Houston line dancers step in the name of love

Houston has long been celebrated as a global powerhouse of culture and industry. It is a foodie’s paradise, the proud home of the Texas Medical Center, multiple championship-winning pro sports franchises, and, of course, the birthplace of Beyoncé.

Those in the know rank the Houston arts scene among the best in the country, bolstered by the fact that the Greater Houston area is considered the most diverse in the nation. With formidable green spaces, prestigious universities, and public art seemingly around every corner, the city’s vibrancy is undeniable.

However, a new rhythmic movement is wobbling and Electric Sliding its way into H-Town hearts. Houston is rapidly gaining a reputation as one of the nation’s fastest-growing line dancing scenes.

To learn more about this expanding culture, the Defender spoke with members of several of Houston’s premier line dance teams about how they are stepping in the name of love, health, and community.

“[Line dancing] is a release. You get to come and dance and not worry about stress and bills.”

Quintessa Haynes, founder, WBM Line Dance Team

Introduction to the rhythm

For many, line dancing starts as a simple hobby before becoming a lifelong passion. Nerissa Redo of D’Headliners discovered the art form at the Tom Bass Community Center while looking for a new activity.

“Ever since I found out about line dancing, I’ve been doing it,” she says.

Shaun Fulton, also of D’Headliners, has been dancing for over 30 years but transitioned into teaching in 2011. Others, like Martha Allison of the Elusive Ladies and Gents of Houston, found more than just choreography in the steps.

“I used to take line dance classes… for one whole year, I was going there every week,” Allison recalls. “It was also therapy for me… and I actually lost weight doing so.”

The scene continues to attract new instructors, such as Quintessa Haynes, founder of WBM (Wisdom, Beauty, Motion).

“I’ve been a line dance instructor for two years,” said Haynes, who’s got dance in her DNA. “I already liked to dance… I’m not sure how I tapped back into it in 2024, but I did.”

This draw isn’t limited to locals. Rachel Spruill, a Detroit native who moved to Houston four years ago, says, “I’ve been line dancing what feels like all my life from every city I’ve been in.”

Her fellow WBM member, Miss She She, echoes that sentiment of permanent belonging: “A friend of mine found the class and all of us joined—and I’m the one that’s still here. I will be here forever.”

Breaking down the Houston scene

The Houston scene is a tapestry of different groups, venues, and styles. On any given Thursday at Liquid Smoke, you might find D’Headliners practicing to the latest hits.

“We’re about to do a great line dance by Cardi B called ‘Outside,'” says Redo.

Fulton notes that while they learn popular dances, they also create their own.

“I choreographed the H-Town line dance for Ms. Della Dee for the Zydeco Sisters,” Fulton says. She emphasizes that the community is inclusive: “We have men that come in sometimes… It’s just not women.”

Longevity is also a hallmark of the Houston scene. The Elusive Ladies and Gents of Houston are celebrating their 15th anniversary this year. Founder Martha Allison started the group in 2011 to help women get fit.

“We actually have a proclamation from the city that May 31 is Elusive Ladies Day,” Allison says proudly.

The Houston scene reaches its peak annually at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo during Black Heritage Day.

“Lately, that has grown from 20 people to three to 400,” Allison says. “It’s calling out Houston soul line dancing and line dancers from all over Houston. This past Black Heritage Day, they even came from out of state.”

Queen of the scene

Many within the community credit Clevetta Young for facilitating this boom in popularity. As the founder of Dem Girls and So Eastside, Young has spent nearly a decade uniting the city’s dancers.

“It’s definitely a collective effort, but I’ve been blessed to help lead the charge,” Young says.

This past year marked her ninth year organizing the Rodeo presentation, featuring over 600 dancers.

“We had representation from 20 states. Seeing that many dancers come together, moving as one… It’s a statement. It’s unity.”

Benefits beyond steps

Beyond the music, line dancing offers profound physical and emotional benefits. Young describes it as “freedom, joy, and connection.” She notes that “it don’t matter your age, size, disability, two left or two right feet. You attend class one way and walk with lots of laughter and joy.”

For LaMonde Howard of WBM, line dancing was a literal lifesaver.

“Line dancing kind of saved my health,” Howard shares. “When I got my doctor saying I had to move, I stopped paying for the gym and not going… the sisterhood is amazing. It was just a total win all the way around.”

Instructors like Haynes and Fulton see it as a necessary escape from the pressures of life. “It’s a release,” Haynes says. “You get to come and dance and not worry about stress and bills.”

National and global reach

While Houston is a major hub, the culture is nationwide. Dancers frequently travel to conferences in Mississippi, Dallas, and Baltimore.

“We pay a little fee to participate… and we’ll dance all Friday, Saturday night, and then on Sunday,” says Redo.

Howard describes it as a “big, huge global family,” noting that she has line-danced with relatives in upstate New York and found communities across the country via Facebook.

Growth

The scene continues to evolve, sometimes clashing with newer trends. Allison, an “old school” dancer, prefers the R&B facet of the culture over the recent influx of trail ride and Zydeco-influenced dances.

“Every trail ride song that comes out doesn’t need a line dance to [it]. I’m sorry, it just doesn’t,” she laughs.

Regardless of the music style, the momentum is undeniable. Young’s Facebook group, H.S.L.D. (Houston Soul Line Dancers), serves as the movement’s digital headquarters. Haynes believes the scene is on the verge of a total takeover.

“With the younger generation coming to step and line dance, it’s really coming full force,” Haynes proclaimed.

“It has evolved to a real big production,” said Ardie Johnson, founder of DDSD (Divas and Dudes Simply Dance).

As Allison says to anyone nervous about joining, “I don’t care your age, size, or mental capacity… You might come in with four left feet, but when you leave with us, you’ve got a left and a right.”