Stepping Towards Graduation: MSMS Blu Diamondz and Blu Knights Perform Final Show
Pictured (Left to Right): MSMS Blu Diamondz Aurelia Caine, Ta’Kiya Moore, Barrie Wright, Kayci Kimmons, Ariel Williams, Aiyana Gordon, Tia Wilson, Jasmine King, Tija Johnson.
February 20, 2017
On Saturday, February 11, The Mississippi School for Mathematics and Science’s Blu Knights and Blu Diamondz step teams performed in the “Back to the Basics: Black History” step show. The Blu Diamondz and Blu Knights won first and third place in the show, respectively.
The show was held in MUW Nissan Auditorium and featured both a step competition and dance competition, with special performance by MUW’s Audacity dance team between divisions. “Back to the Basics” was sponsored by Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity.
As described by Senior Blu Diamond Ariel Williams, the concept for this particular show was “a soul train style production, which really brought to light the emergence of music as a role of communication and community for African Americans in the early 60s and 70s.”
The girls show had many transitions from step to dance and back. A few different aspects of the show were incorporated specifically to convey this concept, such as a free-style soul train line, as well as classic hits from the time.
The Blu Diamondz also dressed the part in DIY Tie-Dye shirts crafted by Blue Diamondz captain Tia Wilson.
Williams said her favorite part of the show was “the Jungle Boogie handshake dance.” Also, me getting to host was REALLY fun!” Wilson added.
The Blu Knights took a different approach to the show, crafting a chronologically formatted show centered around a theoretical basketball game. Each segment progressed through the team’s preparation for “the big game.” In the final scene, senior Blu Knights Mikel Sandifer and Noah McKone incorporated an actual basketball into their step routine.
The show ended with the Knights jumping off the front of the Nissan stage and performing their notorious stroll out of the room.
Senior Blu Knight Ryan Hopson said the boys prepared for the show by “spending at least one dedicated hour a day on the weekend before the step show” as well as writing a new script and having “a lot of practices.”
The “Back to the Basics” step show was the final show in the MSMS Blu Diamondz and Blu Knights performance season.
