Fans inside Caesar’s Superdome in New Orleans will get a taste of Mississippi two Sundays from now.
The University of Southern Mississippi announced that its famous Dixie Darlings have been invited to perform as part of the Saints’ halftime show on Oct. 5. New Orleans will be facing off against the New York Giants and former Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart that day.
“We are so excited for this opportunity to showcase our incredible dancers beyond Hattiesburg,” Dixie Darlings director Whitney Hudson said. “We have a long history of national and international performances and are happy to continue that tradition.”
The Dixie Darlings were created in 1954 by Southern Miss band director Dr. Raymond Mannoni, who wanted to start a drill team of young women to perform with the school’s band.
From the 1950s-70s, the Dixie Darlings performed at nationally televised events, including the Sugar Bowl, Blue-Gray Bowl, Senior Bowl, All-Star Football Game in Chicago, and an NFL game in Washington, D.C. The media often referred to them as the “Internationally Famous Dixie Darlings.” In recent years, the group has marched in London’s New Year’s Day Parade and performed at a Green Bay Packers game in additional to their typical high-kicking duties in Hattiesburg.
