HBCU DANCE TEAMS
Morgan Williams, Premiered Feb 23, 2020
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post showcases a 2019 YouTube video compilation of the best Majorette Dance Tail (position) moments.
This post also presents information about the "tail" position in Historical Black Colleges And Universities (HBCU) majorette dance squads and includes some comments rom the discussion thread of that embedded video.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all the Tail (position) majorette dancers who are showcased in this video. Thanks also to the videographers of this video, and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to Morgan Williams, the publisher of this video on YouTube.
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Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/03/battle-of-tails-fabulous-dancing-dolls.html for the closely related pancocojams post entitled "Battle Of The Tails : Fabulous Dancing Dolls vs Sensational Stingettes (video, information, & comments)".
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INFORMATION ABOUT THE TAIL POSITION IN HBCU MAJORETTE DANCE SQUADS
From http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/hbcu-majorette-dance-line-terms.html Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Majorette Dance Squad Terms
2016, Azizi Powell
"Tail (noun)- the tail is the Historically Black Colleges And Univesities (HBCU) majorette dance position that is the second most important position in the dance squad (after the captain)
Traditionally, the person in the tail position was the tallest dancer. Because the members of the dance line were arranged by height, the tail was the last person in the (horizontal) row of dancers. However, it appears that dancers are no longer assigned the position of the tail based on their height. Instead, the tail position and the captain position are earned by the two best dancers in the squad.
The tail is known to exaggerate her end movements at the end of the squad's dance routines, dancing in slow motion, and performing other motions such as how she sits down at the end of the routine. These exaggerated, slow dance movements attracts attention to her. The dancer is said to be "extra" (in this context, "extra" is a complimentary term that means that the person is doing a lot more than what other people are doing. The person is "over the top". excessive, dramatic, doing a lot). For example, the Tail takes her time sitting down at the end of her majorette squad's routine. Her "tailing" movements are designed to bring attention to her.
Added 8/3/2016 - My daughter reminded me that historically Black Greek Letter organizations (BGLOs i.e . fraternities and sororities) also use the term "tail". The tail is (or was?) the tallest person in that fraternity's or sororities' line (of people who are "pledging" or working to join that organization). In BGLO yard shows/step shows, the tail is the last person in a horizontal or vertical row. The tail usually exaggerates his or her movements, moving in slow motion and is "extra". This exaggerated, slow motion movement can especially be seen during a ripple (the movement is done in a staggered manner, each person does the same movement or similar movements, one right after each other).
-snip-
I'm an African American community folklorist who is interested in documenting and sharing information about HBCU majorette dance squads. I'm interested in this subject because HBCU dance lines are a part of African American culture which isn't well documented on the internet and may also not be well documented outside of the internet.
By no means do I consider myself an expert on HBCU dance line cultures. I really need the help of HBCU majorette dancers and fans to add to and correct this list and improve the way these definitions are phrased.
Note that some of these terms (such as "ace" and "tail") are also used by historically Black Greek letter organizations with similar meanings..
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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD OF THIS VIDEO
1. Izzy, 2019
"The thing about Stingette tails is that they MILK the moment
for everything. It’s like there’s a spotlight on them when they do some tail
action."
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2. DominicaHeart, 2019
"I LIVEEEEEEEE FOR MISS BRIANNI!!!!! I WILL STAN HER
FOREVER!!!
But I love me some Stingette tails!!! They rise to the occasion when it's time to tail. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE. OF. THEM.
And the Dolls come in second because babbbyyyyyyyy they can
HOLD A LEG!!!!"
**
3. R. E., 2019
"just here for Nyah and the stingettes cause I knew her sit
down to the dolls would be here lmao 😂😂😂"
**
4.
"For the Stingettes at 6:15 I was hoping you include the smack sit down. I should have explained it better. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fc6NywVYjtQ
**
5.
"Dolls slay all day # 1 was legendary 😮✅"
**
6.
"#4 Steph: Passionettes, In a circle was my fav . . . followed closely by #5 Nyah: Stingettes (that was a tail READ if i ever saw one). 😂"
**
7. Nile Benjamin, 2019
"Number 10 was so fun lol band and team AND crowd participation!"
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Reply
8. Amita Patel, 2019
"it looked like the band director hopped up and started them chanting "hold it"... I loved that"
**
9.
"Ok we got to say that the dolls have best set of tails period👍💯👏"
**
Reply
10. AltaMay, 2019
"Are layouts like a Doll sit down staple? It seems like their signature/go to move.
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Reply
11. Dewayne Smith, 2020
"The layout came from Victoria Betts of the Stingettes in 2009. The Dolls and every other squad borrowed it. Do your research."
