Dancing Dolls capture “best overall” HBCU dance line

Southern University’s nationally acclaimed Dancing Dolls captured the Best Overall College Dance Line award from the HBCU Dance Corporation.

The Dolls also won in the category of Best Technique and finished in a three-way tie in the Best In Stands category with Albany State and Alabama State universities.

The Dancing Dolls’ top finish in three categories was more than any other historically black college and university. All of the schools involved in the Dance Line competition were from HBCUs.

The competition was based on performances during the 2011 football season. Dancers, choreographers and coaches, from the around the world, voted on the various categories, according to the HBCU Dance Corporation press release.

The 2011 Dancing Dolls were chosen to dance with rock legend Madonna during her halftime performance at Super Bowl XLVI held in February in Indianapolis, Ind.

“I’m very proud of the outcome of that season,” said Seaera Cole, the current captain of the Dancing Dolls and a member of the 2011 squad. Their success is attributable to “the fact that we all respect and care about one another. We can all correct each other when we are wrong and we're always open to each others ideas.”

Cole, a senior psychology major from the New Orleans, said their bond “results in everyone coming together as a team and putting ideas together to create the best performances.”

The Charlotte, N.C.-based HBCU Dance Corporation was founded in 2010 by former dancers with Morehouse College’s “Mahogany N Motion” and Albany State University’s “Golden Passionettes.” This is the first time the HBCU Dance Corporation has conducted a HBCU dance line competition.

Director of Bands Lawrence Jackson said he is “delighted to see the hard work and creativity of the Dancing Dolls be rewarded. They are an incredible, dedicated group of young women and this recognition is well deserved.”

The HBCU Dance Corporation conducts training clinics, dance competitions, scholastic assistance and audition services for band dance teams at HBCUs.