- Students at Dream Catchers Academy went viral for recreating Rihanna's iconic Super Bowl halftime choreography.
- The all-girls school integrates creative arts, like dance, to build leadership skills.
Students at Dream Catchers Academy are going viral for their perfect execution of Rihanna's Super Bowl dance. In less than 24 hours, it's generated 5.4 million views.
On March 9, more than a dozen girls participated in the TikTok that was coordinated and shared by the school. Dream Catchers Academy is a nonprofit that provides food, shelter, and access to the arts to orphaned and disadvantaged girls in Nigeria. The academy, based in Ikorodu, Lagos, uses "dance, drama, music, visual arts, and leadership skills," to encourage girls to stay in school and pursue a "purposeful life," states its LinkedIn bio.
@dreamcatchersda Hitting this African style #girlsoftiktok #dreamcatchersacademy #rudeboy #superbowl2023 #rihannasuperbowl #rihannanavy #rihannahalftimeshow ♬ original sound - officialroyalfamilydancecrew
Viewers were astonished at the girls' skill and precision — and how it took very little production value to captivate so many people. "Budget: $0, Talent: 1000%," one top comment reads.
Some commenters even encouraged the nine-time Grammy-award-winning artist to hire the group for upcoming performances.
From February 21 onwards, the account has posted multiple Rihanna Super Bowl 2023 recreations as part of the app's #rihannachallenge — a trend that encouraged users to put their own spin on the "marshmallow" choreography that instantaneously went viral.
The school's TikTok account is full of joyful and talented dance numbers, from celebratory Afrodance to pop culture-trending choreography. It's also posted vignettes of what life is like for girls at the school, like dance and musical rehearsals to lunch preparation. A February 3 TikTok shows "how we get ready for school on Fridays" as the girls in uniform are seen dancing in tandem to the TikTok-famous song "Players" by Coi Leray.
@dreamcatchersda Replying to @REAGAN another one #rihannamarshmellow #applemusichalftime #superbowl2023 #Duet #rihannafenty #rihannanavy #afrodance #fypシ #royalfamilydancecrew #rihannachallenge ♬ sonido original - Rihanna_Navy98
It's not the first time the school has plucked material out of the zeitgeist and made it its own; In a February 14 TikTok, the group riffs on the Spanish hit series "Money Heist" with masks and their own choreography.
@dreamcatchersda Call it an Amapiano Heist !!! - #amapianodance #amapianovibes #yahyahyah #moneyheist #february14th #valentinesday #southafricatiktok ♬ original sound - Justin99
The academy, which currently has 339,000 followers on TikTok and 309,000 on Instagram, also has a link in its social media profiles for the academy's GoFundMe for donations.
"An art-based education teaches students that there are multiple approaches to solving problems," the GoFundMe campaign description reads. "Art is our way of keeping our dreams and hopes alive."
Its viral Rihanna dance has called many people around the world to donate. "Saw your TikTok and loved the videos! The kids look so happy and are so talented. Keep up the great work," one person wrote with their donation.
Insider has reached out to Dream Catchers Academy, as well as Rihanna's team, for comment.