"Ladies and gentlemen, we present the next performance to you! Levert, Heavy D and The Boyz with the Jackson State University's Sonic Boom of the South!" Dionne Warwick, Patti LaBelle, and Ahmad Rashãd simultaneously announced excitedly as the audience erupted in thunderous applause.
Five drum majors dressed in traditional drum major uniforms holding their steel maces blew their whistles emerged from the back where the audience were seated. This made everyone stand to their feet because they knew this would be one hell of a performance. Sianna was a nervous wreck as she and her dance mates were preparing to march out in front of hundreds of people including celebrities that were in attendance of the 1989 Soul Train Awards. She said a quick prayer to calm her nerves being that she would be the first person to march out when their cue began. Being the captain of the Prancing J-Settes majorette team was already a ball of nerves in itself. The position was very stressful and leadership skills had to be top tier to overseer a squad of twelve girls.
"Girls, please do not mess up," her voice sounded above a whisper in a short prayer.
When Levert and Heavy D and The Boyz voices came blaring through the speakers, she knew it was show time. The snare drummers did their four taps and the band blasted their harmonious notes beginning the song Just Coolin'. Moving along the centered walkway of the audience, they began their marching routine to the stage. The drum majors did their two eight count routine then back to the traditional march. Sianna was overwhelmed with nerves seeing everyone eyes on them as they continued down the walkway.
After the fourth eight count, they did their signature hitch-kick then transformed into their signature strut until they've made it to the stage. As they drew closer, ready to make a left turn towards the steps, she spotted none other than Michael Jackson sitting on the first row with Quincy Jones and his family. She heard that he were to be awarded with two special awards that evening. She flashed a timid smile his way and was taken aback that he returned the gesture with a bigger one showcasing his pearly whites. He bit his bottom lip enjoying their routine. Although he was fairly impressed with the other girls on the team and thought they were doing a fantastic job, the first girl who was leading the way caught his attention the most.
Her skin was of a richer and darker complexion, a stunning smile with teeth that constrasted well against her skin, long straight hair that stopped midway down her back and that physique in the bedazzled leotard—which wasn't doing her any justice—was something to admire. He continued watching her strut up the steps that connected to the stage. Michael could only stare at her from behind which he didn't mind at all. His eyes were glued to her the entire performance.
A couple minutes passed by and the performance ended with the audience giving a standing ovation. Michael couldn't help but to be extra and clap more furiously. He was in awe that is. Never in his life he's heard a marching band play a song so well like that before. An all black college band at that. He just may have to keep that particular school in mind for future endeavors—they were phenomenal. The dancers were just as great. He never seen any type of dancing like that before. It was rare, so unique. The dark skinned beauty along with the other dancers joined hands and took a bow. Raising up, Sianna spotted him in the audience on the first row again, smiled, then turned toward the exit waiting for their cue. They marhched backstage so the hosts could announce the next presenter.
Michael knew he was getting ready to be presented with his first award of the night so he was escorted backstage. After hearing the announcement for Elizabeth Taylor, the crowd applauded upon her entrance. He made a right turn backstage and spotted the college band that performed just moments ago preparing to leave. He smiled to himself knowing that the pretty dancer was somewhere in sight, hopefully. He looked ahead and saw that the dancers were already heading out the back door of the auditorium and that just made his smile disappear. Shit! He thought. He really wanted to speak with her but he guessed that meeting was thrown out of the window before it could start. He could hear his voice coming from the projector singing Bad. He held his head down with his hands going behind his back.
