Senior Matthias Willis is camouflaged under his bold, intimidating stare on Friday Nov. 1, 2024. Briskly striving to defend the War Memorial Stadium, as a linebacker on Varsity Football, he uses his agile steps to claim Bearcat territory. With six minutes and thirty five seconds left on the clock, Willis spots his next opponent, conveying his prey onto the floor. Willis has had a season of tackling players with ease, but there’s another defense Willis plays. He also defends his territory no male player even comes close to defending: his skill and visibility as the premier male dancer of his class.

“Willis is an amazing athlete and a great football player on our team. He’s one of the best defensive players on the squad. Willis’ speed and agility really stand out to me, and I strongly believe his dance career has contributed to his athletic success,” Football Coach Matthew Carroll said.

Most Bearcats don’t see a football player who also dances; Willis defeats this conflicting stereotype, just as he battles opponents on the astroturf. Willis is not just a football captain, but a dedicated hip-hop dancer. Willis would describe himself as a shy individual who’s grown behind two influential dancing idols in his life. His mother runs her own dance studio and the well-known dance group, God Squad, a missionary dance team dedicated to spreading the gospel. His sister, Renelle Willis, is the lead dancer for God Squad. Willis has spent over ten years in the same dance studio, Main Street Dance Studio, finding that dance was his social awakening

His mother reminisces Willis’ first steps at becoming the outstanding performer he is today. Teaching a Pre-Hip-Hop class to other young children, Jocelyn Willis recalls the moment her son gently tapped her back, asking her if he could try freestyle dancing

“He was so shy, walking with his head down, but when he got in the middle of the dance circle, he had confidence I’d never seen before and skills that I didn’t expect.” J Willis said.

As he rehearsed with his dance team, performances began to feel easier. Rather than being an art his mom endorsed, Willis felt as if dancing were an enjoyable visual art which, as he described, contributed to his self expression. In a performance titled, Amen, Willis, being lifted up into the air, shares a valuable message with his team, spreading his religious beliefs across his audience.

Along with the fervent interest for dance being bestowed by his mother, Willis found himself being drawn to other sports, too. Initially, soccer was the sport Willis would play from the age of four through seven. As he grew older, his parents realized that he had qualities which would be useful in a more physical sport: football.

Another influential person in his life is his father, Willis explained. During his childhood, Willis’ father played football. With an interest in watching the Las Vegas Raiders on TV, Willis began to enjoy watching The Raiders, creating a Raider Nation bond between his father.

With the interest of dance and football, Willis began to draw himself more towards football. As he began highschool, the social stereotypes that came from being a football-dancing athlete struck him. Willis explained that when he entered his freshman year, he was worried about what others would say about his talents for dance.

Despite the judgment and comments, Willis persevered through the stereotypes as he stayed driven towards his passion of dance and football. With the support of his family and friends, Willis’ talents began to be idolized across campus.