Line Dance Connection:	What's your name? Do you have any dance nicknames that you're known by?
Jessie Barnes:	My name is Jessie W. Barnes.  I don't have any nicknames.
Line Dance Connection:	Where are you from and what city do you call home?
Jessie Barnes:	I'm from Laurel, MD. I was born and raised in Pinetops, NC.
Line Dance Connection:	What do you do in your professional life? Any hobbies outside of dance?
Jessie Barnes:	I retired from the government as a Senior Personnel Specialist. I don't have any hobbies outside of dance.
Line Dance Connection:	Are you affiliated with any group or groups?
Jessie Barnes:	I am affiliated and president of Jessie's Soul Line Dancers in Columbia, Laurel, Silver Spring and Montgomery County, MD. I am also a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, National Council for Negroe Women, NAACP, NCAT State University Alumni Assoc DC Chapter, G.W. Carver Alumni Assoc. Chapter, Alumni Athletic Association for NCAT.
Line Dance Connection:	How long have you been dancing?
Jessie Barnes:	I have been line dancing since 1997.
Line Dance Connection:	How did you get involved in dancing?
Jessie Barnes:	A friend from my step aerobics class introduced me to several line dances she learned at a club and at one of LDC classes in PG County.  After I learned enough dances, I started my first class at the Lynn Brick Fitness Club in Silver Spring.
Line Dance Connection:	What do you like most about line dancing?
Jessie Barnes:	The fellowship with my seniors and teaching stress free fun dances.  My goal is to entertain and inspire seniors and others to put a little enjoyment in their life through dancing.
Line Dance Connection:	If you could change one thing about dancing, what would it be?
Jessie Barnes:	Stress Free Line Dance Environment throughout the Line Dance Community.
Line Dance Connection:	Tell me one thing about yourself that the dance community would find surprising.
Jessie Barnes:	For 8 years, I played a Trombone in the band.  I just completed my 30th year of marching with the A&T State University Alumni Band in the Homecoming Parade in Greensboro, NC.
Line Dance Connection	Is there a funny dance story you'd like to share in 3 sentences or less?
Jessie Barnes:	When I taught Jazzy Lady to my senior Generettes over twenty years ago, I had to change the steps because they were not able to master the turn.  After so many years of not doing the dance I requested the dance at Kenny J's Scholarship Event last year.  My student and I had a great time on the floor trying to master the correct steps between laughing and bumping into the other dancers.  Great time .....no one cared that we were having so much fun on the floor trying to keep up.