Southwest dance squads get tips from Atlanta Hawks dancer
Julie Hubbard
Macon.com
Jun. 19, 2010
Dancers with the Southwest High School marching band usually get ideas from YouTube or MTV to integrate into their new dance routines each fall.
Sometimes, though, young teens can be influenced too much by what they see on television, and booster club President Darrell Howard said that may be too risque for a Friday night football game halftime show.
“We want to have appropriate dancing,” Howard said. “We have to remember, these are young ladies.”
So the booster club brought in an Atlanta Hawks dance team member to show the high school’s Dazzling Diamond majorettes and Dynamic Diva flag girls new moves they can use without being viewed as indecent.
The group of 20 girls met for a few hours Friday at Madison Studio of Dance Education in Macon for dance etiquette lessons and to learn a new routine to use in August.
“Hip-hop is such a strong element of culture today,” said Kadija White, a member of the Atlanta Hawks dance team. “In some hip-hop, there may be booty popping and gyrating that may not be appropriate for a dance team.
“There are other ways to enhance hip-hop without the shaking.”
Within minutes, Southwest senior Donnisha Newbill was learning to “rock on her toes” and do turns to a song by Usher.
“Sometimes it’s hard for us to put together stuff,” she said. “We watch colleges on YouTube to incorporate. We like to have fun and make sure everyone has it.”
Band director Dominique Lane said most Middle Georgia bands display the more classic chorus style. But Southwest High is known for marching in parades and playing “Thriller” at games. The dancers have more of a traditional style with high-stepping and plenty of moving.
“It’s the total package,” Lane said. “We go for a crisp look, clear sound and high energy performance.”
Band camp, which will include the dance team majorettes and flag girls, starts July 20 and runs for two weeks.
The booster club says it hopes to offer the dance training with professionals for their band’s dancers every year.
To contact writer Julie Hubbard, call 744-4331.
