Jacob Marshall, a current junior at San Dimas High School speaks on his journey in becoming the school’s first male dancer and breaking boundaries within an era when gender norms are rapidly changing.
Marshall joined the dance team mid-year in 2024 to pursue his passion for creating and expressing through the art of movement. He was persuaded to join the team with the encouragement of fellow friends and the dance coaches who wanted to aid him in making his aspirations come true. Current teammates and juniors Amber Liu and Jocelyn Ruelas both said that Marshall would be a good fit for the team while the coaches brought up the topic of changing the trajectory of dance for San Dimas through the fresh perspective of admitting a boy.
When asked about the possible stress and pressure from being the first male dancer, Marshall responded that he didn’t feel stressed with fitting in with the girls per se, but more with the extra attention and spotlight that came with being one of the only males on the team during performances and competitions. “I just felt like there was a different, additional sort of awareness towards me,” Marshall comments. While he stated that he experienced the most stress when performing, whether it be at football games, school rallies, or competing, it didn’t take away from the enjoyment Marshall experienced as he recalled his favorite performance— a hip-hop routine the team performed as their first school performance on Aug. 22. When asked what made that particular dance special, Marshall replied that he felt an overwhelming sense of pride and accomplishment after finishing the routine and making his mark.
Most dancers are heavily shaped or influenced by the different media and performances they consume. This was the case for Marshall as an interest in his 8th grade year established a love so much bigger than expected. Marshall states that the show “Dance Moms,” an American TV program about the highs and lows of the world of dance, sparked his curiosity of the sport. The intense competition and rush of adrenaline combined with the strong bond of community and relationships between teams triggered his interest.
In his own team, Marshall says the best part of being a part of the San Dimas Dance Team is the feeling of belonging and being part of something bigger. He loves bickering with teammates Anissa and Janiya and enjoys receiving and matching each other’s energies. He enjoys going through their normal schedules together, which consist of challenging practices all throughout the week, Monday and Friday from 3:30-6:00 PM and Tuesday to Thursday at 6:30 to 8:30 AM. They usually discuss different topics and receive advice throughout their time together which usually end up including the whole team, from freshmen to seniors. “Just keep pushing and even if you don’t feel like practicing, keep pressing on,” Marshall inputs advice for the new dancers coming in.
As Marshall nears his senior year, dance becomes a considerable topic for him, and thoughts about his future come up. He says that a future in dance is definitely a possibility as he goes on to college and beyond. Currently, he has plans for becoming a choreographer, having choreographed routines for quinceñeras, waltz dances, and the annual clash performances.
On the encouragement of friends and community, Marshall agrees it has left a powerful impression on him as he no longer feels the need to survive within a team, but to thrive and become the best version he can be.
