The Red Elite Dolls made history last year by becoming Illinois State University’s first all-Black majorette group to perform at a Redbird Athletics event.
The Red Elite Dolls dance team was established in 2016 as a registered student organization (RSO). Since then, the group has performed at Hancock Stadium for Illinois State football games and CEFCU Arena for Redbird men’s and women’s basketball games.
“We wanted to bring that HBCU (historically Black college and university) culture and Black culture to the ISU campus, especially being a PWI (predominately white institution). So, bringing that dance and majorette culture made it more home for us,” said senior elementary education major and Red Elite Dolls Vice President Ariel Toran.
Majorette-style dance began in the late 1960s at HBCUs. It’s a combination of the high-step marching style of Black college bands with West African, jazz, and modern hip-hop dance.
A marching band typically accompanies majorette dancers, Toran said. The Red Elite dolls play HBCU marching band recordings during their performances.
Since performing at their first game in 2022, Toran said the Red Elite Dolls have received support from the Illinois State community.
“There’s a lot of people that repost our flyers and even congratulated us when we performed at Hancock Stadium for the first time, so it feels very rewarding to see all of these people supporting and showing up for us,” she said.
When sophomore social work major Deonna Edwards joined the team in 2022 and first performed at a Redbird basketball game, she realized the Red Elite Dolls made a positive impact on the University.
“We have a lot of people who want to join the team in the future, so we try to show them that we’re not just a dance team,” said Edwards. “We’re actually getting involved on campus.”
Toran, who is a leader of the 20-member team, said being a part of the group has created an environment for individuals to grow as dancers. The Red Elite Dolls have formed a community through friendship and dance.
“When I first came to ISU, I didn’t know anybody, so I had to meet new friends all over again. I wanted to join a group that made me feel like a part of ISU and be with girls who like to dance, too,” said Edwards.
A tryout for the Red Elite Dolls is usually a two-day event where students will perform a prepared routine and march.
“The tryout process is very supportive,” said Toran. “We try to give them an idea of what it’s like to be a part of the team.”
Freshman medical laboratory science pre-med major Camille Chester felt welcomed when she tried out. When she made the team and performed at her first football game during the fall 2022 semester, she said it was her first time dancing in front of a large crowd. She was nervous.
“Once you do the first count, you block everybody else out and get into the groove of it,” said Chester.
Toran said members of the team also have opportunities to be elected to leadership positions like president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, special events coordinator, student coordinator, and even a costume coordinator, who is overseen by junior Serenity Sheppard. Among these responsibilities of students in leadership positions are choreography, community service, and fundraising.
Aside from performing, the Red Elite Dolls participate in service events to support the Black community. Toran said making history with the Red Elite Dolls feels empowering.
“It feels like I’m creating my legacy on campus. It’s very rewarding,” said Toran. “Hopefully, in the future, Red Elite continues to carry on that legacy.
“Having a dance scene that kind of replicates the same energy of a majorette dancing team on an HBCU campus makes us feel more like at home and more included on this campus.”
The Red Elite Dolls will perform at RSO Live with the Dance Association on February 24 and at the Black Heritage Ball on February 25.
