Kenny J, a Burlington NJ
resident, is a retired Army First Sergeant and
ex-drill Sergeant. In 2004 he was called to serve in
IRAQ under Operation Iraqi Freedom and by the grace
of God he has since returned and catapulted into
becoming a major entity in the R&B/Soul line dance
world. He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma
Fraternity Incorporated and the Founder and CEO of I
am Kenny J Productions, a dance organization that
specializes in dance entertainment, performance and
instruction. His organization is established as one
of the most philanthropic organizations in the dance
community serving the entire Delaware Valley Region
in its effort to reach and promote the virtues of
line dance. “Footwork with a Purpose” is its creed
and has become a very visible presence in the lives
of many.
A former member of the
Dave Bush Dancers out of Philadelphia, PA, his
special style of dance and ability to connect with
people has provided him the opportunity to perform
in various venues throughout the country. His
impact on others, however, reaches far beyond his
fancy footwork. He is recognized by his peers as
one of the most prominent instructors in the line
dance community with his ability to captivate
audiences. In 2008, he was voted entertainer of the
year at the UC Awards, a Maryland line dance awards
ceremony. He teaches by the motto “Too Easy” which
endears all who participate in his classes and
workshops. He and his organization are
trailblazers doing whatever they can to promote the
Delaware-New Jersey-Philadelphia region. His
performance team “Sophisticated Funk” has performed
throughout the country both competitively and
non-competitively exciting audiences with
their unique dance style. Most recently, he
appeared on the Dr OZ show teaching the doctor a
Soul Line dance. To learn more about Kenny J, check
him out at
http://iamkenny.com
Ray Boyd hails from the
Philadelphia area and has been dancing since the age
of two when he started taking tap lessons. Years
later, Ray joined a dance organization, the Carpet
Baggers, known as the best Cha Cha dance group
during that time.
In 1991, Ray's mentor
and the "Godfather of Line Dancing", Dave Bush
converted the Cha Cha into line dancing and took
line dancing to another level. The Dave Bush
Dancers were formed which Ray joined and became an
instructor.
Ray later branched off
on his own and established his own organization,
Tri-State Elite. He and his group have
performed in numerous line dance exhibitions
nationwide and have won several 1st place awards in
competitions. Ray has collaborated on and
choreographed many well known line dances such as
Good Foot (known as Superbad in the Steppers
community), Mr. Quick, Terminal Reaction, Kick That
Sh..st, and Smooth V. Ray has been teaching
and choreographing line dances for 12 years. At the
tender age of 61, today Ray still teaches and
choreographs routines. For more information
and to purchase instructional DVDs, contact Ray at
raymondboyd2002@yahoo.com or (484) 802-6355.
C & C Soul Line Dancing was
established in July 2006 by Cheryl Woodhouse and
Charlena Truitt. Cheryl & Charlena attended classes
with Parklane Adult Activity Center in 2005, under
the instruction of Sandra Thompson, a native of
Philadelphia. After entering into the Fort Jackson
Better Opportunity for Single Soldiers talent show
and winning 2nd Place ALL Army dance category, they
made a presentation to the Morale, Welfare &
Recreation department to start teaching soul line
dancing at Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The
enthusiasm was so great that they were asked by the
Director of Sports & Fitness to make it a permanent
asset of the aerobics program. They pursued other
locations outside the community to Caughman Road
Park, Eastover Park, and currently being sought out
to teach at Hopkins Park. C & C have performed and
taught at several organizational and private
functions, holiday parties, and most recently at
Takin' It Step by Step's Annual Holiday Line
Dance Party . Cheryl & Charlena enjoy
choreographing and performing their C & C Line
dances to current R & B Jams, as well as Old School
Mixes. Some of their creations include "C & C
Groove"," C & C J-Hud Cha Cha" also choreographed
with Earnest Woodhouse to "C & C Sexy Stroll" and
their newly choreographed dance for 2010 called the
"C & C Bounce".
