GIBSONTON, Fla. — With music pumping, multiple lines of people dance in synchronization. The dancing is called soul line dancing.

What You Need To Know

  • Teach Us A.Y.E Soul Line Dancing Corp is a nonprofit organization dedicated to encouraging health and fitness through the art of soul line dancing

  • Soul line dancing is similar to country line dancing, but involves more soul, R&B, hip-hop and jazz music

  • The A.Y.E Team teaches classes in Gibsonton and St. Petersburg a few times a week

"One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight," said Markis Christopher, one of the class leaders. 

This group is called the A.Y.E Team.

Dances like the Wobble, the Cha Cha Slide and the Electric Slide are very popular soul line dances. 

“Just take country line dance, that is what most are familiar with, and then you just got some soul, R&B, hip hop or jazz type music, which pretty much encompass soul line dancing,” said Christopher. 

He and his wife Andrea Christopher are the leaders and founders of the A.Y.E Team. 

A few times a week, they host soul line dancing classes. 

Leslie Miller, 53, comes to better her health and because she has a family history of dementia. 

“I am really an advocate of movement, and exercising your brain. And exercising your body because it is the same thing, muscle memory, mental memory, it is the same thing,” said Miller.

She calls this her happy place.

“This gives them an opportunity and a space to release and let go. And that is the thing, we tell them to leave the stress on the wood,” said Andrea. 

The A.Y.E Team is also a nonprofit, and will go to the homes of senior citizens to help with movement and exercise. 

For those interested in learning more, there is a Line Dancing Invasion event coming to Tampa on May 3 through May 5.