Since first bursting out into the entertainment scene in September of 1994, the DC Cowboys, an all-male, gay, dance group, have continued to capture the attention of audiences in America and raise money for HIV/AIDS charities with their high energy, boot scooting routines. And, according to the founder, Kevin Platte, they will continue to do so just as long as people want to see them perform.

The group began when Platte, who had performance experience in two-stepping and line-dancing while growing up, decided to get his friends together to entertain for the Gay Rodeo Association. It was never meant to be a serious dance group, as it is now, but the dancers enjoyed themselves so much that they decided to keep it going.

Today, the cowboys have about 17 active dancers, but they try to maintain the group at 20, and hold yearly auditions for the local gay males who would like to join the group.

“I went to the DC Gay Rodeo and saw them [the Cowboys] perform when I decided that the group is amazing and I wanted to join,” said Chad Townsend, Director of Communications for the group and dancer for eight years. He has been dancing with the group ever since and says he will keep dancing until he is either injured or loses interest, which is not likely to happen any time soon.

The DC Cowboys have raised over $15,000 for charities like the Whitman Walker Clinic, Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry, and the Paul Malerba Foundation. They have also been on America’s Got Talent, where they made it to the top 40, have traveled around the U.S. and to Budapest, Hungary for the Sziget Festival.

“For me, the best experience was when we were on America’s Got Talent last summer,” said Townsend. “Although, the trip to Budapest was really fun. They were in that music mindset, and they were all screaming. The last night of the show, some guy jumped on the stage and had to be removed by security. We were like, ‘Oh my gosh, somebody just rushed the stage!’ It was really exciting to be there, and we were so well received!”

To keep the western dance momentum going, the group also hosts monthly ho-downs at a local gay bar. The group performs for the patrons at the bar then they have give-a-ways, raffles, and auctions to raise money. The ho-downs have become so popular that bartenders have remarked that these nights are the most popular nights of the month.

For people who may not be able to attend the events sponsored by the Cowboys, there are more ways to support the group and its mission. Currently, they have released a calendar where you see the cowboys get “wet and wild” and a “Making of the Calendar” DVD. The group has also arranged to make an appearance and walk for the AIDS cause in Washington, DC, and are trying to get their own reality TV show that will follow them from auditions, to their travels, to their shows.

“It’s a lot, but we’ll see where it goes,” said Townsend.

And for the members of the Washington DC gay community who would like to become a part of this wonderful organization, the cowboys encourage you to audition for a spot in the group. Auditions are held every year in November. Those who try out are taught part of a choreographed routine and are then split into groups of about three or four. Next is a “training camp” where dancers learn two numbers and then are evaluated once again before learning if he has made the cut.

This group has gone from “asking to perform at events, to being asked to perform at events” and have definitely become a group to follow in their endeavors.

To learn more about the DC Cowboys, visit: www.dccowboys.org. Some of their dance performances may also be seen on YouTube, keyword: DC Cowboys (or click the embedded link above).

Photos provided by DC Cowboys