Monica Bizzle, "Ms. Pryme Tyme", is the founder &
president of Louisville Slyde, of Louisville KY.
Monica was born, raised and still resides in
Louisville where she teaches dance classes 3 nights
a week. Monica has had a passion for dancing since
she was a young girl (used to get spankings for
dancing in the middle of the street!). She was a
cheerleader for many years and the captain of her
middle school dance team. She started line dancing
in the late 90’s at Billy’s Place night club in
Louisville under the direction of Ms. Helen
Metcalf. In 2003, Helen passed her torched over to
Monica to carry on, and Monica did just that. She
started Louisville Slyde in 2004 after she and six
other original members attended the United We Dance
(UWD) Family Reunion in Indianapolis, IN. She
witnessed a whole new world of dancing and realized
something was missing in Louisville. She grasped
what she learned at UWD and went back to Louisville
on a mission. She is very dedicated to the mission
she set out for herself and Louisville Slyde
“TAKING LINE DANCE TO THE NEXT LEVEL IN THE ‘VILLE”
.
Jerome Bentley, was born and raised in Louisville,
KY. Currently a Business Analyst for SHPS Inc,
Jerome spends most of his time with his one-year old
daughter and dancing when she allows him to get
away. Jerome has been dancing all his life with the
gifts that God blessed him with. Dancing is his
passion that will not go away until the last breath
has left the body. Jerome joined Louisville Slyde
in 2004. It was match made in heaven, because it
was a new group looking to do big things and Jerome,
along with others have helped take it to the next
level. Jerome's dancing skills immediately made an
impact making them one of the hottest new dance
groups. Since then, LS has been known to bring some
of the hottest dances to the Line Dance scene.
Jerome is a choreographer for LS and has created
dances such as Ghetto Dancing, Mo Problems, L-Roll,
Sunday Shoutin', J4A, Complexity, Shadow, and many
more.
When Jerome is not working or
spending quality time with his daughter, he's busy
working on the next big dance.
Louisville Slyde is now thirty-two members strong
and has become a proud group member of the United
We Dance Organization. They are also known for their
mission all over the city and are regularly called
on to perform for community events, other social
club dances, as well as church services. They also
performed at the Gospel Music Workshop of America
with Christopher Page doing “The Sanctified Slide”
Monica may be contacted at
m.bizzle@insightbb.com, LSlyde at Myspace.com,
Monica Monique Bizzle on Facebook, and Louisville Ky
Line Dance.
Cheryl Williams - The Line
Dance Queen - A native Houstonian, born in
Kashmere Garden Area, Cheryl had a passion for dance
since she was able to walk! She mastered Houston
2-Step/Swing Out at a very early age and continued
her passion by learning all styles of Swing,
including Dallas TX Swing, Beaumont TX Swing, and
Detroit Ballroom. However, Cheryl's true passion is
Line Dancing and
Choreography; she has taught
line dance classes
and workshops all over Houston, and Dallas. To
network and expand her skills, she has traveled to
other states such as Louisiana, Philadelphia, and
New Jersey, participating and teaching workshops in
Line Dance Summits.
For the last few years, Cheryl has choreographed
many line dances and sharing them with others in her
dance classes taught on Tuesdays and Thursdays at
Fonde Recreation Center as well as the night club
crowd and in her travels to other states for Line
Dance Summits and/or competitions. To learn
more about Cheryl, check her out at
www.linedancequeen.com.
"Without a
vision, the people perish," a popular Bible
passage with a strong message. Such a vision came to
David B. Joyce, who is the founder of DBJ
Productions. Starting out as a DJ at the age of 16
playing at rec parties in high school and "blue
light" basement parties on the weekends, it was his
hobby. As he grew older, David started spinning
music in venues around the city of Rockford and
became prestigious as a nightclub DJ affectionately
known as 'DJ Ebony D'. In December 2003, David
recognized that the local venues in Rockford, IL
catered to freestylers and boppers and did not offer
the art form of dance called Chicago Original Style
Steppin'. He decided to try his hand at bringing
true Steppin' there. He learned the original style
of Chicago Steppin' from Pete Frazier of the
Majestic Gents. After perfecting his skills in just
4 months, David started competing as a Stepper in
various dance contests with 2nd place finishes in
Rockford & St. Louis and 3rd in Milwaukee. Steppin'
started to catch on in town and people started
becoming interested in taking Steppin' classes.
