Three years ago, sophomore Randy “Chuck” Taylor began doing what he is passionate about: dance. “I got inspired to dance because I grew up in a bad area, and I needed something to keep me out of trouble,” Taylor said. “ So I started [to dance], and I liked it.” Taylor dances at Herbert Hoover Boys and Girls Club , a school of visual performing arts in St. Louis. He started dancing as a student and eventually acquired enough skills to begin teaching his own advanced classes.
“He’s a great dancer,” fellow dancer Jamal Richie said. “We learn something new everyday, and we have a lot of fans.” Though he appears to be an unlikely dancer, Taylor actually finds inspiration for his dances in a modern day R&B icon, Chris Brown. “Chris Brown has inspired me because no
matter what people say about his dancing, he does it regardless,” Taylor said.
Taylor does many types of dance including turf, a street dance that originated in California that involves smooth, flowing leg and arm movements. Taylor is part of Team Swazi, a dance group that competes in street battles and at malls like Jamestown Mall.

“I prefer to do a street battle because at the mall you can be put out by security,” Taylor said. Taylor has many videos of him and his group dancing on his public YouTube account. “When I first saw him dance I thought it was pretty cool because I like to see people dance, but I like to dance as well,” friend Shawn Connors said.

As time goes on, Taylor plans to better himself by learning new skills and continuing to follow his passion of dance. “I think I will expand my  dancing skills and learn new styles of dancing,” Taylor said. “ I will definitely improve.”