Ladies, meet The Prancing Elites, a black gay dance team from Mobile, Alabama. With their signature dance style called J-setting (that's voguing married with cheerleading), they're slowly converting non-believers into hardcore fans by performing whenever and wherever there is an audience. In their new reality show on US network Oxygen, The Prancing Elites Project, they constantly struggle against public backlash in the form of often chubby, small-minded Americans.

Over the weekend a clip of the show's first episode was passed around the WWW, showing the team dancing past jeers and boos at a parade in Saraland, Alabama. Despite not having a permit to participate in the parade, they refused to take no for an answer and ended up dancing alongside the parade, escorted by county police officers. “They shouldn't be dressed like women out in public,” says one empty-headed onlooker. “People don't want to see it.”

By standing up to discrimination in sparkly leotards, these five are dancing their way to social acceptance. Here are five reasons why you need to start watching The Prancing Elites Project starting yesterday.

THEY HAVE SOME DAMN FINE MOVES

The Prancing Elites came together in the mid-2000s and get their dance on “as often as we can, wherever we can,” explains group leader Kentrell in the show. J-setting, which member Adrian explains as “cheerleading and voguing combined in one with a lot of pelvic thrusting”, is their signature style. It has evolved out of a dance style pioneered by the Prancing J-Settes, the dance team of the Jackson State University Marching Band. Beyoncé popularised J-setting in her video for "Single Ladies". However, it's only one style in their endless catalogue of moves. They also incorporate twerking, classical ballet and the classic death drop into their routines.

THEY INSPIRE US ALL

In the first episode, after walking through verbal hellfire as parade-goers hurl insults at them like “You’re going to hell”, the vitriol begins to get to them. That is, until they meet Bella, a young girl who tells them, “They shouldn't have done that to you.” Adrian realises what they do is important, saying, “It’s me knowing I’m doing my part and I am loved.” Then they teach Bella some moves and pass the torch by gifting her a sparkly wristband as a token of their gratitude.

THEY FOUND FAME THANKS TO A TWEET FROM SHAQ

They first became internet sensations when basketball superstar Shaq tweeted in June 2013 about the fivesome saying, “THESE DUDES B JAMMIN.” His tweet led to a TV appearance on talk show The Real. Since then, the group has enjoyed an ever-growing fanbase of celebrities. “NeNe Leakes! NeNe Leakes!” they collectively shout when the Real Housewives of Atlanta star surprises the competitive dance crew with a fun pep talk. It ends up an impromptu, five-minute dance class as The Prancing Elites show her some of their best moves. It's not just Leakes whom they count among their A-list fans, either.

EACH MEMBER IS HILARIOUS

“I have moves, style and beauty,” says Adrian, who is described as the 'blonde' of the group. The Prancing Elites is made up of Adrian Clemons, Kentrell Collins, Timothy Smith, Kareem Davis, and Jerel Maddox. Each has his own hilarious quirks and personality. Adrian asks too many questions, Kareem is the most boy-ish, and Kentrell is the leader and self-professed "dad" of the group.

THEY DEAL WITH SOME SERIOUS ISSUES

The overall tone of the show is light and fun, but that doesn't mean that the hardships these five must face are not sobering. From what we can see in the trailer, Jerel has to pick up the pieces after his possessions and house are burnt; Adrian also has a one-on-one with his mum about how she perceives his passion for dance.

The Prancing Elites airs in the US on Oxygen