From roller skating rinks and line dance floors to Southern Soul nights in Atlanta, this episode captures the heart of Black joy, history, and the communal spaces where we find freedom together. DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray welcome Dr. Marcus Borders to discuss how he went from an introverted kid in Atlanta to finding his flow through skating, line dancing, community, and what that journey reveals about us as a people.In this conversation, they dive into:How line dances like the Electric Slide, “The W...
From roller skating rinks and line dance floors to Southern Soul nights in Atlanta, this episode captures the heart of Black joy, history, and the communal spaces where we find freedom together. DJ Sir Daniel and Jay Ray welcome Dr. Marcus Borders to discuss how he went from an introverted kid in Atlanta to finding his flow through skating, line dancing, community, and what that journey reveals about us as a people.
In this conversation, they dive into:
- How line dances like the Electric Slide, “The Wobble,” and the Tamia Shuffle offer a safe haven for introverts to step off the sidelines, blend into the crowd, and still shine.
- The way Atlanta’s skating rinks and Southern Soul line dance nights mirror a family reunion; intergenerational spaces where uncs and aunties, college students, and elders all moving to the same steps across different songs.
- Why Marcus made skating at Cascade a weekly ritual during the pandemic, and how he defends these dance spaces as essential to his emotional, spiritual, and physical well-being.
- What it takes for a DJ to truly read a Black dance floor—from giving the music space to breathe to smoothly dropping in line dances and slow jams that keep people moving.
- The idea of an unspoken “music school” happening at every class and party, where Black culture, rhythm, and movement are quietly passed down to little cousins, students, and the next generation, both on TikTok and in real life.
If you remember the first time you learned the Electric Slide, gliding to 90’s Quiet Storm cuts, or learning new steps in a basement before heading to the club, this episode will hit home in the best possible way.
Guest BiographyDr. Marcus Borders is a Learning Innovation Specialist with Ed Farm, where he supports educators and school leaders in designing blended learning, coaching, and K–12 computer science experiences. His work centers on expanding access to high-quality technology learning and ensuring digital equity for the communities he serves, with a particular passion for elementary educators, students, and adult learners. Dr. Borders holds an Ed.D. and Ed.S. in Instructional Technology from Kennesaw State University, along with degrees in Urban Teacher Leadership and Early Childhood Education from Georgia State University. A native Atlantan, Marcus can often be found outside of work rolling around one of the city’s skating rinks or learning the latest Southern Soul and trail ride line dances.
Follow Dr. Marcus Borders: http://instagram.com/quietasitskept
Links to Content Related To This Episode For Research and Context
- Roller-skating, an old-school refuge for Black Americans, is getting a revival - Article on roller skating's Black roots as sanctuary, Civil Rights ties, street skating evolution, and modern revival amid rink closures. (NBC News)
- The History of Black Line Dances: Electric Slide, Cha-Cha Slide, and The Wobble - Queue Points episode on Electric Slide, Cha-Cha Slide, Wobble origins, cultural significance at cookouts/weddings, tying to Black celebration and history. (Queue Points)
- 10 Black Owned Roller Skating Rinks | Black Roller Skaters' Showcase | #BlackExcellist - Showcase of Black-owned rinks like Cascade, highlighting roller skating's role as refuge, self-expression, and addiction in African American communities. (Black Excellence Excellist)
- The Civil Rights Era Roots of Roller Skating - Documentary tracing roller skating's Black history from segregation-era "Soul Nights" to Atlanta's Cascade as a key hub, evolving into a unique subculture. (Great Big Story)
- Atlanta's Rolling Skating Community Pays Homage to History - Video exploring Atlanta's roller skating culture as a family bonding tradition in Black communities, with historian Tasha Klusmann on its deep roots. (NBC 11Alive Atlanta)
- Legacy of Legends: Cascade Skating Rink - Feature on Cascade Skating Rink's 25+ year history as Atlanta's cultural hub, influencing fashion, music, dance, and serving as a safe space for Black families. (Atlanta Voice)
Chapter Markers00:00 Intro Theme
00:16 Welcome to Queue Points
01:05 Line Dancing Goes Viral
02:41 Meet Dr Marcus Borders
05:01 Introvert on the Dance Floor
06:45 Cars and Early Dance Roots
08:46 Skating Sparked the Shift
10:58 Finding Freedom and Community
13:03 Classes Across Generations
19:11 Atlanta Energy and Joy
22:52 What Makes a Good Groove
24:11 Dancing Like A Game
25:19 What DJs Should Play
26:48 Transitions And Crowd Reading
28:49 Hardest Line Dance Learned
31:13 Practice By Messing Up
34:23 Learning To Fall Safely
35:43 Classes Build Confidence
37:46 Protect Your Safe Spaces
40:10 Passing The Culture Down
42:16 Where To Take Classes
43:31 Final Thanks And Sign Off
45:58 Outro Theme
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