Mfcool Productions, Oct 31,
2021
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Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post presents information about five historically Black universities (HBCUs) whose majorette dance groups are over fifty years old (as of December 2022). These dance groups are official auxiliaries of their university's marching band.
One video of a stand performance for each of these dance groups is also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to past and present members of all the dance groups that are showcased in this post and thanks to all those who were/are associated with those groups. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.
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This post is part of an ongoing pancocojams series on majorette dance lines (squads).
Two posts from that series are http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2016/08/hbcu-majorette-dance-line-terms.html [revised title: "What Bucking, Stands, Tails, & Other Terms Mean For Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCU) Majorette Dance Squads"and https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2021/10/the-history-of-majorette-dance-lines.html for the 2021 pancocojams post entitled "The History Of Majorette Dance Lines (a performance art that originated at historically Black American universities)."
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TIMELINE FOR HBCU MAJORETTE DANCE GROUPS THAT WERE FOUNDED OVER FIFTY YEARS AGO (as of December 2022)
1968 - Alcorn University's Golden Girls (Alcorn, Mississippi)
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From https://www.soundsofdynomite.com/golden-girls
..."Founded in July of 1968, at Alcorn State University the Golden Girls, affectionately known as The GGs, were the first dance line to perform as a featured squad with choreographed movements to a marching band’s live tunes."
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1969 - Southern University's Fabulous Dancing Dolls (Baton Rouge,
Louisiana)
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From https://www.wafb.com/2022/09/09/journey-fabulous-dancing-dolls-forever-dolls/
"In 1969, eight Southern University students reportedly performed for the school’s football game against Texas Southern, starting a fifty-three-year tradition of talented Dancing Dolls. Since, the Dancing Dolls have become known for their stylish uniforms and amazing choreography, according to officials"
1970- Jackson State University's Prancing J-Settes (Jackson,
Mississippi)
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From https://www.dailydot.com/irl/prancing-j-settes-jackson-state/
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1970 ? -Texas
Southern University's Motion Of Soul (Houston, Texas)
I haven't found any information about when this university's majorette dance squad was founded. I included this dance squad based on two comments published in October 2022 by Etta R in a discussion thread about a Black majorette dance group that was formed in 2022 at the University of Southern California. Etta R identified herself as a former member of TSU's Motion of Soul and included the information in both of the comments that there were five HBCU majorette dance squads that have been in existence over 50 year. In one of her comments she noted that Prairie View A&M's majorette dance group being the last of that group to reach that milestone. I've published those two comments in the comment section for this pancocojams post.
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1970 - Prairie View A&M's Black Foxes (PrairieView, Texas)
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From https://twitter.com/pvfoxes?lang=en
"The Black Foxes of Prairie View A&M and the Marching Storm; established 1970 created by Dr. Margaret Sherrod; Current Director Ms Shawn Zachery. "
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ADDITIONAL SHOWCASE VIDEOS
These videos are presented in the chronological order in which the HBCU majorette dance squad was founded, with the oldest squad given first.
DISCLAIMER: I arbitrarily chose these videos through YouTube surfing. I don't mean to imply that these videos are necessarily representative of the entire history of these dance squad.
SHOWCASE VIDEO #2 - Can You Stand the Rain | Southern University Human Jukebox & Dancing Dolls 🔥
TRIN, Nov
10, 2014
Southern University Human Jukebox Marching Band &
Dancing Dolls (2014) | vs Texas Southern University | 5th Quarter | November 9,
2014 | Can You Stand the Rain - New Edition | Moves featured in Beyonce's
Coachella performance, dancers featured in Beyonce's Lemonade music video
series. Video featured in Beyonce ‘HOMECOMING’ Netflix Documentary.
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This squad is now known as the Fabulous Dancing Dolls.
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #3- 2019-2020 Jackson State University Prancing J-settes (The Show & Rocks Da House ) MVSU
Ocean of Soul Media, Oct 6, 2021
What You Need By Don Toliver
Texas Southern University "Ocean of Soul" Marching Band and Motion of the Ocean 2021-2022
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SHOWCASE VIDEO #5 - Neck | Prairie View Black Foxes | vs Southern 2019
Marvin Price, Oct 13, 2019
10/12/2019
vs Southern
Videographer : Willie Tucker
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Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Here are three comments that refer to the five oldest HBCU majorette dance squads (dance lines). These comments were published in that YouTube discussion thread amid the debate about the efficacy of forming of a Black majorette dance group at the University of Southern California (USC), a predominately White university (PWI). p
ReplyDeleteFrom
https:/www.youtube.com/watch?v=izBmkH3leyI Cardinal Divas of SC on the Origins of Majorette Dance at HBCUs and Team Controversy; Jennifer Hudson Show, Sept. 28,2022
1. Etta R, October 2022
"Being a former HBCU dancer for Texas Southern University “The Motion of The Ocean”, this doesn’t sit well with me that inspiration for this is ignored.
There are several HBCU dance line organizations that has over 50 years of tradition and legacy. You have Alcorn University “Golden Girls”, Texas Southern University “The Motion of The Ocean”, Southern University “Fabulous Dancing Dolls”, Jackson State “Prancing J-Settes”, and Prairie View A&M “Black Foxes” who have recently celebrated 50 yr anniversaries.
The Southern University “Fabulous Dancing Dolls” has a docu series streaming now on ESPN+ on “Why Not Us”. Highlighting the HBCU dance world and it’s rich history and legacy. This could’ve been the opportunity to open up the conversation of this type of dancing to the masses that are at HBCU’s. And how it has inspired many of this culture; but the ball was dropped and research of this failed."
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2. Etta R, October 2022
"For those that are missing the entire point of my comment and to suggest that one is jealous of the young ladies are reaching. This was an opportunity for many to know the history behind what this type of dance is and why. HBCU’s have a very rich history and since the culture of HBCU’s has become more in the limelight. This would’ve been the perfect opportunity to enlighten those of it and why she felt to bring it to a PWI. Some may not understand due to the fact they didn’t attend a HBCU to grasp why those may feel a way."
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Reply
3. Etta R, October 2022
" @5th Best Carter they [Prairie View A&M's Black Foxes] were mentioned last because they just celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. Where as the other schools did years prior to PVU."