“Where them fans at?” The summer of line dancing is showing no signs of slowing down. The crowds are steady, the dances are multiplying, and the fun is expanding far beyond the country fields where the trend was born from a lifestyle.
A common place along the dusty roads and open barns of the Carolinas, line dancing's origins are rooted in African American culture, a gathering of community with a shared love for the country life and good music. Fayetteville and other cities across the country and the world have tapped into the electrifying and contagious spirit of line dancing, bringing a newfound love for cowboy boots, hats, and tassels.
226 The Warehouse, downtown, has been the line dancing headquarters for most of the summer, hosting the monthly, Downtown Rodeo, featuring the area’s premier line dancing Queen and instructor, Stephanie Kegler, and dance/step teams from across the region. Each event has created a new fan, no pun intended, and the party is growing far beyond the walls of its current home.
On Saturday, Aug. 16, the Downtown Rodeo will take over Festival Park for the biggest line dancing event of the season. Join hosts Stephanie and Domanique for a full day of fun for the whole family. Attendees can look forward to 6 food trucks, a variety of vendors, photo stations, game stations, art popups, and… a mechanical bull. It wouldn’t be a line dancing extravaganza without a major headliner.
Bringing the fun and the nostalgic steps of millennial high school past is the creator of the legendary Cupid Shuffle, Cupid.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Cupid, the internationally known recording artist behind the viral hit ‘Cupid Shuffle.’ With over 20 million YouTube views and a career spanning decades, he’s earned the title of Line Dance King for a reason. His high-energy performances bring people together through rhythm, movement, and fun,” said Ayana Washington, one of the event organizers and Creative Producer.
While attendees get down, they can enjoy performances by some of the region's best line dance and step teams, including DWS Movement Steppers and Heart N Soul. General admission tickets are $15 and can be purchased online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wx239bm/lp/250bffa3-7aeb-4256-b41b-009175e8fc65. All attendees over the age of 12 will need to buy a ticket. VIP will be available for this event and includes a shaded sitting area, priority entrance into the park, private bar and food, an exclusive Meet & Greet with Cupid, and access to the After Party. Vip tickets start at $65, and group options are available. Already a Downtown Rodeo fan? Make sure to secure official event merchandise early to be photo-ready online at https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/ev/reg/wx239bm.
The Downtown Rodeo is a joint effort of the creative producer, Ayana Washington of Book Black Women; operations lead Cerina Thomas of No Longer Bound; vendor coordinator Da’Nice Green of 910 Wine Nest; volunteer coordinator Robert Savage of 226 The Warehouse; and the Cool Spring District. For information on performing or vending, visit https://www.226thewarehousenc.com/downtown-rodeo.