Opinion: #LetTheDivasDance — SC’s first Black majorettes deserve a place on the field
By Brielle Smith They’re a viral sensation — but not officially part of USC Athletics.
The Cardinal Divas of SC trailblazed their way into the hearts of Trojan fans in 2022, with every flip, smile and sashay. Media outlets from Teen Vogue to the Los Angeles Times ran profiles on them. The Divas’ founder, Princess Isis Lang, even made a cameo in Victoria Monet’s summertime smash hit video, “On My Mama.”
This season the Divas are back, and they want what they feel has been in the works for a long time: a fresh game day tradition. They want to take up space officially on the Coliseum field.
Photo credit: Lenne Chai/Teen Vogue
It is true that USC game day is buried in tradition. The spirited march down Trousdale Pkwy, the peppy sound of “Fight On” played by the marching band, and the electrifying touchdown celebrations with Traveler the horse are some of SC’s cultural mainstays. These customs have made every football game day unique and exhilarating. Still, the Cardinal Divas of SC are bringing a new dynamic to the Coliseum as the first Black majorette team at the university.
These girls bring a fascinating, seductive and skilled style of dance that SC fans had not seen before. Their stunning debut last fall ushered in support from all over social media, as fans praised the Divas with excitement and optimism. But dancing high in the bleachers is not enough. SC Trojan Fans and supporters around the world want to see the Cardinal Divas down below, on the field.
Despite their amazing performance on the SoFi Stadium field and appearances on national television, members of the University of Southern California Athletic Department and trustees won’t dance on the field at Coliseum during halftime, or during any other game break. As the Divas push for the opportunity to join the game day field show, they are met with resistance from stakeholders who insist that the inclusion of the dancers in the field show would disrupt USC “tradition.”
Second-year veteran Kyla-Drew reminds us however, “As time changes, sometimes you have to look at the tradition and society today and ensure that tradition reflects the current world. Welcoming us [the Cardinal Divas] on the field would not only keep tradition but also ensure tradition evolves.”
Beyond their rhythmic dance moves, the Cardinal Divas bring a culturally inclusive tradition to the USC community that provides insight and visibility into minority art forms. Cardinal Divas’ Head Coach Kehli Berry is a former HBCU majorette dancer and owner of the youth majorette Divas of Compton organization. She said, “Sometimes tradition can marginalize minority groups,” and implores USC Athletics’ stakeholders to be cognizant of what their resistance towards the Divas performing on the Coliseum field implies.
The Cardinal Divas provide USC Athletics and administrators a unique opportunity to greenlight a new USC tradition that embraces cultural background and pioneers appreciation for historically Black art at PWIs.
Majorette dance is an African American form of dance that originated at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) in the US South in the 1960s. It fuses jazz, African movement and queer ballroom dance cultures. There are no HBCUs on the West Coast, though, so the all-Black Cardinal Divas dance team brings a cultural form of art that many community members would never witness, if not for the team.
As USC strives to create a more inclusive and diverse community, their application of these standards outside the classroom and into arts and athletics will show the university’s true commitment to the cause. The Divas’ representation on the field not only creates a space for minorities to feel culturally seen but also uplifts and inspires younger generations across Southern California and the world.
The USC Cardinal Divas are “an exemplary model of what it means to be resilient, Black, and brilliant,” says Head Coach Kehli Berry. She proudly shares her admiration for the Divas who find balance between their personal lives, academic responsibilities, and mentorship duties to younger members of the community including the Divas of Compton, a youth dance leadership program in South LA.
Lang recognizes the impact her team has had on the SC community and dance world. As she reflects on the last two years, she shares, “We [the team] have been able to grow as individuals and as a team which has been empowering.” She understands her new responsibility as a role model who many look to for encouragement to be themselves and follow their dreams.
The Cardinal Divas call upon the Trojan community to use their voice and get them on the field. Coach Kehlz wants to see “hip-hop dance culture celebrated as much as it’s relied on for music and entertainment on game days.”
As the team continues to fight for the opportunity to join the game day field show, the Divas encourage Trojan fans, athletes, and supporters to utilize their voice in defending their plea to #LetTheDivasDance by using the aforementioned hashtag. Undoubtedly, the Cardinal Divas dance team is an honorable athletic organization beyond worthy of the Coliseum field. It’s time for the stakeholders of USC Athletics to let them share the biggest stage on campus.
Brielle Smith is a journalism master’s student in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.