Blog

February 17th marked the one-year anniversary of the Playlist Set, and classes hosted by Mariska Moves (led by Gary Brown) have been going strong since December 2023. While I did not plan an official anniversary party, I would be remiss not to acknowledge this milestone and the people who have made it all possible.

First, I want to thank Gary Brown for allowing me to draw him back into the world of instructing. I appreciate his trust in leading these efforts and his continued support. Thank you to Darlene Jeffreys and Bunny Wylie for their help in securing locations for events. Thank you to volunteers and supporters like Anthony Irving, CW "Preach" Harris, Tracy Stewart, Wesley Wiggins, Brenda Zeiglar-Riley, John Brown, Heber Brown, and Corey Marshall, who have given their time and resources in support of Mariska Moves events.

Thank you to every instructor and DJ who has provided their services, including DJ Shorty Smooth, DJ Ms Classy, Harvey Dobbs, DJ Lloyd, DJ Jeff, Ed Donaldson, Dee Dee Johnson, Yvonne Stewart, and others. Special thanks to the Black-owned businesses who have opened their doors to our community: TNAT Holistic Wellness Center, Swill by Blacksmiths, and Soul Street American BBQ.

Most importantly, thank you to all who show up, spread the word, and continue to support my efforts. Thank you to my Baltimore dance family for your dedication to making our dance community stronger. I am especially grateful to dedicated supporters who travel from all along the East Coast to attend events, coming from as far as North Carolina and New York. And big thanks to all the brave souls who are new to the dance and have trusted me and our dance community to introduce them to this wonderful world of steppin’. If I have missed anyone, please charge it to my head and not my heart. Just know that I am eternally grateful to you all for your support.

I will be working on a video to highlight some of my favorite moments in the past year. In the meantime, take scroll down my social media pages to view previously posted photos and videos of events. If you have a favorite moment from the past year, I’d love to hear about it. Send me an email or leave a comment or share and tag me, Mariska Moves, on social media.

I look forward to making many more memories with you all.