the Rutgers Dance Team coaches with the Rutgers Junior Spirit Team and continues in that role today. She is currently on staff with UDA, teaches and choreographs at Athletic Dance Institute in Milltown, NJ, and serves as the Assistant Social Media Coordinator for the Rutgers Spirit Program.