Priscilla Wiley photo, 2021-09-11
Scope and Contents
D.C. Oral History Collaborative (DCOHC) is a citywide initiative to train community members in oral history skills, fund new and ongoing oral history projects, connect volunteers with oral history projects, and publicize existing oral history collections. DCOHC is a project of DC Public Library, HumanitiesDC, and the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. This collection contains oral history interviews, transcripts, and indexes produced by DCOHC grantees.
Dates
- Creation: 2021-09-11
Biographical / Historical
A D.C. transplant at the age of 10, Priscilla Wiley quickly immersed herself in fast dancing (what is now referred to as D.C. Hand Dance). She learned this dance through a neighborhood friend and continued dancing through high school. Wiley became regarded as a superb dancer. She did not dance much during her early adult life due to the constraints of marriage and raising young children. However, after Wiley's children grew older, she returned to her passion. She advanced her hand techniques as a student and as a performer. She entered and won numerous competitions over the years. Wiley, one the first paid female instructors in our area, is also the first female to have her own D.C. Hand Dance troupe and has taught many people this official dance of D.C.
Extent
From the Collection: 1.13 Terabytes
Language of Materials
From the Series: English
Abstract
Priscilla Wiley, known as the Spin Queen, reflects on her life and extensive participation in the Washington, D.C. area hand dance community. She started dancing as a child and would teach anyone who wanted to learn. Later in life she became an instructor hosting classes at numerous community centers and places such as the YMCA. Her dancing skills led her to be featured in showcases throughout the country. She continued to teach during the pandemic but has moved her classes online. She is proud of her role and the role of women in the hand dance community. She discusses how females have always had a role in the social dance known as D.C. Hand Dance. The male was traditionally regarded as the leader of the dance, and consequently emphasis on how well the couple executed this dance was usually attributed to the male. Over the years, the role of women, as students, performers, and instructors has evolved. Women, the followers, have added more style and moves into the dance. By doing so, both partners are celebrated for their performance of Hand Dance.
Topical
Repository Details
Part of the The People's Archive, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library Repository