Raleigh Anchor Performs With Wizards Dance Team
ABC11 anchor Amber Rupinta joined the senior-focused Wizdom dance team to fulfill a lifelong dream.
Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Basketball
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Raleigh-based television anchor Amber Rupinta recently took to the court as a member of the Washington Wizards Wizdom dance team. Rupinta joined the 22-person troupe, which requires all performers to be at least 50 years old, for their season opener.
Why it matters
The performance represents the realization of a lifelong ambition for Rupinta to participate in an NBA dance squad. Her inclusion highlights the growing visibility of age-inclusive performance groups in professional sports entertainment.
The Wizdom team consists of 22 dancers who must be at least 50 years of age to qualify. This performance follows Rupinta's dedicated training at North Raleigh's Danz Insanity in 2025 to prepare for the audition.
The players
Amber Rupinta
She is a local television news anchor for ABC11 based in Raleigh.
Washington Wizards
This is a professional NBA basketball team that operates the Wizdom dance team.
Wizdom
This is a professional dance team composed of performers who are 50 years of age or older.
The details
Rupinta, who has worked in journalism for over 20 years, successfully auditioned for the team after training in North Raleigh. She notably incorporated breakdancing skills into her routine during the Wizards' season opener at the Capital One Arena.
Timeline
The Washington Wizards formed the Wizdom dance team in 2018.
Amber Rupinta began taking dance classes at Danz Insanity in 2025.
Rupinta performed at the Wizards' season opener on October 21, 2026.
The current NBA basketball season is scheduled to end in April 2027.
Season Trajectory
Rupinta's participation follows the pattern set by the NBA's senior dance team initiative, which has expanded the demographic range of professional halftime entertainment since 2018. The team continues to maintain a performance schedule of at least once per month at the Capital One Arena through the end of the season.
Rupinta's move to the Washington-based team requires her to balance her Raleigh-based anchor duties with the team's Sunday practice schedule. Her success demonstrates the practical possibility of pursuing elite-level athletic hobbies while maintaining a full-time professional career.
The takeaway
Rupinta's journey shows that professional dance goals remain attainable well beyond the traditional age limits often seen in sports entertainment. Readers looking to adopt similar physical challenges can benefit from targeted training at local dance studios to build foundational skills.
What happens next
The Wizdom dance team performs at the Capital One Arena on a monthly basis, with the current basketball season concluding in April 2027.
Further reading
For more on how local figures engage with the sport, visit the Basketball section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The News&Observer.
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