Nothing puts the ‘pep’ in pep rally quite like a dance routine, and Deuntay Diggs of the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office in Virginia gave the students at North Stafford High School a pep rally they’ll never forget. During the students’ school-wide activity on Friday, Oct. 14, the 31-year-old, second lieutenant for the county sheriff’s office performed the choreography to Beyonce’s “Formation” to uproarious applause.
Diggs’ fiancee is a teacher at the school, and was asked to perform at the school with the dance team after he performed Bey’s choreography at a police charity event. He noticed that the pep rally was feeling a little stale, so he danced to “Formation” again for the students, even though he didn’t initially plan on it.
“Talking with the principal [and] some of the kids at the pep rally, [we were] worried the kids weren’t engaged enough, but at that point, [there was] all this energy and excitement in the room,” he told ABC News.
“I’m a huge Beyoncé fan,” Diggs said of learning the complicated choreography. “So the night before, I just watched her video on YouTube over and over again, and then I memorized it, practiced it, and the next day I did it.”
Other than serving as the first openly gay deputy to serve for the sheriff’s office, Diggs is also a motivational speaker, who discusses matters pertaining to race, abuse and the current perceptions of law enforcement by the people.
Even though life is tough right now, the kids gave me life today! #theheartbeneaththebadge. https://t.co/gnPUh7ky5m
— Deuntay T. Diggs (@diggsdt) October 15, 2016
“I’ve been very fortunate, at this time when people look negatively upon law enforcement, that I’m able to change that narrative and open up some conversations and engage with people,” he told Buzzfeed.
Watch him slay “Formation” and perform with the school’s dance team below.
@NSHSWolverines @nshs_2017 #PepRally #SENIORS2017 pic.twitter.com/0xkFACUMOA
— Lino Romo Reyes (@imxlino) October 14, 2016
a huge thank you to @diggsdt for dancing with us at the pep rally yesterday!!! pic.twitter.com/Fsrpj2CcTV
— Addison Lynch (@addy_lynch) October 15, 2016