SILK AND SOUL HAND DANCE ACADEMY
Raymond "Ray" Riley and his dance/life partner, Shelby Crandell
SILK AND SOUL HAND DANCE ACADEMY is Raymond "Ray" Riley; his dance and life partner Shelby Crandell; the assistants Charlie Corry, James Cox, Glenda Davis, Joyce McNeil, and Jeanette Dalton; and all of the devoted students who attend.I went to the Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center, 1108 Jefferson Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 to interview Mr. Raymond Riley (hereafter called Ray) of Silk and Soul Hand Dance Academy.  Class is held every Friday from 7-9 PM.  Ray sent me an email regarding his interest on Who's Who in Hand Dance Website.  He took the initiative and set up the interview at the class site and after class, as he proposed, we would finish up the interview.  This was excellent planning for me.  I couldn't put the name with the person but as soon as I saw him, I remembered that he was an "icon" in the hand dance community.  "Icon" to me because he had his own unique way of self-expression, smooth, debonair, very pleasant (he didn't have to know you to speak to you), constant cheerful smile, distinctive kufi he wears, and the character of a man's man.
  He is an Aries born April 2 in Augusta, GA.  He came to Washington, D.C., in 1954 where he attended Ballou High School ("Go Knights", he said.) located in Southeast D.C.  According to Astrology, Aries men are the epitome of masculinity and manhood.  Cancerian women are the epitome of feminity and womanhood.
Ray's hand dancing started out when he was young, like most old timers; he learned how to dance to the rhythm of the music without any formal structure.  The death of his mother, Frances Riley, left him searching for a distraction and with the help of his brother, John, he was introduced to a structured hand dance class.  He graduated from Lawrence Bradford's SEZ in Class 15, which still holds the distinction of being SEZ's largest graduating class.  Shelby originally began dancing at the Mecca Temple in Northwest D.C., and started formal hand dance lessons with 'N Motion, headed by Mr. Joe Jennings.  She then transferred to Silk and Soul to complete her training. 
Rodney and I arrived at the class site around 6:00 PM.  I prefer being early because its hard to predict the Virginia traffic. Charlie Corry was the first instructor to arrive and was a perfect host to us.  He got us settled and was very attentive to our well being and comfort.  Ray introduced me to the class and explained my mission/purpose for being there.  Everyone was so mature, friendly, and receptive to our cause.  Rodney was very attentive and enjoyed the class.  As a matter of fact, he had a ball.  In my opinion, Silk and Soul makes a great role model image for the youth and young adults that they teach.  Attending the class, was Steven and Nadine, a couple of my Tri-State Connection volunteer buddies.
You could see the serious expression on Ray's face when it was time to start the class.  The entire class warmed up collectively and then separated themselves to either the beginner's or intermediate side.  Energy and excitement was all over the place!  The beginners were practicing a "J-Curl" along with the left and right "turn steps".  Shelby was instructing them with very able assistance from Charlie and James.  On the intermediate side, instructed by Ray, they were practicing a structured amalgamation that contained several moves and turns the students were expected to master.  I kept going back and forth to observe the progress.



BEGINNERS
YOUTHS
RAY GIVING INSTRUCTIONS
DEMONSTRATION BY
RAY AND SHELBY
INTERMEDIATES
RAY OBSERVING INTERMEDIATES
SILK AND SOUL
AT PCLUB IN VIRGINIA
Around 8:30 PM, an announcement was made that the classes would meet, collectively, as a group again.  At this time, the floor was cleared so that the beginners could show what they had learned.  All of their concerns/problems had been addressed and cleared up.  Their demonstration was precise and in unison.  Then the intermediates showed what they learned.  There was no fumbling while demonstrating the somewhat complicated moves and turns they had assimilated.
I was truly impressed!  First, because I have never seen a hand dance class share what they had learned to one another in the class environment.  Secondly, I observed and measured their concerns/problems with their progress and I am of the opinion that their demonstration appeared "amazing".  Thirdly, their demonstration was "silky soul".
Ray's class mantra, which he instills in his students, is that the only way to get to Carnegie Hall is to "practice, practice, practice!"  His greatest joy, which he so eloquently states, is to be approached by students, old and new, who say "thank you for teaching me this dance."  Ray has a substantial number of 20-something in his class, which speaks to the growing influence of the art form; teaches some 8 to 10 year olds from a local youth group; and is currently in negotiation to teach the Hot Topics All Stars, a youth cheerleading group,    Ray truly believes that the future of the cultural art form of hand dance lies with the youth, and should be passed on whenever possible and as early as possible.  Being a role model that teaches truth, understanding, love, and respect for one another is worthy of our children.  I believe Ray will demonstrated that positiveness to the highest.  Silk and Soul enjoys dancing at the Silky Smooth Studio in Woodbridge and the PClub in Fairfax, Virginia.
Ray wants to continue, as well as grow, in his hand dance endeavors.  It is positive to see such as "icon" of his caliber to still be connected, concerned, and conditioned to respect, love, and enjoy teaching and promoting hand dance--DC style!
Ray, Shelby, the assistants, and students are doing a wonderful job by getting and keeping hand dance alive in Virginia.  Let's encourage them because they are hoping to see you soon and ask, in the time honored fashion of the art form, "May I have this dance!"
WRITTEN BY MARCIA FOSTER