With charcoal-black cowboy boots hitting the carpeted flooring with a thud, a young woman lost herself in the rhythm of the blaring song “Three Tequila Floor” as she swung herself around the room with all the musicality and coordination that anyone could ever want. As she twirled like a whirlwind on the center floor, the snake tattoos traveling down her shoulders looked as if they were dancing, too. Around her, other young women flooded the dance floor with either the freedom or focus that comes with line dancing.

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The meeting, held Tuesday, Oct. 13, in the 11th-floor commons of Jenkins Hall, invited any and all students to a night of both line dancing lessons and open-floor time.

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Regardless of whether they had been line dancing for years or learned their first dance two weeks ago at the University of Tampa Line Dancing Club’s (UTLD) first meeting, each individual danced as if no one was watching. Everyone was there for the creative outlet it provided amid university life, the judgment-free fun and the simple fact that dance brings people together.

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While synchronous and smooth, line dancing is still an outlet for creative expression and freedom. Speaking of her motivations for starting the club, President Julia Stallings, a senior allied health major, said, “This is just like a great community and something that I would love to have on campus, especially because it’s not very easy to get to line dancing places.”

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And that’s exactly what it is. The club, having started three weeks ago, hosted a surprising 40-plus people at its first meeting alone, many looking for a chance to express themselves through movement and rhythm amid midterms. Izzy Sanford, a senior cybersecurity major, explained that the club was not academically based but instead provided an opportunity to explore a hobby and learn new things.

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“We’re not academically based,” Sanford said. “It’s more about exploring a hobby and provides an opportunity for people to learn new things.”

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In an oversized camo T-shirt, ruffled jean shorts and chalk-white high-tops, Treasurer Reese Trusty led the dance lesson to the songs “Merry Go Round” by The JaneDear Girls and “Spicy Margarita” by Jason Derulo and Michael Bublé. As she led the class, many picked up on her line dancing lingo for moves such as “mambo” and “coaster.” If the dance world is truly one of a kind, then Reese was the ruler of it. Demonstrating the counts so the group could pick up on the choreography, Reese speedily ran back and forth to both sides of the room, repeating the steps. After seeing the group complete the dance in synchrony and style, she happily yelled out, “I’m so proud of you all.”

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Whether a beginner or a seasoned dancer, the University of Tampa Line Dancing Club has already become a place to let loose without fear of judgment. As a matter of fact, many members’ very first time line dancing has been with UTLD. Adison Tuttle Ligon, a sophomore forensic science major, encouraged members not to worry about making mistakes.

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“If you mess up, then you mess up and get right back into it,” Ligon said.

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While dancing in a group setting can provoke nervous feelings for many, the UTLD environment is a place where mistakes are more than welcomed. Trusty, standing at the front of the room with rows of people lined up behind her, paced the lesson based on how well the group picked up the dance, making the learning process easier for beginners.

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Walking into the room, many people didn’t know each other; the group consisted of a wide range of majors and backgrounds. Still, through the trial and error of learning a new dance in a short amount of time, many members found themselves learning from and supporting anyone they could. Member Madison Castagna, a sophomore creative writing major, said she enjoyed spending time with the other members.

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“I come here mostly to see the other members,” Castagna said. “It’s a really great place to socialize.”

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Madison had come to UT Line Dancing with her roommates as a beginner and now dances confidently without fear of error next to her peers. She truly is the evidence that people with different levels of dance can stand side by side, learning the same steps. 

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When asked about her favorite memory with the club, Sanford said she was surprised by how many people showed up during the first two weeks. The growing turnout showed how students from different backgrounds were finding a place to connect, learn and feel a sense of belonging through a shared love of dance.

Despite the current successes of the club, there are still some hurdles that have yet to be jumped over. Sanford explained that the club was having difficulties booking rooms and that the carpeted flooring made dancing more difficult.

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“We are having some difficulties with the room bookings right now,” Sanford said. “The fact that the floor is carpeted today, it’s more difficult to dance on.”

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Not to mention how difficult it is to book larger rooms with hardwood floors, like Fletcher Lounge in Plant Hall. Line dancing works best on hard, smooth flooring to allow for easier and safer footwork. Carpeting, however, can create resistance that makes frequent moves like shuffling or turning more difficult.

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Watching either the intense focus or the unforced smiles plastered on people’s faces, one can’t help but notice the common purpose of the club: giving students a space to let loose creatively, enjoy themselves without fear of judgment and form connections with people from different walks of life.

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Stomping, shuffling and dancing their hearts out, members had to hit the sidelines for water breaks, catch their breath and wipe the beads of sweat trickling down their foreheads. The movements, being so footwork-heavy, require a lot of stamina that can come as a surprise. Line by line, girls and boys hopped onto the dance floor, their synchrony like a working machine, as they danced to the high-energy music like second nature, not even having to stop to think about what move came next. That’s what a great teacher and a supportive crowd do: they motivate and liberate greatness.