Stand Routines From Historically Black Colleges & Universities Dance Line Audition

Edited by Azizi Powell

This post showcases videos clips from the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) dance audition preparation training clinic in Albany GA on March 16, 2013 and led by the Albany State University (Albany, Georgia) Golden Passionettes dance line's choreographer, Dee Perkins. The videos featured on this page aren't the only videos of that event that are found on YouTube.

This post also showcases two additional videos of dance stands performed by Dee Perkins and other dancers.

The content of this post is posted for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

This is a companion post to http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2014/04/stand-battles-changing-meaning-of.html "Stand Battles & The Changing Meaning Of Majorettes In African American Culture".

Thanks to Dee Richards and all those who are featured in these videos. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.

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DEFINITION OF "DANCE STANDS"
Editor: I've not found any definition of "dance stand" as it is used by dance teams (majorettes) such as Jackson, Mississippi's "Dancing Dolls" (featured on the American television show "Bring It!") other than this definition that is given by the founder/choreographer of that group Dianna Williams (Miss D.) in this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrio6Fp6bHw:
"A stand battle is when two teams take the dance floor at the same time. They take turns throwing eight counts back and forth until the judges declare a winner. “An eight count” is known as a stand."
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A Lifetime television page about the terms used in "Bring It!" http://www.mylifetime.com/shows/bring-it/dance-dictionary “Bring It! [television show] includes a definition of "stand battles" which ends with the sentence "The Captain must decide when to use what sequence based on the opposing team's sequence."

Using those two definitions of "stand battle", here's my understanding of what "dance stands" means: A dance stand is a dance sequence that is made up of a series of motions that are performed for eight counts. Various dance sequences (stands) are combined to form a dance routine.
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This is my attempt at a definition of what "stand" means in the context of this type of dance performance, but I'm not sure if what I posted is correct. I hope that some dancer or choreographer who uses that term will add a definition to this post.
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This amalgam dance style is most closely associated with dance lines that are affiliated with HBCU marching bands, and community based dance (majorette) teams that are patterned after those dance lines.

This style of dancing includes elements of voguing and R&B/Hip-Hop dance. I don't know if there is a separate name for this particular dance style. Nor do I know when the style of dancing (that is shown in the videos featured on this page) first began, although my guess is it likely began in the 1980s (since that was the date that voguing first began or was popularized. If there's no identifying name for this dance style, perhaps it can be referred to as "the HBCU style" of dancing.
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It occurs to me that this dancing style is probably a form of modern dance mixed with African dancing, Hip-Hop dancing, and voguing, nixed with African American stepping/party walks and probably more. [Duh!]

Maybe that's why I can't find anyplace online where this dance form is identified.

Still, I'd love comments about this dance style. Thanks in advance.

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FEATURED VIDEOS

Example #1: Stand Routine Slow Counts - Learn it



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013
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Information about this HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic is found in the summary of the video given below as Example #5 & the summary of the videos given as Example #3 & Example #7.

The music is the song "Da Wop" by Lil Chuckee. This is the clean version of this record. However, as a warning, there's also an explicit version of this song.

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Example #2: Stand Routine2 Slow Count - Learn it too



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013

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Example #3: Stand Routine2 Practice



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013
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Here's a comment from this video's discussion thread:
HBCUDance, 2013
"This was an HBCU Dance Audition Prep event where the young ladies learned how to prepare for tryouts. They actually went through a mock audition so that they'll know what to expect on a collegiate level. Most of them are auditioning for the ASU Golden Passionettes and tryouts are tomorrow, March 23, so keep them in your prayers!! :-)

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Example #4: Stand Routine Practice and impromptu



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 18, 2013

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Example #5: HBCU Dance Audition Prep March 16, 2013 - stand routine 1 - lead by #8



Albany State University, Published on Mar 18, 2013

www.HBCUDance.com - This is a video clip from the HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic in Albany GA on 3/16/13 led by the ASU Golden Passionettes' choreographer, Dee Perkins. Our training events are fast paced, intense and exciting dance workshops where we help dancers understand what to expect at an HBCU dance line audition. These young ladies had approximately 1.5 hrs to learn prancing & marching styles as well as 2 stand routines and their audition choreography. Find more danceline info, training events, vids, scholarships & audition dates on http://hbcudance.com/
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Here's a comment from that video:
HBCUDance, 2013
"Thanks for participating in the HBCU Dance Audition Prep event, #8! You WERKED it!! Best of luck to you at ASU Golden Passionette auditions tomorrow!!! Everybody, #8 and #6 received our Highest Scorecard Awards for their mock auditions at the event... They were both werking!!
That linked HBCU page lists the dates for dance line auditions for 14 historically Black colleges & university (HBCU) dance lines."

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Example #6: Stand routines - Choreographer Dee Perkins



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 19, 2013

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Example #7: HBCU Dance Audition Prep_Performance choreography - Dee Perkins



HBCUDance, Published on Mar 20, 2013

www.HBCUDance.com - HBCU Dance Audition Prep Training Event- a fast paced, exciting and fun workshop where dancers learn what to expect and how to prepare for a dance team audition. This is a video clip of Dee Perkins, choreographer from the ASU Golden Passionettes, showing the participants their mock audition choreography at the HBCU Dance Audition Preparation Training Clinic held in Albany GA on March 16, 2013. Watch more vid clips if you're interested in learning this choreography. WE DO NOT OWN THIS MUSIC!

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