This LGBTQIA+ coach collage was submitted by Averagejustdanceplayer21. If you would like your content to be featured, submit here.
Hello everyone! It is June which means it is Pride Month! This is definitely the biggest month for us because of our large LGBTQIA+ community, so to everyone here, no matter where you are on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum, or if you're questioning, closeted, or an ally, this is a reminder that we accept your identity. Just Dance for everyone! Now of course, this also means we will be highlighting the LGBTQIA+ cast, characters, and artists in the game this year! We will also be accepting fanart and mashups relating to the month, stay tuned for that. These will be featured in part 2, which will also feature any additional artists that are added between then and now.
YOUR FANART HERE[]
We are currently accepting fanart and mashups relating to Pride Month! The full rules and the place to submit can be found here. A small preview can be found below! We will also be accepting music recommendations in an upcoming post.
In-game[]
Features[]
Last year Just Dance finally added gender-neutral aliases, which are titles players can use to describe themselves. Previously the only options were masculine and feminine, with the only gender-neutral options being those that happened to be the same for both options. Now, all aliases have neutral options in addition to masculine and feminine options. With the new live service model, these have carried over to Just Dance 2024 Edition and new aliases continue to have all three options.
Characters[]
Just Dance has continued to build up lore around its characters, and this includes LGBTQIA+ characters. One of the main characters, Mihaly, is non-binary and they return as part of this year's storyline. Additionally, we are also getting more non-binary characters, such as Nao, Sailor, and Iluquim, and we got our first unambiguously depicted same-sex couple! Drag queen Fuschia Blue returns this year as well.
Spotlight on Vampire[]
This year, we got our first unambiguously depicted and explicitly canon LGBTQIA+ couple with Grace and Ari in Vampire. Last year, their relationship was teased at the end of Thank U, Next as an Easter Egg. Official social media posts later described them as "more than friends" and "roommates" with each post heavily implying they were much more. This year, the relationship was made official with their duet appearance. The routine features the colors of the lesbian flag and shows Grace and Ari embracing and making a heart with their arms.
Cast and crew[]
Last year, Ubisoft posted a comprehensive behind the scenes video, which included highlighting the diversity of the crew. This video is below and the spotlight on the LGBTQIA+ community can be seen at 9:08. They also did a lot of community spotlights highlighting members of the community. This year, they did not do either of these things so instead of copying and pasting last year's blog, or doing a deep dive on non-public figures' social media (which would be feel like an invasion of privacy), here are some behind the scenes footage of some of the routines mentioned in this blog. Regardless of who is working on the game, the love for the LGBTQIA+ community shines through from the entire crew. If you would still like to read more, check out last year's blogs. We will, however, make one exception and focus on one new dancer who is an important member of the Just Dance community.
Spotlight on Littlesiha[]
Avery, also known as Littlesiha, is a dancer, livestreamer, and content creator who has been in the Just Dance community for over ten years and you may recognize her from previous Just Dance World Cups, E3 presentations, and Community Remixes. She is pansexual and was featured in last year's community spotlight series among other LGBTQIA+ members of the fan community. This year, she finally made her first official appearance in the game with Can’t Tame Her.
Artists[]
This year, we got multiple LGBTQIA+ artists, both new and returning.
Ariana DeBose[]
Ariana DeBose, who is openly gay, makes her series debut this year with This Wish.
AURORA[]
AURORA, who is bi, makes her second appearance (and first properly credited appearance) this year with Cure For Me.
Bebe Rexha[]
Bebe Rexha, who has described her sexuality as fluid, makes her third appearance this year with I’m Good (Blue).
Billie Eilish[]
While Billie is currently on a four-game streak, this is the first time she has appeared in this blog series as she did not come out until this year. This year, she appears with You Should See Me in a Crown, which appears as the second song in this year's story mode.
Gloria Groove[]
Drag queen and rapper Gloria Groove debuts in the series this year with A Queda. This routine features Iluquim, one of this year's non-binary coaches.
Ice Spice[]
Ice Spice, who is bi, makes her series debut this year with Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2 on Just Dance+.
Miley Cyrus[]
Miley Cyrus, who is also bi, makes her long-awaited comeback this year with Flowers. This was one of the biggest songs this past year and this marks her third appearance.
Rhian Teasdale (Wet Leg)[]
Wet Leg makes their series debut this year with Chaise Longue. Member Rhian Teasdale identified as queer in a 2022 interview.
Sam Smith[]
Sam Smith, who is non-binary and gay, makes their series debut this year with I’m Not Here to Make Friends. They also recorded a couple of TikToks to promote the game. The routine also features Sailor, one of this year's non-binary coaches.
Tchaikovsky[]
One of the most surprising artists I found while researching this is composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. While it is somewhat disputed due to censorship attempts, the general consensus among scholars is that Tchaikovsky was gay. He makes his second appearance in the series this year with Swan Lake, the penultimate song in this year's story mode.
Lady Gaga[]
Moving onto songs that were added after the publication of last year's blog, we have Lady Gaga. Gaga, who is bi, was featured in last year's blog with her song Telephone. After that blog was published, she made her tenth appearance with Bloody Mary in Just Dance+ as part of Season 3: Beach, Summer & Vampires.
Victoria De Angelis (Måneskin)[]
Revealed just after the blog was published last year, Måneskin made their series debut with Beggin’ as a surprise addition to Season 2: Showdown. Member Victoria De Angelis is queer.
Notable allies[]
Moving onto the allies section, here are some artists who are notable supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community, but do not identify as a member themselves. This is not an exhaustive list of allies in general, but here are three artists in the game who have received the GLAAD Vanguard Award.
Bad Bunny[]
Bad Bunny is a notable ally to the community. He is a vocal supporter of LGBTQIA+ rights and has worked this into his music and performances. In 2023, he received the GLAAD Vanguard Award for his contributions to the community. He makes his fourth appearance this year with Tití Me Preguntó.
Beyoncé (Destiny's Child)[]
Beyoncé is another icon in the community. Her music, especially Renaissance, has incorporated elements of ballroom culture and several of her songs are considered pride anthems. In 2019, she received the GLAAD Vanguard Award. This year, she appears as part of Destiny's Child with Survivor. She previously appeared six times as a solo artist, including covers.
Britney Spears[]
Britney Spears is another icon whose songs are considered anthems. She has long been an icon in the community and she was awarded with the GLAAD Vanguard Award in 2018. She makes her tenth appearance this year with Gimme More.
Conclusion[]
And that concludes part 1! Stay tuned for part 2, which will feature all the submissions and music recommendations from the community, as well as any artists that get added to the game between now and then. If you would like to read more, check out our 2022 blog, part one of last year's blog, and part 2 of last year's blog.
