DOWAGIAC — This summer, Dowagiac Union High School students will begin preparing to become “Dancing Queens” in time for the fall 2019 football season.

The Dowagiac Union Schools band recently announced that its 2019 Chieftain marching band halftime show, which the band and color guard will perform during football halftime shows and competitions during the fall. Announced during the Dowagiac Union High School spring concert Monday evening, the marching band’s fall 2019 show will be titled “Mamma Mia: The Music of ABBA.” The roughly 12-minute long routine will feature several ABBA songs including “Supertrooper,” “Mamma Mia,” “The Winner Takes It All” and “Dancing Queen.” Students will begin preparing for the show throughout the summer.

“We will present this during football games and take it on the road with us to invitational and marching band festival and all those events during marching band season,” said band director Shane Oakley. “There will be a lot of movement in this show, a lot of dancing, especially for our color guard. I think it is just going to all come together to be a lot of fun.”

ABBA is a Swedish pop group that topped music charts in the 1970s and 1980s with its upbeat tunes and lavish outfits. Oakley came to love ABBA music after watching “Mamma Mia,” a popular musical which features covers of ABBA songs. Ever since he was in high school himself, Oakley has wanted to be involved with an ABBA-themed marching band show. Now, he said he is excited to finally bring that show to Dowagiac.

“I thought that it would be fun to do a pop show. Dowagiac hasn’t done a pop-themed show in a while,” he said. “I personally really like the music. It’s fun, it’s upbeat, and it really makes me want to get up and dance.”

Though ABBA’s popularity peaked long before the births of the Dowagiac marching band members, Oakley said he hopes his students will embrace the show and grow to enjoy the music. He said he plans to play “Mamma Mia” for his students over the summer to help them appreciate the music that they will be playing.

“It is ‘70s pop music, but it still is something they may be able to enjoy,” Oakley said. “I want the students to enjoy what they are doing, and I want them to like the show that is picked. I hope they will listen to the music and give it a chance because that is so important. I think that they will grow to really enjoy it.”

Not only does Oakley believe that the students will enjoy the show, but he thinks the public that attends football games and halftime shows will as well.

“I think people should be excited to hopefully get that feeling of getting up, dancing and just jamming to the music,” Oakley said. “For a lot of people, this is going to be music that they are familiar with, and they may be able to connect with more. I hope everyone will just enjoy this.”