Camp Westie Blog

Here's a thing it's not uncommon for Markus Smith's students to stay to him: "Markus, you feel like my psychologist!" And it's easy to imagine saying that. There's something in the way Markus inhabits a conversation that makes you feel heard and valued. He drops insights on creative living and relationships like it is nothing, like you're just two equals spending some time together — but let's be real, Markus has this presence like the wise and kind older brother you desperately need to work out the hard things in life.

That's a special presence to have as a top west coast swing dance champion, as one of the most unique dancers out there today. No one is doing funk and footwork like he can.

And Markus isn't just a dancer. Markus is a maker, a practice he weaves throughout his life. He writes original music and lyrics. He sings. He mixes. He teaches. He holds down a full time job. It's all part of the creative cycle for him.

But at the heart of his craft are relationships.

"One of the greatest things about being in dance, is the people you're able to meet," Markus told me. "There are people I would never know otherwise! Our lives would never cross just because of careers or interests or whatever. Even me and Tren — we'd never have met if it weren't for dance!"

He counts his students as part of that important story of meeting new people. Being part of their story is a major part of how he describes his own story. In talking about his weekend at MadJam, hours before the first champion competition later that night, he said that his weekend was already a success. "I saw one of my students place way above what she thought possible in pro-am. And the look on her face! She's found new confidence in that. It's about the small things like that — how you can affect someone's life."

But affecting someone's life is no small thing. That impact is incalculable.

For Markus, he sees his job not as creating the change but as helping pull out the light someone already had inside. "I want them to see their potential and implement the tools and skills they have. It gives them that little drive to keep going." Markus knows that it isn't a quick process. "I'm with my students for however long or short their journey is. And it can take a long time! But I love seeing them dance at a level they never imagined themselves at. I see it time after time. People blossom.

"I see my job as helping people become better human beings, a better version of themselves."

Markus too is about the work of becoming a better human being, a better version of himself. He's got a dedication and drive to keep improving that is relentless.

One of the big themes in Markus's creative life right now is returning to nurture and grow in his creativity. "I need to keep growing to keep bringing something back for my students." He and Tren are taking the year off of teaching regular workshops and classes so they can "...step out and get back into the creative side," Markus said, both on the floor and off. "West coast isn't a dance where you make it. It never stops. If it stops, it means you stopped."

That commitment to creativity goes beyond dance. Recently, he participated in "February Album Writing Month Challenge", where he was challenged to write 14 songs in 28 days. With his schedule he thought that he could at least crank out 5 songs. The result wasn't a full album for him but he did manage to create 10 songs. "I tell my friends to be careful of what you say because it may end up in my music!"

His exploration of music and dance go back to his childhood where he learned rhythms from his dad who was a drummer and playing around on the piano.

And for dance, he was never not dancing. He grew up in Northwest D.C. dancing at family functions, local parties and street dance battles." His mom had a big influence in that too — she was big in the D.C. hand dance scene. "I didn't get into hand dance until high school. I thought it was just something that older folks did. But my mom begged me to try it once!" The teacher let Markus play with some variations on his first day of class and he was hooked. A few years later, he and his partner were champions in hand dancing.

Markus's hand dance coach Lawrence Bradford first introduced him to west coast swing by suggesting that he perform at the North Atlantic Dance Championship. To get an introduction to west coast swing, they watched a video of Jordan and Tatiana. Markus was impressed and intimidated. "I was like, ‘You want us to do that? What is that dance? These guys are ridiculous!"

Markus and Deonna Ball went to the event, knowing zero west coast swing, and danced their hand dance routine because they didn't know anything else. They were breaking rules left and right and had a lot of violations. "We placed sixth but with the loudest ovation! What we brought was cool and different and it stood out."

It motivated them to ..."study this dance for real and learn the steps." It was a worthwhile investment — their routines placed second to Jordan and Tatiana several times and they moved up through the Jack and Jills.

Hand dancing continues to influence Markus's style, inspiring the dynamic and creative footwork. Hand Dance in many ways has more technique relationship with shag than with west coast. The two dances can meld together really easily. But with the adjustments Markus makes to west coast swing, he's stands out.

As part of this year of personal creativity, Markus and Tren are joining us at Camp Westie. Markus will bring his big heart for people to Camp and making us all the better for it. In fact, this year is Markus and Tren's return to camp! Two years ago, they were part of our first ever staff! They also experienced some firsts: their first camp fire and their first s'mores — which was a huge honor for us to offer that!

True to Markus's big heart for people, one of his favorite parts of camp was the chance to learn everyone's name. "I rarely get to teach in a room where I know everyone's name. That doesn't happen. It really changed the teaching dynamic for me in a great way."

"You'll have a great time!" Markus said about Camp Westie. "There's no competitive mindset — just join a community, meet new people, build your dance. It embraces all levels in a way that really works. There's no other dance camp like it, especially in the west coast community. You get to do this dance without any pressure at all! And it's amazing."

Markus, we can't wait to have you back at Camp Westie with us. Thank you for everything you do for this dance community!