Rita Acosta, LAT, ATC, EMT

Director - Medical Program

Rita Acosta is a certified, licensed Athletic Trainer with 5 years of experience in drum corps healthcare. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 2021 with a minor in Functional Performing Arts. She furthered her education at Southeast Missouri State University with a Master of Science in Nutrition and Exercise Science.

Rita started her drum corps career at Spirit of Atlanta, where she served for 3 years as a member of the medical staff in 2018-2021. She then transitioned to Blue Stars, where she served as the Head Athletic Trainer in 2022 and 2023. Rita has assisted in creating medical policies and procedures, providing exceptional care to corps members and staff, and education on health and wellness for members and staff.

While creating her own minor during her undergraduate degree, Rita wrote multiple research papers on biomechanics of dance and COVID-19 policies for marching bands. In graduate school, she wrote her master’s thesis on the impacts of body composition on injury in dancers.

During graduate school, Rita worked in an athletic training clinic, serving the university’s conservatory of theater and dance. She is currently employed as a Clinical Athletic Trainer at TRIA Orthopedics in Minnesota. Additionally, she is a member of TRIA’s Performing Arts Medicine Team, which provides on-site medical services for many performing arts organizations within Minnesota, including Circus Juventas.