Local Dance Coach Shares Monumental Experience in Washington, D.C.

By Mikala McCurry
Associate Journalist

Kerrest McGraw, a native of Leeds, Alabama, is a huge advocate for education. He came from a family of educators, and he knew at a young age that teaching was his calling. McGraw graduated from Alabama State University in 2004 with a B.S. in Elementary Education and began teaching 1st grade students in the Montgomery Public Schools system. Although McGraw is passionate about educating young students, he also has another calling on his life. He was called to teach the art of dance.

McGraw grew up in a family full of talent. His aunt, Jacqueline Lockhart, owns a dance studio where he was able to shadow her and nurture his gift of dance. He was also able to develop’ his calling for dance during his time in the ASU marching band.

In 2006, McGraw decided that it was time for him to use his gift to bless others. He wanted to empower young girls and teach them that they could accomplish anything that they put their minds to. He taught dance at Lanier High School in Montgomery from 2006 to 2015. After that, he received an offer to coach the Talladega College Marching Tornado Band Dance team, also known as the “Dega Diamonds”.

In December, the Talladega Marching Tornado Band was invited to participate in the inaugural parade in Washington, D.C. Kerrest McGraw compares this opportunity to a school field trip and identifies it as a “learning experience” for the girls. Through a GoFundMe account, the band was able to raise over half a million dollars to finance their trip. It was the first time that all of his dancers had ever been to D.C., and the experience was unforgettable. McGraw and the Dega Diamonds had the opportunity to explore the monuments in Washington, D.C. and meet different celebrities such as Omarosa Manigault. While they were not able to attend the inauguration, they were able to hear the entire ceremony at their tent.

Although the experience was breathtaking, McGraw says that he did receive some backlash about accepting the opportunity for political reasons. When questioned about his political standing and views, McGraw states that his political preference was irrelevant to his decision about the offer. His only concern was that some of his girls may never get the chance to travel to Washington D.C. without this opportunity; this is why he accepted the offer.

McGraws exclaims that his girls did an amazing job during their performance. “They were nervous when they got there, but they really channeled that nervous energy into confidence during their performance”. While he observed from the back, the girls showcased their diligent training by performing every stance precisely and confidently.

As for their next big move, the Marching Tornado Band and Dega Diamonds dance team will be performing again in February as the lead production in the Mardi Gras parade in New Orleans, Louisiana. Kerrest McGraw is ready take his girls to the next level of dance, both mentally and physically.

To trail Kerrest McGraw and the Dega Diamonds on their journey to greatness, follow Talladega College Dega Diamonds on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TalladegaCollegeDegaDiamondDancers .

Local Dance Coach Shares Monumental Experience in Washington, D.C.