Samuel 'Earl' Pope was born in Edgecombe County, North Carolina and at three years old his family moved to Newport News, Virginia. After Earl's mother passed away from breast cancer in 1963, his father moved the family to Washington, D.C. Pope attended Shaw Junior and Bell Vocational High Schools where he loved both athletics and dancing. He recognized that D.C. Hand Dance was like the dance style he had learned while living in Newport News. After serving in the U.S. Navy, Pope was employed at Washington Technical Institute (WTI) as a Counselor and later by the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) Veterans Upward Bound Program. During this time Pope earned degrees in both Business Management and Public Administration. In 1981, Pope accepted employment with Marriott Corporation as a Manager for Roy Rogers Restaurants. Utilizing his degree in business, he left Marriott and opened Head to Toe Unisex Salon, the only African American full-service salon in southwest Washington, D.C. Eventually Pope moved the salon to 4th and P Streets SW and added the Southwest Business Center (SBC). Pope was elected the first President of the National Hand Dance Association (NHDA) and served from 1994-2005. Along with others, he planned balls, competitions, and other activities 'To Preserve, To Promote, and To Protect' D.C. Hand Dance. In 1999, the first members of NHDA collaborated with the Council of the District of Columbia to have D.C. Hand Dance proclaimed as the official dance of Washington, D.C. In 2005 Pope began working for the Embassy Suites Organization. Currently, he is employed with the Maryland State Department of Education, Division of Rehabilitation Services helping consumers to obtain employment. Additionally, he hosts cabarets where D.C. Hand Dancers can continue to whirl and sway. He has hope for the continuation of D.C. Hand Dance, and he believes with the use of social media, people will be influenced to participate in D.C.'s cultural legacy. Pope plans to lend his expertise to help sustain the official dance of Washington, D.C.