Ten members of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College Perkette Dance Team took their talents to an NFL stage September 27, performing at the Caesars Superdome during the New Orleans Saints halftime show headlined by DJ Diesel, better known as Basketball Hall of Famer and former NBA star Shaquille O’Neal.

The Perkettes received a special invitation to participate in the halftime performance during the Saints’ game against the Las Vegas Raiders. MGCCC was invited alongside university dance programs including the LSU Tiger Girls and teams from Southeastern Louisiana University, The University of Southern Mississippi and Tulane University.

For Britney Patten, MGCCC head dance coach and spirit coordinator, seeing Gulf Coast included among those programs was a significant moment for the growing dance program.

“Opening that invitation and seeing ‘Miss Gulf Coast CC’ listed alongside such outstanding university programs was an incredibly proud moment,” Patten said. “To me, it reflects the growth, dedication and tradition of excellence we are building locally and nationally. We may be a small college, but our dancers have big talent, big ambitions and the work ethic to match. We are tiny, but mighty!”

The 10 Perkettes who represented MGCCC were Abby Vo, Audrey Kate Carr, Braylin Lossett, Faith Olsen, Madelyn Vasquez, Madelyn Casanova, Mallory Peters, Harley Holder, Alyssa Bly and Kinsley Fussell.

For the dancers, performing in the Superdome offered both a professional-level experience and an opportunity to share a milestone with their teammates.

“Being able to perform in the Saints halftime show was truly an unforgettable experience,” Peters said. “Getting to do it alongside my Bulldog sisters, teammates and best friends made it even more special.”

“This experience was like no other,” Fussell said. “I am so grateful for the opportunity and for being able to share it with my team. We had a blast, and I hope we are fortunate enough to join them again in the future.”

The invitation also reflects MGCCC’s emphasis on connecting dance education and performance with opportunities beyond the college. Through its dance degree pathway and competitive dance team experience, students receive concentrated training designed to develop technique, artistry, teamwork and professional confidence while preparing for university transfer and careers in the dance industry.

Patten said opportunities to perform outside the college give students another perspective on where their training can lead.

“My inbox regularly includes requests for our dancers to teach master classes, choreograph for teams and studios, and judge tryouts,” she said. “Those experiences are valuable, but this invitation offered something different: the chance to step into a professional setting as performers. It allowed our students to see another side of the dance industry and imagine where their training can take them.”

MGCCC’s proximity to New Orleans also provides opportunities for dancers to connect with professional organizations. Gulf Coast alumni have continued their dance careers with New Orleans professional sports teams, including Autumn Robbins with the Saints Krewe and Isabella Strong with the New Orleans Pelicans’ PelSquad.

“When our current dancers see alumni succeeding professionally, those possibilities become tangible,” Patten said. “They can see a path from where they are now to where they want to go.”

For Patten, experiences such as the Saints halftime performance are part of a larger goal of preparing MGCCC dancers for what comes next.

“Our goal is to give students the training, support and experiences to move confidently into their next chapter, whether that means transferring to a university, teaching, choreographing or pursuing professional performance,” she said. “I am proud of how our program continues to grow, and I am excited to keep opening doors that allow our dancers to carry Gulf Coast excellence into the industry.”