LSU has a well-known hip-hop team, cheer team and contemporary jazz team, but the Fierce Felines of Rhythm and Roar are determined to be known as LSU’s majorette team.
The team was started in 2023 by Amiya Spears and three other students who are now alumni. Spears, now a senior preparing to graduate, said she wants to leave knowing she made an impact and set the team up for future success.
Their first performance, with only four members at the time, was in Tigers Got Talent during Welcome Week, with a Barbie-themed dance that earned them a spot performing at Fall Fest.
“That’s what really got the ball rolling,” said Kobi Paul, known as “Coach P” to the women. She works as the director and coach.
While LSU has other dance teams and clubs, Spears said her team wanted to provide another option for women who grew up with similar styles of dance while still blending in styles that would be appealing in a potential job market.
“Some girls want to go on to pursue a professional career in dancing,” Spears said. “That’s why we focus on growth.”
Growth is a key part of the Fierce Felines. On the technical side of things, the women grow as dancers, Spears said, but each member is also encouraged and expected to create her own choreography. Paul explained how this helps them feel like they contribute equally to the team.
“Everybody feels their DNA within the team,” Paul said. “You’re not coming and just doing the count that I give you.”
While the team mainly focuses on majorette dance — a style created at Alcorn State University, an HBCU in Mississippi — Fierce Felines blends many styles together, like jazz, hip-hop and contemporary. This cultural significance on the team is emphasized in every performance and creates a unique community not found among other dance teams at LSU.
Spears said the organization is open and welcoming to anyone who wants to join, but because majorette is rooted in a predominantly Black culture, the team currently consists of all Black women.
“As time goes on, more people are starting to join in on it, and that’s a beautiful thing that people can come together, no matter the style of dance,” Spears said.
Now, the team is in full-force practicing for Mardi Gras. Being a smaller team, Paul said Fierce Felines is able to do things other dance teams at LSU wouldn’t be able to do, like perform at parades. The dance team kicked off the season in the Krewe of Oshun parade, the Krewe of Mad Hatters parade and most recently the Zachary Mardi Gras parade.
Khloe Brooks, a sophomore psychology student, joined the team last year after auditioning and earning her spot on the team. Brooks said everyone on the team views each other as sisters and that they have a strong bond both in and out of practice.
She said anyone hoping to audition should come prepared, but not nervous since they are all very welcoming.
“If you feel like this is the place for you, come join us, because I know it’s the place for you,” Brooks said.
In the future, Spears hopes Fierce Felines of Rhythm and Roar will become an established team that goes beyond a student organization. Spears said her dream would be to play in Tiger Stadium during football games and have people show up to see them dance.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source lsureveille.com ’
