Miss Persis Dance Studio invites ViQueens to perform on MLK day

ViQueens represented HBCU-style majorette dance at the MLK celebration of song and dance on Monday. 

On MLK day, the ViQueens performed at Miss Persis Dance Studio in downtown Arlington. At the last minute, the ViQueens were invited by Miss Persis, Ms. Wood’s childhood dance teacher, and she knew she couldn’t refuse. 

“I explained to her that I set my calendar in March and I don’t usually add things at the last minute, and she just smiled and said, ‘Well I only have one child of color performing.’ And I said, ‘Okay, we will be there,’ ViQueen dance instructor Lori Woods said. 

The event consisted of dancers from Miss Persis studio, ViQueens and Quintin Winston, who teaches hip hop at Lamar and Booker T. Washington. Although it wasn’t a mandatory dance event, more than half the team showed up to perform. 

“It was a great performance. Everybody loved the ViQueens, and I loved getting to feed off of that energy and I love representing MLK,” senior officer Trinity Jones said. 

The dance was choreographed by Shaq Mouton from Seguin High School and heavily HBCU style inspired. Dancers were also surprised with solos and scripts prior to the performance. One of these solos was given to sophomore Nakyiah Bellamy. 

“At first I wasn’t going to do a solo, I was shocked that they asked,” Bellamy said. 

Woods expected a small event, but once arriving, she was surprised  to see chairs and a stage set up with a sound system and face painting, among other events. Even ViQueen officers and managers were given scripts to deliver before performing. 

“Sometimes public speaking is a part of it as well and they did some little last-minute public speaking, they performed, it was really fun,” Woods said. 

With the experience, several ViQueens said they would be more than happy to perform in the future if invited back.