Mike Sherfield
Michael was born in nearby Brookport, Illinois in 1949. He grew up in the Danville area but also spent time hanging out in Champaign-Urbana during his youth. He is retired from the University of Illinois’ Artist and Photographic Services but continues to create artwork, some of which you can see displayed in this Blues Dance and Its African Roots Exhibit at the Spurlock. You may find him at local dances, whether it is salsa, tango, swing or blues.
Listen as Michael tells stories of his dance adventures growing up and the importance of music and dance in the different stages of his life as well as historic changes in race relations. He remembers learning to dance from his grandmother, attending house parties, and trying to learn the moves from other places to impress the girls and get a dance.
Mike Sherfield Oral Histories
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Music in the home to Chitlin Circuit in Danville (4:23)
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Slow Drag (2:02)
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Dancing as a form of communication, call and response (5:58)
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Learning to dance on sand from grandmother (1:31)
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Dancing growing up (2:16)
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Locations for dancing which also mentions segregation in Danville, and an invitation to Woodstock from a white friend as an example of changing times (2:32)
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Learning to dance by copying dances from other cities, leading and following (2:33)
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Dancing as a release of anxiety/tension of the 60s (1:05)
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Learning dance and making it your own (2:22)
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Locations for dancing in Danville (2:32)
Related Resources
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Blues Dancing and Its African American RootsTemporary Exhibit