FARGO — A dancer who was the only male on his high school and college dance teams in Fargo has earned a spot on an exponentially larger stage.
Blaize Shiek was selected for the Minnesota Vikings cheerleading squad, making his debut during the NFL team’s preseason opener at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Saturday, Aug. 9.
He and Louie Conn, of Bettendorf, Iowa, are the first male cheerleaders on the team since the 1990s, according to the Vikings. However, Minnesota's NFL team is among a dozen this year to have men on their cheer squads.
It’s a familiar spot for Shiek, as he performed years ago for the Fargo South High School Bruinkix and North Dakota State University dance teams.
Jordan Epping, of Fargo, a former NDSU dance coach and Vikings cheerleader from 2015 to 2017, helped Shiek prepare.
“He's just such a hard-working, determined and dedicated person, but he's also so talented,” she said.
Blaize Shiek works out as a member of North Dakota State University's Bison dance team during practice in 2019 at the downtown YMCA in Fargo.
The tryouts were a monthslong process that involved open auditions at TCO Performance Center in Eagan, Minnesota, finalist interviews and training camp, and final auditions at the Mall of America.
Epping said Shiek is “the right person” for this role, and said him being a part of the Vikings cheer team is “a gift.”
“He’s just a fantastic human and honestly, he deserves this more than anybody,” Epping said.
Shiek has a friend and former NDSU dance team member to lean on in Kiara Harper, who’s been a Vikings cheerleader for several seasons.
The Forum tried unsuccessfully to reach Shiek for this story but previously reported on his work as a dancer dating back to 2016.
Then a member of the Fargo South Bruinkix Dance Team who also played other sports, Shiek said he was hesitant to join dance at first because he didn’t want to be bullied.
"It made me sad because it's something I love to do. I didn't get judged when I was doing basketball or baseball," he said at the time.
Shiek and Conn being named to the Vikings cheer team has drawn backlash and support online.
The Minnesota Vikings shared a statement in an email shared with Newsweek.
"In 2025, approximately one third of NFL teams have male cheerleaders. Every member of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders program has an impressive dance background and went through the same rigorous audition process. Individuals were selected because of their talent, passion for dance and dedication to elevating the game day experience.”
Young men have been part of college cheerleading squads for years, including at NDSU, doing skills, throws and pyramids, but they've generally been slower to join dance teams.
For Shiek, it’s where he seems destined to be.