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Members of Monarch Nation have been waving their arms, slapping their palms and shimmying their hips during games for more than 18 years.

What began as a lark to pump up the crowd became a strange yet irresistible dance that gets fans jumping out of their seats. Here’s more about this unique tradition.

When and why did �һ�������Ƶ start playing “Ice Cream and Cake”?

The �һ�������Ƶ Dynasty Dance Team heard it during a break at a camp at Rutgers University in 2005. “The song was just hilarious to us,” recalled Sylvia Wyche-Hicaro ’06. “On the way home, we said, ‘We should dance to this song and run onto the court like it’s a serious routine.’ It was the melody, the silliness of the lyrics.”

�һ�������Ƶ debuted “Ice Cream and Cake” during a timeout at a basketball game that fall. “It was like crickets,” Wyche-Hicaro said. “The reaction was: What is this?” After a while, “It started catching on with the fans. Just seeing the crowd get into it was pretty cool. I sit back and laugh about it sometimes.”

How many times are “ice cream” and “cake” mentioned in the song?

Forty-six.

Who originated it?

“Ice Cream and Cake” appeared on the Buckwheat Boyz’ self-titled album, released in 2001. The group disbanded in 2002, but “Ice Cream and Cake” got a second scoop of popularity after it was featured in a Baskin-Robbins TV commercial in 2009.

Did �һ�������Ƶ change the song?

Yes! �һ�������Ƶ Dynasty added “Eat it” at the end, Wyche-Hicaro said.

When is it played?

Fans hear it during the second half of men’s and women’s basketball games and at the end of halftime football games.

When do freshmen learn it?

They get an early start. "On Admitted Students Day in April each year, students are taught “Ice Cream and Cake” step by step from Campus Ambassadors before doing it all together with their class, the Marching Band, Big Blue and the Spirit Squad, according to the Office of Admissions.

What’s it like performing for the crowd?

“Cheerleaders love to do it,” said Courtney Abston, a senior who’s captain of the Spirit Squad. “It’s something that gets all the students involved. And it’s tradition. Only �һ�������Ƶ does it.”

Miles King, a three-year veteran of the Spirit Squad, said, “When the crowd gets pumped up, the team gets excited. It’s sort of a refresh button for the second half.” His favorite: “When the little kids do it. They even know the whole song and all the movements.”

What do students think of it?

Junior Emily Orrock called it “a cool little tradition.” Baylee Agagas, a senior, agreed. “It makes games fun, even when you lose,” she said. “Everybody has spirit and can sing along together.” Aniyah Rajab, a sophomore, does the dance even when she’s not at games. “When somebody says, ‘Ice Cream and Cake,’ I go like this” – she lifted her hands – “and they go like that,” Rajab said, lowering them.

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Correction

“Slip ’N’ Sliding for Nearly Two Decades – And Lovin’ It,” a story that appeared in the spring 2024 edition of Monarch magazine, overlooked one ingredient behind the unique “Ice Cream and Cake” tradition: former cheerleading coach Christina Kinerk.

The initiative was aimed at fostering unity and camaraderie between �һ�������Ƶ cheerleaders and dance team members, “promoting a more harmonious and supportive environment for both teams,” according to Kinerk.

Kinerk said she signed the cheerleaders up to attend the same camp as the �һ�������Ƶ Dynasty Dance Team at Rutgers University. ��“When I saw both teams performing ‘Ice Cream and Cake,’ I knew we were off to great start.”

“The rest is history,” she added.

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