Baseball Team’s Dance Moves Go Viral

The Savannah Bananas baseball team in Savannah, Georgia is getting nationwide recognition for its ballplaying skills and entertaining dance moves.

 

The team debuted in 2016 as part of the collegiate Coastal Plain League at the historic Grayson Stadium in the charming coastal town of Savannah. The savvy marketing techniques of the team’s leaders are helping the Savannah Bananas gain a growing online following. The Savannah Bananas’ Tik Tok account has 2.7 million followers, which is significantly higher than some major league baseball teams, like the New York Yankees or Boston Red Sox. The team caught the attention of the media and has been featured in the New York Times, USA Today, and The Boston Globe, to name just a few.

 

During their first season, the Savannah Bananas played for sell-out crowds at 18 of their 25 games. The team’s popularity sparked the addition of a professional, year-round team in 2020 that plays exhibition games with a two-hour time limit.

 

Game Day Entertainment

To entertain fans, the Savannah Bananas put on a crowd-pleasing performance at the ad-free ballpark. The team’s owner, Jesse Cole, wears a bright yellow suit and hat to stand out in the crowd. Some of their antics include playing the game in kilts, performing choreographed dances to pop tunes, and a dancing first base coach. At each game, the team honors one of their smallest fans by mimicking the famous scene from the animated movie, “The Lion King,” when the King introduces his son to the animal kingdom. In their version, the baby sports a banana costume, and the players kneel when the youngster is held aloft. The team also has a senior citizen dance team and an aptly named “Man Nanas” cheerleading squad, whose members are all middle-aged men.

 

The team’s director of entertainment is Zack Frongillo, a trained dancer. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a focus in dance from University of Nevada-Las Vegas. Prior to joining the Savannah Bananas, Frongillo worked as a performer for the Vegas Golden Knights, Nevada’s first professional hockey team.

 

Take a look at a few clips of the Savannah Bananas in action on the field.

 

In this clip, Frongillo showcases his ballet skills. He dances during the game to “Waltz of Flowers,” from The Nutcracker, a ballet composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.

 

The first base coach keeps the crowd entertained with his smooth dance moves. Check out this compilation of five of his top performances.

 

 

It’s not uncommon for the Savannah Bananas players to break out into a choreographed dance routine on the field. Check out this video clip of the team performing a popular dance trend before delivering a pitch.

 

Add Dance Lessons to Your Line-Up

Fred Astaire Dance Studios applauds the baseball team’s ability to combine dancing and baseball. Like the Savannah Bananas, we strive to create a fun, social atmosphere at our local studios. Our dance instructors may not wear costumes, but they are trained to make learning how to ballroom dance a memorable experience. In addition to giving participants’ mental health a boost, learning to cha-cha, rumba, and swing provides a low-impact workout designed to help burn calories and increase muscle strength.

 

Take a cue from the Savannah Bananas and spark joy by learning some new dance moves. To find out more about dance lessons at your local Fred Astaire Dance Studios location, click here.