After last month’s Macy’s Day Parade controversy involving the cast of the Broadway play Kinky Boots dancing in drag, it became clear that some Americans still have a problem with seeing men dance around in women’s clothes. That was certainly the case recently when angry Alabama residents were outraged after The Prancing Elites, an all-male dancing troupe from Mobile, Ala., performed a “vulgar” and “obscene” routine in the town’s annual Christmas parade.
According to AL.com, The Prancing Elites were invited by organizers to perform in the Christmas Parade of the small Alabama town of Semmes. The Prancing Elites hit the streets with the rest of the parade and performed a “J-Sett” routine in red and white Santa sweaters and snug white shorts.
For those who don’t know, “J-Setting” is a style of highly choreographed dancing with roots that can be traced back to the famed Jackson State University dance line known as the Prancing J-Settes. The dance style became popular in the black gay community in the ‘90s and was made world-famous by Beyoncé when she used the style for her “Single Ladies” video.
And although people were wowed by Beyoncé dancing in tight clothes while J-Setting, the citizens of Semmes weren’t at all enthused by The Prancing Elites, and just hours after the parade ended, townsfolk began complaining about the dance troupe.
“I had no idea that they would be dressed the way they were and that they would think it’s appropriate for a community Christmas parade,” said parade organizer and board member Karen McDuffie. “Their costumes and the style of dancing were inappropriate.”
“I was outraged and appalled,” added another resident who attended the event with her daughter.
However, the troupe’s leader, Kentrell Collins, says that the group is taking the criticism in stride and is questioning why critics have no problem with women playing with gender roles but see it as a problem when men do the same thing.
“We are no different than any team out there dancing. We want people to stop looking at gender and focus on the talent,” Collins said. “It’s OK for a woman to put on tights and play football, but when a man wants to put on a leotard and tights, it’s a problem.”
Clearly, if the parade organizers have such a problem with men in women’s clothing, then they should’ve done their research when selecting The Prancing Elites to be a part of their parade. In any case, it seems ridiculous to us that (besides the hypocrisy the Collins mentioned) that it’s OK for men to dress as women when they’re playing a buffoon and making people laugh. But when they dress in women’s clothes in a non-humorous manner and try to display talent and art or just personal expression, the reaction is fire and brimstone and clutched pearls.
Well, regardless of the fact that the townspeople of Semmes may not like The Prancing Elites, at least the dance troupe can count Tamar Braxton and Shaquille O’Neal among their fans. And now that they’ve gained national publicity over this controversy, we’re sure their fan base will continue to grow. – nicholas robinson
