The Cardinal Belles, a new student organized dance group, is bringing new choreographies specializing in majorette, jazz and hip hop to football games and campus performances this fall.
The name blends school pride with a touch of elegance, Lea Walker, president and founder of Cardinal Belles, said. “Cardinal” reflects the university’s mascot and represents Lamar’s spirit, while “Belles” conveys the class and sophistication the ladies have envisioned for the team's identity and legacy, she said.
Walker, a sophomore business major with a minor business law, said she was inspired by the majorette style for a long time and her goal is to create her own dance group after graduation.
“I've been interested in majorette for a really long time now,” Walker said. “I’ve always wanted to start my own dance team, so this is the perfect practice. For now, I’d like to do it on a smaller scale, but still get that experience.”
The Cardinal Belles’ uniform incorporates Lamar’s signature red and white colors, Waker said.
“We try to keep with the traditional majorette uniform, or just like the shorts, the leotards, you know — add our own little touches, like bows,” she said. “We also love our uniforms to sparkle.
“Our boots are also one of our little signatures that I think are memorable, and we like to add little rose to them as well. So, I think that's one thing that sets us apart in our uniform.”
Junior Aniyah Collier said she came across the group on social media. Captivated by the concept, she reached out to Walker to join and help shape its direction.
Collier, vice-president and co-founder, said she wanted to provide a supportive environment and to foster a community whose main focus is unity. She said she wants to foster a sense of teamwork.
“I have this sisterhood, in a sense — I can't get them down,” she said. “I just have somebody counting on me.”
Collier said her mission is just to bring team members in and expand their horizons with equality and sisterhood.
Junior Taylor Williams is the team manager and keeps everything on schedule and keeps everyone in high spirits.
“I think I motivate them by just telling them that they're great dancers, they're smart, that they're pretty and they look good," Williams, said. “I think encouraging words are good to say, even like, ‘OK, ladies, good luck out there. You got this, smile.’”
Walker said there are no requirements to join as long as members bring their creativity.
As a new dance team, the Cardinal Belles aim to get their members more comfortable with the team and grow their visibility while strictly focusing on performances and games this year. In the future, Walker said they hope to compete at local and national levels.
The group’s first 11 members are Walker, Collier, Williams and secretary Kyreena Oderbert-Goudeau, along dancers Armoni Henderson, Alacia’ Edwards, Fatima Kamara, Tiara Johnson, Zaylin Thomas, U’riyah Clayton and Miya Thomas.
For more information, visit @lucardinalbelles on Instagram and LuHub, or email lucardinalbelles@outlook.com.