David started the first ever Steppers class in
Rockford in October 2004. Visit
www.dbjproductions.com to learn more about
David.
Roland Ford currently resides and
teaches line dancing in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended
Columbia University and lived briefly in New York
City, Philadelphia, and the Washington, D.C. area.
He loves music and dancing and was very excited to
learn about the huge number and variety of dances
when he attended his first soul line dance class a
few years ago. He thoroughly enjoys learning new
steps and then teaching them to others. Roland also
enjoys working out and running, which are tow more
passions of his. He has been blessed with excellent
health, great energy and a positive spirit. He also
has tremendous support and encouragement from his
wife, Gail, his two sons, Roland Jr and Rashad, as
well as other family members and a growing army of
friends. Roland always looks forward to meeting new
and old friends on the dance floor.
Check out Roland's dance techniques at
http://www.youtube.com/user/Pghdanceambassador
The term Stepping in the
Name of Life™ is the perfect fit for the goal of
Jamie Gant. He started stepping because of his
grandmother to help her stay active. She got tired
of walking around her neighborhood, eventually grew
bored of going to the gym, and all other exercise
programs. He realized that the only thing to keep
his grandmother active would be dancing.
After getting his
grandmother involved and class began in Carol
City/Miami Gardens, Jamie realized that he needed to
help communities everywhere in the world, not just
in Miami with all the health related issues in any
way he could. The
Step In The Name Of Life™ DVDs were produced to
create a standard medium that could spread across
our community to help people live longer and Step in
the Name Of Life™. It’s not just a DVD or a Step
Class, It’s How you choose to live your life. Step
In The Name Of Life® believes everyone has a purpose
for being here on earth and Jamie believes his
purpose is to help as many people as he can become
healthier and live longer lives.
Jamie was able to
bring this popular form of dancing and exercise to
Miami Gardens. Classes have spread out to other
areas including Fort Lauderdale, Montgomery, AL,
Hampton, VA. , Atlanta, GA, and more. Jamie’s aim is
to help each community get in shape and take back
their health to fight high cholesterol, high blood
pressure, diabetes, and all other health related
issues™.
"We hope you choose
to STEP IN THE NAME OF LIFE™ and live stress free
and more. Remember, NOTHING EVEN MATTERS BUT YOU,
and ALWAYS KEEP LOVE & HAPPINESS IN YOUR LIFE!!!"
Sharon Lynn Holmes is
the President of Lyn Dancn Club (LDC), an urban line
dance organization in Mitchellville, MD, that she
founded in 2000. Over the last 10 years, she has led
LDC in many line dance events across the east coast
and mid west. LDC placed 1st in 2005 and
2nd in 2006 and 2009 in the line dance
category at the competition hosted by Tri-State
Connection Slyde Explosion. Sharon choreographed the
2005-2006 winning routines, served as a Judge at
Tri-State, and has created more than 10 showcase
routines and nine line dances that were awarded
copyright protection by the US Library of Congress.
In 2007, Sharon created the line dance “Chuck Baby”
that was performed at the Beijing Olympics by the
Martin Luther King Band from Detroit, MI. Sharon has
led LDC at the last seven Annual NBC Channel 4
Health & Wellness EXPOs held in Washington, DC.
Under Sharon’s leadership, LDC has performed at such
events as United We Dance, Inner Circle, Union Crew
Awards Ceremony, Dance Easterns, Smooth N EZ Affair
and many other notable events over the last decade.
Sharon hosts a 2nd
Friday of the month Line Dance Happy Hour at
Martini’s in Fort Washington, MD and teaches weekly
line dance classes for the Maryland Park & Planning
Commission. Sharon is married, has three adult
children, and 7 grands. She is President of Holmes
Management Group, Inc and earned a Masters of
Science degree from the University of Maryland.
