Keep on Bucking: From the Past to the Present
“Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome and entering the stadium, the Summa Cum Laude of bands, it’s the Jackson State University Sonic Boom of the South”, that is the voice of Richard Meyers, announcing the bands arrival at every home game. Jackson State Universtiy has one of the most highly energetic, most entertaining, and showstopping marching bands among HBCU’s and the entire country.
“Let’s Go Back to the 1970’s”
The Sonic Boom is known for their groovy drum majors, sweet and silky sound, and a magnificent dance line, The Prancing J-Settes. This year marks the 50th Anniversary of the Prancing J-Settes. The Prancing J-Settes were founded in 1971 by Mrs. Shirley Middleton. Prior to the 1970s the J-Settes were just majorette dancers. In other words, they were baton holders and twirlers, and were only a feature to the marching bands fields shows. Middleton, who was a former majorette dancer wanted to help add something different to marching band, and the field shows. She and other majorettes, met with John A Peoples, the University’s six president, and Harold Houghton head band director. Peoples and Houghton granted the ladies primission to “putting down their batons”, and the Prancing J-Settes were born.
“From the Past to the Present”
The Prancing J-Settes were always held to a very high standard. Over the years the J-Settes marching style and danced styled was revamped by directors such as Mrs. Shirley Middleton, Mrs. Narah Oatis, Mrs. Kathy Pinkston-Worthy, and current J-Sette Director Mrs. Chloe Ashely Crowley. Under Mrs. Narah Oatis leadership, new technics such as the famous “Salt and Pepper,” “Strut,” “J-Sette Walk, and the “Tip Toe” separated the group from other marching band dance groups. The J-Settes consisted of lines of 12–16 young ladies who marched in rows affectionatley named “Short and Sassy,” “Magnificent Middle,” or a “Tall and Tough.” Most collegiate groups and dance teams, typically have a technic that comes from ballet. Ballet dancing is a form of dance that is done on the performers toes. You may notices other collegiate marching band dance groups such as Southern Univeristy’s Dancing Dolls, have a style of dancing that is similar to ballet dancing. You may notice that Southern University’s Dancing Dolls style of dancing compose of a lot of swift movements that are done on there toes, and can be done at a fast or slow tempo. The J-Settes have a more African Style, flat footed type of dancing. “African movement is more grounded, its flatter footed, more pelvic movement, very emotional in the face and more hip gyration… a lot of our movements mimic a lot of west African and east African dance,” said the current director of the Prancing J-Settes Mrs. Chloe Ashely Crowley.
Like many supports and members of the Sonic Boom, Mrs Crowley was extermely excited for this years homecoming. To start the 2021 Fall Football season, Mrs Crowley wanted the girls to be true to themselves. She wanted them to be innovative and creative, plus sticking to the tradition of The Prancing J-Settes. Crowley wanted the girls this season to treat every game like its your last, but also have fun. She stressed it is important to always remember why you fell in love with dancing, and fell in love with the J-Settes. Crowley also wanted the girls to dance in a way were former J-Settes will remember why the fell in love the J-Settes. “I hope alumni would see something that would help them reminisce about how they felt when they first say the Prancing J-Settes and the Sonic Boom of the South” said Mrs Crowley.
“An Experience that can’t Be Forgotten”
“This years celebration of the J-Settes meant a celebration of the birth of majorettes”, said Ken’janae McGowen. McGowen is a senior, mass communications major from Jackson, Mississippi. She was very excited to have participated in this years homecoming halftime performance, against Alabama State University. For the time she has been at Jackson State, and for as long as she has been dancing, the J-Settes has influenced her on the way she has been dancing. The J-Settes has had an influnced on dancers all around the world, and McGowen was really great to be around “legendary dancers”. McGowen also talks about much she was amazed by all the alumni J-Settes, “I was amazed on how the dance style has evolved over the years… I was really happy to be able to talk to other J-Settes that danced in the 90s vs how we dance in todays generation”. Since it was her last homecoming, she was able to take advantage of the experince and soaking everything in. “It was a great experience and really fun to have danced with other alumni during a major anniversary… I was able to put on a really good performance and band did really well”. This years Jackson State homecoming was a great and exciting time to be a Jacksonian, and a Sonic Boom member.
