Line Dance Connection:	What's your name? Do you have any dance nicknames that you're known by?
Jackie Rice:	My name is Jackie Rice and my dance nickname is Sass.
Line Dance Connection:	Where are you from and what city do you call home?
Jackie Rice:	I was actually born in Yokohama, Japan. But I was raised in, and have always lived in, Los Angeles, California.
Line Dance Connection:	What do you do in your professional life? Any hobbies outside of dance?
Jackie Rice:	I’m a Certified Nurse Midwife working for Kaiser Hospitals. Many people don’t know about midwives so I’ll expound a little on that: A Certified Nurse Midwife is an advanced practice registered nurse who has specialized education and training in both Nursing and Midwifery.  We function as primary healthcare providers for women. From menarche through the menopause.  Our scope of practice includes delivering babies and non surgical gynecological care. Outside of dance, I don’t have many hobbies!  Dance is my passion! However, I do love to travel and vacation, especially in the Caribbean. I also looooove to shop, and it doesn’t matter what I’m shopping for, LOL!
Line Dance Connection:	So what do they call this dance craze in your home town? Line Dancing, Hustling, Sliding, Other?
Jackie Rice:	In LA, we call in Line Dancing.
Line Dance Connection:	Are you affiliated with any group or groups?
Jackie Rice:	Yes, I’m affiliated with J&J SoulfulSteps Soul Linedancing
Line Dance Connection:	How long have you been dancing?
Jackie Rice:	Dancing – all my known life as I can remember.  (ie: Tap Dance, Ballet Lessons, Modern, African, Jazz , Linedance– etc)
Line Dance Connection:	How did you get involved in dancing?
Jackie Rice:	James and I met Belinda Haywood on the Black Cruise – Festival at Sea.  We fell in love with Soul/Urban line dancing immediately.  This was in 1994 or 95.
Line Dance Connection:	After you attended your very first class, how did you feel?
Jackie Rice:	Exhiliarated….happy…..excited…..ADDICTED!!
Line Dance Connection:	How did you get into choreography?
Jackie Rice:	Well, you kind of have an idea pop into your head….or someone plays some interesting music.  It’s your body responding to what you’ve thought or what you hear.
Line Dance Connection:	How many dances have you created and what was the very first dance you created?
Jackie Rice:	I have created about 20 dances, all together. The first dance was called The J&J.
Line Dance Connection:	Of all your dances which one would you say is your favorite?
Jackie Rice:	Don’t Mind
Line Dance Connection:	In your own words, what makes dancing special?
Jackie Rice:	Dancing makes us release all the negative stress and strain of life.   Dance makes us come alive in all our senses!
Line Dance Connection:	If you could change one thing about dancing, what would it be?
Jackie Rice:	That I would be able to have the capacity to learn more, in this feeble mind of mine, LOL!
Line Dance Connection:	Tell me one thing about yourself that the dance community would find surprising.
Jackie Rice:	I sometimes dance in my sleep and sometimes wake to find myself with one foot on the floor and my arms in a funky move.