Sharon will host a class at the event
and will teach three beginner – intermediate level
line dances, “Chuck Baby”, “Bo Roc” and “ChaCha LDC
Medley”.
Harriette Coggs Stuckey, a native of
Chicago, Illinois, is the founder-director of
heart and soul line dance,
which
promotes wellness through the avenue of soul line
dance instruction to the music of Motown, Rhythm and
Blues, Gospel, Salsa and Jazz. To date, she has
established sixteen classes in southern California’s
Inland Empire.
As a health educator with a Master
of Public Health, Harriette has consulted with
educational institutions and corporations to raise
community awareness on issues of lifestyle diseases
and risk reduction. She regularly collaborates with
Los Angeles area instructors to conduct soul line
dance classes and workshops.
Performances of the heart and
soul line dance troupe
have helped Harriette
to realize her goal which, for the
last six years, has been to “infect” Inland Empire
citizens with the soul line dance “virus”, to which
she was first exposed in the San Francisco Bay area.
Belinda Haywood, from Cleveland, Ohio is a Professional Urban Line Dance
Instructor as well as founder of S.T.O.M.P. (Spiritual Treasures of Movement and
Praise) Ministries, LLC, which is faith-based fitness program, empowered by
dance, praise and worship workouts to Gospel Music called Gospelcise. Belinda
has been has being teaching for over 20 years and has taught thousands of
people, the oldest and most sophisticated dances across the country. She uses her experience in
dance and music to help create and teach some of the most innovative and
energetic steps, dips, and turns in urban and gospel line dancing. She is known
in the urban community for her group called the WMIB line dancers who created
and/or performed dances such as the LR Shake, Dish it Out, Are U Tired Yet,
Energizer, Cleveland Shuffle and many more. She has been very instrumental in
the infectious spread of line dancing by teaching and selling her videos for
over 10 years on the first full chartered African American cruise, Festival At
Sea.
Belinda is a certified fitness instructor and began teaching Gospelcise in 2000
after noticing that church people were not moving enough and were leading in
deadly diseases because of their lack of movement and exercise. Her journey has
not always been easy because of the resistance of church leaders at that time to
support dancing in the church to gospel music. She gives thanks to artists like
Kirk Franklin and Mary Mary, to name a few, who broke down barriers and created
non-traditional songs which allowed her to enhance her program. Ms. Haywood has
participated in several studies to prove why dance and exercise to gospel music
is so important in a sedentary, unhealthy eating, and stressful environment; her
most recent study showed that after Gospelcising for 12 weeks, women with
diabetes, not only lost and/or maintained weight, but their blood pressure
decreased significantly, which was not an expectant finding. Praise the Lord!!!
For more
information visit
www.stomp-n.com or email gospelcise@hotmail.com.
Ray
Johnson, a native of Oakland, CA, is a former Air
Force laboratory technician. He is presently a
retired microbiologist (2003) from the US Dept. of
Agriculture. He discovered the world of Soul Line
Dancing shortly after retirement at the local senior
citizen centers. He has always loved to dance and
won a few local dance contests in high school.
Ray was mesmerized by the steps, music and
synchronization of line dancing and quickly sought
out all the line dance classes in the area; he was
attending up to nine classes a week including three
on a given day! After going to classes for several
months, he attended his first soul line dance party
and was blown away with the music and dances.
Ray
has now been urban line dancing for seven years and
an instructor for the last six years. In 2005, he
formed a dance troupe called RayToKool & The Badd
Girlz. The troupe consists of six ladies and one
man. They teach and perform at health festivals,
athletic events and other activities through-out the
local community. He has attended the United We Dance
Reunions since 2005. Ray has been inspired by some
awesome line dance performers such as The Louisville
Slyde, Kenny J & The Sophisticated Funk, Curtis
Goode, Ray Boyd Tri-State Elite), just to name a
few.
