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SPEAKER 1: We are going to get ourselves up and moving right now. Have you heard about soul line dancing? It's become a popular form of group exercise. It's a lot like other forms of line dances that are choreographed routines done in a group setting, right? But the soul comes from the hip hop, R&B, and contemporary hits played in class. Reporter Simone Cazares visited the Gotta Dance soul line dancers class, and has this report.

SPEAKER 2: Let's move it, hold it. Hold it, y'all.

SPEAKER 3: (SINGING) And hold it.

SPEAKER 2: And go play too.

SIMONE CAZARES: It's a Tuesday evening at the Oxford Community Center, in the heart of Saint Paul's Rondo neighborhood. Dancers in Tina Jackson's soul line dancing class are jamming out to a remix of the Mississippi slide. As Jackson introduces the dance, the room fills with smiles, and one by one the dancers join in, ready to groove to the music.

TINA JACKSON: We're going to do one called And Hold It.

SIMONE CAZARES: Jackson, known by her community as Tina Lady of Line Dance Jackson, has been teaching soul line dancing for over 15 years. Every week, she brings people together from all walks of life to learn the classic routines, and come together through the music.

TINA JACKSON: So when we start, you're going to go right foot stomp, and left foot stomp. Then it's Cha Cha with your right, and Cha Cha with your left.

SIMONE CAZARES: For Jackson, soul line dancing is how she gives back to her community. She was born and raised just North of Rondo, in the Saint Anthony neighborhood, and grew up going to the Oxford Community Center. Her childhood mentors helped her get started as a teacher, and over the years she's built a community of dancers from everywhere she goes.

TINA JACKSON: Last quarter. Turn, turn. I can't go like anywhere without people coming up, aren't you that lady that teaches line dancing? Or I'll have a guy, I can go to the Dollar Tree or Cubs, and I'll have a guy and go, oh hey, I know that's you, and they'll start just dancing in the aisle, and it is really funny.

SIMONE CAZARES: Most of the people in Jackson's class are in their mid 40s to 80s. Many of them have been coming to class for years. Some, for over a decade.

TERESA PHILLIPS: They was like, you should go up to the center, there's this lady named Tina teaching dance. And I'm like, really? Mhm, OK.

SIMONE CAZARES: That's Teresa Phillips. She first came to class with her cousin while battling cancer. She didn't expect to stick around for more than one class. But then--

TERESA PHILLIPS: I go up and I come with her and we danced that first time and I'm like, I like this. I came back to the next session without her, then the next one, and the next one, and now 10 years later, I'm still here like can we get more? Can I get more?

SIMONE CAZARES: Randy Thomas is another longtime member of the Gotta Dance soul line dancers. Back in the day, Thomas was a professional dancer who appeared on the popular 70s TV show Soul Train. Years later, after moving to Minnesota, he remembers watching Jackson's class while working out in the community center. After some convincing, he decided to give dancing another try.

RANDY THOMAS: And I kept thinking, God, it's been so long since I danced. Can I do that? So then one day I decided to take the class and I went down there and I sucked. I couldn't pick up the steps, I couldn't do it. But I kept going back. And eventually, I found out, as long as I just enjoy myself, it just came and that's how I started.

SIMONE CAZARES: Thomas says, what makes Jackson special is the way she cares for her students, and the class has become like family to him.

RANDY THOMAS: We love each other. We support each other. We hate each other. [CHUCKLES] Let's not leave that out. But in a good way. And so it's really nice to be a part of a group that seems to support everyone.

SIMONE CAZARES: Back in class, it's been nearly two hours. And the dancers have hardly stopped. Jackson is getting ready to teach one of her favorite line dances, and is messing with a student who tries to get out of the spotlight.

TINA JACKSON: Where are you going? [LAUGHS] That's OK. We just want to make sure. We still going to see you.

SIMONE CAZARES: For Jackson and her students, it's these small moments that bring them together as a community. And Jackson says it's her students excitement that keeps her love for the dance going strong.

TINA JACKSON: The people who come to the class on a regular have been so supportive. They've been with me a lot of them since day one. They still come every week. Some people, we may not see for months at a time, and then they come back and we just pick up just where we left off. Now, what I always tell people, if you mess up, just keep on dancing. That's all.

SIMONE CAZARES: As her community of soul line dancers grows, Jackson loves to see new faces come to class each week. And she says, no matter who you are, soul line dancing is for everyone. Simone Cazares, NPR News, Saint Paul.

[MUSIC PLAYING]