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Reply
12.Johnny Appleseed, 2020
" @Dewayne Smith if u don’t stop with these lies 😂😂😂😂 Doll tails been doing layouts before Betts was even a stingette.
Where do i think tailing comes from?"
13.
"Nyah was the best for me cause she was the shadiest 😭😂 I have never seen a tail throw another team sit down 😭😭"
Reply
14.
"Life Of Miasimone Hell yea she was"
**
Reply
15. Amari Inasad, 2019
"And that’s why I liiiiiivvvveeedddd!! Bridget would’ve lost her damn marbles had Nyah done that under her sponsorship 💀💀💀"
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Reply
16. Amita Patel, 2019
" @Life Of Miasimone I'm a doll fan but the level of shadiness Nyah brings to her tailing is everything I never knew I needed in a tail 😂😂😂"
**
Reply
17. Ms. LesaRenay, 2019
"Lmao boy I went through the roof when I saw that last year. Her and jada were really going head to head that game. Niyah was on some "don't meet me there beat me there" and jada was on some "still look pretty(in kimbella voice).
**
Reply
18. Life Of Miasimone, 2019
"Amita Patel Nyah ate Jada up with that one. Best tail in the SWAC this year! (From the times she did get to tail) *i said what I said 😭"
**
Reply
19. Tamara Dancy, 2019
"If you gonna copy somebody's move. At least do it better"
Reply
"She’s been doing Doll sitdowns for a long time, was coached by a Doll and tried out to be a Doll so I’d imagine she would know how to do it perfectly lmao 😂"
**
Reply
21. Tamara Dancy, 2019
" @Angela Jones You know there was this episode on America's Next Model a while back. This contestant liked a pose this other model was doing. Tyra told that model. If you are going to come after or copy another model's moves. Do it better. Be better"
Reply
22.
" @D 1 Many professional athletes got cut from or didnt make the first team they tried out for. Also, many actors audition for roles they dont get. Doesnt make them any less great. It was a BLESSING that she didnt get picked to be a doll. She is too talented a dancer to do "pose" dancing. 😂"
**
23. Vicki Stowe, 2019
"Chile that first passionettes tail honey took me out that lay out was everything I’m a stngette fan and dolls fan baby them passionettes is on my fav list to mama’s got that bomb as sit down to 🖤"
**
Reply
24. Kiki Eaddy, 2019
"Vicki Stowe girl what you saying 👍🏽"
**
25. lj85atl44, 2019
"@ 11:39 - 11:46 BRIE!!!! Enough said! My favorite tail gives me chills every single time!!! BRIE don't have to do too much to shine!!!!!! That's a very rare quality to have in a TAIL!! I do love every last TAIL moment though!"
**
26. Queen Amour, 2019
"15 # did it for me. That was a longggggg holddd"
**
27. India Modest, 2019
"Honey... i forgot Asia tailed...😀"
**
Reply
28. Amita Patel, 2019
"what?! lol... I'm predicting that Nyah is gonna follow in Asia's footsteps and go from tail to captain one day!"
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29. I said what I said, 2019
"Chile, #1 had me scared for Cam, the looks from some of the girls made me think they didn't know they were doing that. I know Cam got in trouble afterward. Crabs not sposed to be tailin lol."
-snip-
"Crabs" is a referent for dancers who are in their first year on the dance squad (team). "Crabs" are usually University Freshmen.
Reply
30.
"there is no such rules that crabs are not supposed to be tailing not that I know of maybe it's only for the dolls but this is clearly planned, so ion thinks she got in trouble."
**
Reply
31. I said what I said, 2019
"@Ermie Mareus Oh ok"
**
32. Behind The Lensx, 2020
"Just here for all Doll Moments and Melody my fav tail! 😍🔥"
**
33. Chyy Love, 2020
"JADAAA GIVES ME LIFE WHEN SHE DO HER TAILS AND YES THATS
KAYLON BOO"
**
34. Dewayne Smith, 2020
"Victoria Betts of the Stingettes invented the layout that
just about all the squads do. So the Stingettes laying out everybody.
Period. Now everybody is starting to
smack their thighs like the Sting. Often imitated, but never duplicated!"
**
Reply
35. DA WORD, 2020
"A layout is what it is. It’s not an invention if it’s been
done for centuries."
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36. Deja W, 2020
"I really felt pain in my back watching that first one 🤣🤣🤣🤣😭
“Ooh who is THAT” literally what I said lmaOooo And Bri is an amazing tail 😩
and yes the drum major is kaylons man lol"
**
37.Asyian TV, 2020
"He must really not like the j Settes . As if other teams and girls don’t do the same sit downs.....same games and different performances
**
38. J MARTIN, 2020
"How do they decide who gets this coveted position? Is it freelance or is there a set
routine? Seems to me, The Dolls eat this
up!"
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