Step by step
Meet country line dancing instructor Michelle Jackson-White
Michelle Jackson-White gives country line dancing lessons at the Hampton Beach Seashell Stage every Thursday evening from 6 to 7 p.m., followed by live country music.
When did you start country line dancing?
When I was 27 years old, my mom was into country line dancing. She used to go with her friends to a little place in Methuen, Massachusetts, called the White Buffalo Saloon. Mom always asked me to join her and her friends at the dances, and I really had no interest. I didn’t even like country music. But Mom encouraged me to try it, and I have to say, I was hooked after that very first time. I enjoyed it so much, soon I was going dancing three times a week.
How did you end up becoming an instructor?
It happened purely by accident. A local high school distributed a flier offering some adult education courses, and one of them was country line dancing. Although the other courses that were listed had the name of the instructor, the line dancing one said ‘TBA.’ When I called to enroll in the class, the woman was so happy, she took my name and info and said she’d have someone get back to me. When they called me back, they took my information and started talking about salary. They thought I was calling to apply for the job as the instructor. I was hired at that high school, and that’s how it started for me.
You live in Nashville now. Was it line dancing that took you there?
Well, not really. It may seem that way, but Nashville is a music town, not a dance town. I had established a pretty big following in New England doing line dancing and ended up opening a local restaurant and bar called Saddle Up Saloon in Kingston, New Hampshire. I not only gave line dancing classes, I also DJ’d there. My husband is a country musician who also performs Garth Brooks tribute concerts. His job offered him a position in Nashville, and that’s how I ended up there. But it was painful leaving New England. I had started a huge dance community and made many friends through it. I was very established here and had to start over from scratch in Nashville.
What’s the most challenging part of the job?
I would say it’s when a person leaves the group for whatever reason. People’s lives change; sometimes those changes take them away from the dance lessons and it leaves a void. I get attached to my dancing friends, and when someone leaves it can be painful. The good news is they sometimes return. Marriage, divorces, kids, school — life happens, and sometimes things change that bring a member back.
How do you persuade shy people to dance?
When trying to encourage people to try dancing, I tell them it’s only a dance. If you can count to 8 and walk, then you can do it. If you mess up, just keep smiling, and no one will notice your feet. I enjoy teaching new dancers easy steps so they feel good. Teaching the beginner two-step seems to work well; that’s a country partner lead-and-follow dance.
What are the benefits of line dancing?
Line dancing has physical, social and mental benefits. It’s good for you physically because you’re moving and exercising, but it doesn’t feel like it because it’s fun. You can make it low or high impact. Social benefits are that feeling of inclusiveness. You’re in a group, you don’t need a partner, and line dancing is done worldwide. Mental benefits have been proven in research that line dance uses the same parts of the brain that are used to do crossword puzzles and word finds — two activities that have been proven to help prevent dementia. According to a 21-year study by the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NYC, dancing frequently reduces stress and depression, increases energy and improves flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. It was also determined in the study that dancing strengthens bones and boosts cardiovascular health. The results of this study were printed in the New England Journal of Medicine.
What’s the most rewarding thing about teaching country line dancing?
I have to say the friendships and the relationships I’ve developed through the job. It’s a warm dance family, a wonderful community. … I’ve traveled the world giving dance lessons — Florida, California, even Japan. I’ve taught dance on cruise ships. In Nashville, I teach dance classes at the Nashville Palace, which is located right across from the Grand Ole Opry. … It took time to reestablish myself in Nashville, but I’ve built up a dance group there; coming back to Hampton Beach gives me a chance to see my New England family of dancers.
— Betty Gagne
Courtesy photo.
