They just want to dance. Everywhere.
The Prancing Elites, a J-sette team from Mobile, Ala., who made headlines and criticized for dancing in the Semmes Christmas Parade in Alabama last weekend, are now trying to take their notoriety to the next level.
The all-male gay dance troupe started a Kickstarter campaign to raise $15,000 by Jan. 1 to help secure a proper and safe practice space. Currently the team practices outside in an elementary school parking from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. — rain, snow, sun — five nights a week.
(Photo via Facebook)
The Prancing Elites have also danced holes into their shoes, literally, and new shoes are in desperate need, they say in their Kickstarter video. They also need materials to make their costumes, by hand, including sequins, leotards and tights.
From their Kickstarter page:
Have you heard of the Prancing Elites? Well, we are an all-male, African-American gay dance team from Mobile, Alabama. We have a passion for dance that is impeccable. We may not be accepted by all of society because we are homosexual males, but the love that we have for what we do won’t stop us because someone doesn’t like it.
The Prancing Elites consists of five members: Kentrell Collins, Adrian Clemons, Jerel Maddox, Kareem Davis, and Timothy Smith. The main reason that the team was created is because boys aren’t allowed to audition for the dance teams in the school system in Mobile, Alabama. In their eyes, morally it isn’t right. So, we created our own team. If the girls are doing it, why can’t the boys do it too?
The Prancing Elites received a major boost to fame when basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal tweeted out a video of them dancing with the quote, “These dudes be jamming.”
Thrilled with the recognition, the Prancing Elites still faced discrimination. From their Kickstarter campaign:
We then felt like we would start being accepted by society, but we were wrong. We love performing at football games. We were performing in the stands at a game in our hometown of Mobile, Alabama, and the police officer told us, “You all are not the entertainment, and you should be ashamed of yourselves for being up here dancing like girls. If you all get up and even look like you’re dancing then we are going to put you out and you will not be getting refunded.” We feel that we were personally discriminated against because we are gay males portraying a feminine image, but whatever happened to freedom of expression.
While marching in the Christmas parade caused some controversy, it also opened some doors for the Prancing Elites who were booked for gigs at Mardi Gras celebrations in Mobile and New Orleans. The team also auditioned for TV’s “America’s Got Talent.”
Our faith in this project is above and beyond where my heart lies. We have wanted nothing more than to be free, accepted by society and have people just let us DANCE. The risks and challenges will of course be there, but considering the course of life we are on, we are EXTREMELY DETERMINED. Each one of us has a unique story to tell, from all of us growing up in some of the poorest neighborhoods in Mobile & Daphne, Alabama; to us not have money to even eat at night, to all of us not having our father in our lives to be that father figure we all needed. Throughout all the homophobic gestures, being thrown out of events by police, practicing in 30 degree weather, physical threats, eggs being thrown at us; WE STILL JUST WANT TO DANCE. In January 2014, we will be getting our information regarding the next steps in the America’s Got Talent audition process. In February 2014, our team will start performing in Mardi Gras in Mobile, Alabama; and New Orleans, Lousiana. When we successfully complete the project in 30 days, we’ll be able to have the appropriate funds to get the necessary items and equipments that we’ve been longing for. After funds are successfully raised, the Prancing Elites will be in full swing to a new beginning.