Line Dance Connection:	What's your name? Do you have any dance nicknames that you're known by?
Ted Massey:	My name is Ted Massey. In the dance community I'm know as TeddyJam or TJ for short.
Line Dance Connection:	Where are you from and what city do you call home?
Ted Massey:	I was born in Stockton, CA, raised in Ypsilanti, MI, and currently live outside of Chicago, IL.
Line Dance Connection:	What do you do in your professional life? Any hobbies outside of dance?
Ted Massey:	I work for a local steel manufacturer. Hobbies (so many): golf, bowling (last league  '07-'08 195 in 2 leagues...look me up!), working out, riding my motorcycle, roller skating, playing spades and bid whist, softball, basketball, volleyball. Watching (attending or on TV) almost all sporting events. Cooking and baking (mean pound cake game...better ask somebody).
Line Dance Connection:	So what do they call this dance craze in your home town? Line Dancing, Hustling, Sliding, Other?
Ted Massey:	It's called hustle where I grew up (although line dance is becoming more common), and line dance where I currently reside.
Line Dance Connection:	Are you affiliated with any group or groups?
Ted Massey:	Yes. My first group experience was with the First Family of Ypsilanti where Antwuan Bigdog Riley gave me the nickname TeddyJam. I later founded One Mo' Gain Hustle Productions (OMG!) in October of '08 in Inkster, MI. We are also a part of One Common City Slyde, a collection of line dance groups featuring OMG, Common Ground (CG) of Indianapolis, IN, Glass City Hustlers (GCH) of Toledo, OH, and Louisville Slyde of Louisville, KY). Recently, my wife (Dee Punkin) and I along with Danielle Chappelle began teaching classes locally and we call ourselves JustDance/D.T.P. (stands for Danielle, TeddyJam, and Punkin). We're not a "group" in the literal sense of the word but they're my "team".
Line Dance Connection:	How long have you been dancing?
Ted Massey:	I've been dancing since about 10 or 11 (trying to break dance), line dancing since '92 (junior year of high school).
Line Dance Connection:	How did you get involved in dancing?
Ted Massey:	I went to a convention in Detroit with my older sister my junior year of high school and everyone was just having a blast dancing. I was extremely shy and kind of awkward (goofy) at that age, so I just sat on the side and just watched. The next event I attended I sat a little closer to the floor and started breaking down the steps in my headed and do the steps in my seat. Before the end of the party I was on the floor not only doing the dance but making the "call-outs" as well (Electric Slide to Johnny Gill's "The Floor"). Fast forward to 2007 I started taking ballroom classes with Mr. Smooth & Co. in the Detroit area and became one of his instructors within a year. He taught 3 sessions on Sunday's and actually broke down a line dance at the end of each one (a total of 6 hours of dancing). He was exhausted by the end of or classes so I took it upon myself to master the couple of dances he had in rotation at the time (the CMB and the Sex Machine) and offered to give him a break from teaching the line dance one Sunday (he'd just had knee surgery but was still trying to do it). It was on and poppin' after that!
Line Dance Connection:	After you attended your very first class, how did you feel?
Ted Massey:	Honestly, after my first line dance class I felt like I could be an asset to this dance community, especially with my choir/band background and my understanding of timing, phrasing and counting music in every time signature and genre.
Line Dance Connection:	How did you get into choreography?
Ted Massey:	By accident actually. I had a song stuck in my head for about 2 weeks. So one day after work, while stuck in traffic, I put the song on repeat and by the time I got to my destination (about 45 minutes), I had created my first dance while doing the steps under the steering wheel.
Line Dance Connection:	How many dances have you created and what was the very first dance you created?
Ted Massey:	I've created 6 dances and collaborated on 2 others. My first dance was called Swag (done to "Right Round" by Flo Rida...the dance created under the steering wheel).
Line Dance Connection:	Of all your dances which one would you say is your favorite?
Ted Massey:	They're all my favorite. But if I have to pick one, I'd say WerkItOut!
Line Dance Connection:	In your own words, what makes dancing special?
Ted Massey:	To me, dancing is special because it gives us an opportunity to express ourselves, let off steam, and just have fun through movement. The fact that we get to do it with like-minded (usually) people is a bonus!
Line Dance Connection:	If you could change one thing about dancing, what would it be?
Ted Massey:	I'd like to see EVERYONE do more to increase the unity and oneness of our community and cut out the division and competitive spirit that seems to be rearing its ugly head! #WEAREONE #LETSACTLIKEIT On a lighter note, I'd like to institute a once a year moratorium on new dances (perhaps 2 months before UWD) so people can catch up on the new and brush up on the not so new before the Reunion! Just a thought...I know it'll never happen...LOL!
Line Dance Connection:	Tell me one thing about yourself that the dance community would find surprising.
Ted Massey:	I come from a family of minister's and have ministry experience myself (youth and prison ministry) and will be getting back into it TO STAY very soon...