Mariska Moves

Whenever Sam Long is in town, he hits me up. Our schedules don’t always align, so I’m really glad we were finally able to connect last night.

Had to bring him through - not just for the magical vibe, but to connect him with Rashad , a phenomenal bespoke tailor (and skater) I met a couple of years ago when he attended one of my stepping events.

I’ve been telling Rashad about the stepper’s style and energy for a minute now (and trying to get him dancing more 🙂), so it felt good to connect him with one the most stylish guys in our dance community and finally bring those worlds together in the same room.

The night was full - good conversation, beautiful people, amazing food and drinks… and of course, a little dancing in between.

I think Sam had an amazing time and got to experience a different side of Baltimore, which is always my goal when stepping friends from out of town come to visit. They usually leave in awe of the city’s charm (we’re called Charm City for a reason 😉).

I rarely capture those moments (I’ve actually had two visits recently from friends in Detroit and California and didn’t take any videos 🤦🏾‍♀️ ). I’m still working on that… sharing more of the beauty of both the city and the dance. But like last night, I was fully in the moment, and this clip is all I got.

Still, I’m grateful. Grateful for the relationships built over time, for the trust, and for the opportunity to keep weaving these threads together… especially here in Baltimore.

p.s. Did y’all hear Sam in the video questioning my ability to “walk”? 😂

For those who don’t know, “walking” is a style of dance where you and your partner move in sync around the perimeter of the dance floor, bodies very close together (having brief moments of separation) with slower, more controlled steps.

Don’t worry… a compilation of my walking skills is coming soon to clear up any confusion 😆