The colorful and talented bands from the University of Southern California, Susan Dorsey High School, Crenshaw High School, Frederick K.C. Price III Christian Schools, and the L.A. Limited Drill Team garnered everyone’s attention during the opening ceremony of the 19th Annual Taste of Soul Family Festival.
Vibrant costumes, jazzy tunes and creative moves combined to present a morning of entertainment for the festival’s early arrivals. The bands, along with majorettes, dance team and drum line, marched the entire route of Taste of Soul – from Obama Blvd. to Stocker Ave.
Although the festival had just opened, thousands of people arrived at 10 a.m. and witnessed in awe as the young people displayed their musical and acrobatic talents. Naturally, applause and shouts greeted the bands as the performed down the ‘Shaw.
The USC Marching Band is comprised of more than 300 students and was twice named “Best Band in College Football” by USA Today. The band also includes the USC Song Leaders, who perform high-energy choreographed routines, and USC Spirit Leaders, who serve as the cheer and spirit squad.
Dorsey High School, located in the Baldwin Hills/Crenshaw area, is one of the few majority Black schools in the L.A. Unified School District. The marching band includes a dance team and drum line.
Price Schools features a band, drum line and drill team. The college preparatory institution also offers a range of extracurricular activities for students who attend classes on the 32-acre campus in South L.A.
Crenshaw High School, a South L.A. landmark, offers a marching band and majorette team. The band performs at parades, sporting events and at outdoor venues.
The L.A. Limited Drill Team, led by Doris Smith and Krystal Smith, concluded the parade with dancer Storm entertaining the crowd along with the energetic drill team. Storm executed an array of well-choreographed dance steps to the sounds of the talented drummer.
