By Thomas Cox
Like any other year, the cheerleaders in their cardinal-and-grey uniforms screamed as they ran onto the track in front of the home side of Grady Stadium, captivating the crowd with a combination of toe-touches and back handsprings. But there was something different about this team. There was a boy on it. Senior Cedric Norman is one of the newest members to the cheerleading squad and the first male cheerleader Grady has ever had.
Norman got his start dancing at Grady as a freshman when he heard about tryouts for the Pure Essence dance line from Erin Dabbs, then the captain of the dance line. He did not make the team, however, because he did not show up until the last day of tryouts. That setback, however, did not stop Norman from trying out again and eventually dancing for Pure Essence.
?I don?t let things stand in my way,? Norman said. ?If I have a set goal, I reach it.?
In his sophomore year, Norman and his friend Frederick Harris challenged Pure Essence to a dance-off at a party and fared pretty well according to the various compliments he received, prompting him to try out again the following April.
He made the cut but was told he wasn?t allowed to dance because his stepfather told the coaches that he didn?t approve of him dancing. Norman, however, still wonders whether a staff member fabricated this excuse to prevent him from dancing.
?I feel I was shown bias,? Norman said. ?[I think] girls were shown favoritism.?
After not being allowed to dance for Pure Essence, he and Harris formed the Red Rain dance group and battled Pure Essence at Grady Fest two years ago. Senior Armani Owens witnessed the battle and said that the crowd crowned them as champions.
?The crowd went up in appluase confirming Red Rain?s victory,? Owens said.
Junior year brought about new beginnings for Norman. He continued dancing with Red Rain, and danced alongside Pure Essence at Grady football games. School administrators, however, did not agree with that arrangement because they saw it as a disruption and made them stop dancing and sit down at the games. Norman then joined the Versatile Dance Crew, a new group at Grady formed by students hoping to combine different dance styles, and added new choreography. Norman collaborated with Mitchell Kelly, a Grady alumnus who dances professionally and was a contestant on So You Think You Can Dance. They added new choreography and hosted dance workshops.
Last May, Norman decided to try out for the cheerleading team and made all three of the teams: football, basketball and competition.
?I was very happy that I finally accomplished one of my goals before graduating: becoming the first male cheerleader on an [formerly] all-female squad,? Norman said.
His teammates respect his talent.
?He is very talented cheerleader from getting the crowd involved, to the precision of his moves,? senior Kiana Colquit said.
Norman does not plan to dance in the future but has considered majoring in contemporary arts at Alvin Ailey or Julliard. Even though cheerleading is not his first love, Norman still puts all of his effort into it and enjoys the time spent with his fellow cheerleaders after school.
?Practice is fun and refreshing,? Norman said. ?I love being around all the girls cheerleading, yelling, flying and flipping. There?s no drama.?
Norman explained that he was still able to overcome the challenges he faced. He explained that he plans to keep this mindset in the future whether he pursues dancing or not.
?I?m never satisfied,? Norman said. ?I don?t give up no matter how big the challenge.?
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