As halftime approaches, the atmosphere in William H. Greene Stadium begins to shift. The drums from Showtime Marching Band thunder, sparkling sequins catch the lights as precision meets poise and the crowd rises to its feet in excitement.
Since its founding in 1982 from what was once known as the Stallion Battalion, the Ooh La La! Danceline has evolved into more than just a dance team. It has evolved into a sisterhood, a legacy and a symbol of Howard that extends beyond the football field.
Christine Burnette is a seventh-year coach for the Danceline and also a Howard and Ooh La La! alumna.
“We’re the face, we’re the first thing that people see,” Burnette said. “Every year we continue to showcase who we are and really uphold the legacy of not only Ooh La La!, Showtime, but of Howard University.”
Derived from the Dutch word Dansmarietjes, majorette dancing originates from carnival dancers who were known for twirling batons during performances. The dance style blossomed when it reached historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) across the South, becoming what it is known as today.
The dance style combines elements of jazz, ballet, hip-hop, burlesque and more. In partnership with the marching bands, majorette dancers use the live production to create an entertaining performance for audiences and a space for Black women to show their artistry.
At Howard University, Ooh La La! holds that same essence in their artistry. These dancers blend the traditions of majorette dancing with their trained dance backgrounds to put on a performance that energizes crowds whilst paying homage to the generations of Black dancers that have come before them.
Jayla Ayoung, a junior marketing major from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, serves as this year’s team captain.
“Majorette is very big, very performative, very bold,” Ayoung said.
Ayoung, now a third-year veteran, says joining Ooh La La! marks her first experience with the style.
“I thought, wow here’s another style I get to learn, observe and master,” Ayoung said.
For many Ooh La La! dancers, being on the team is more than simply learning and doing the choreography, it’s an embodiment of sisterhood, unity and empowerment. The team’s coaches and advisors, Burnette, Artina Austin and Princess Wooding, emphasize not just performance but personal growth, creating a space where each dancer can build confidence both on and off the field.
“To understand who they are as Black women, they need to understand who they are and not to placate to anyone, that confidence reigns supreme and it shows up in your dancing,” Burnette said. “As long as they have someone to uplift them and see them, that looks like them, they can do anything and they see that representation within us three coaches.”
That empowerment from coaches and the dancers’ dedication pays off. Many Ooh La La! alumni go on to dance professionally — some as backup dancers for artists like Chris Brown, others performing for professional football teams such as the Washington Commanders.
Nishelle LeNay is a sophomore musical theater major, journalism minor from Atlanta, Georgia and a 2nd year veteran.
“I honestly love my sisters. I enjoy going to practices and knowing that I’m going to be with my folks,” LeNay said. “I feel like I can honestly say that in ten years from now, we’ll be at each other’s weddings, celebrating and saying ‘Ooh La La!’”
Copy edited by D’Nyah Jefferson – Philmore