Soul Line Revue

This article is a reprint from the Courier-Post, Sunday, February 24, 2008 Section F-- Communities. Written by Frank Halperin, Courier Post Staff. If you are interested in purchasing any photos or watching the video -- go to www.courierpostonline.com

If you've been missing the television program "Soulline" since WMCN-TV stopped broadcasting it last year, here's some good news: The TV dance party is back.

Beginning March 4, the popular line-dancing show will return to the station as "Soulline Revue." WMCN serves Atlantic City, Philadelphia, Delaware and points in between. "Soulline Revue" will air from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Tuesdays and will be broadcast via Comcast.

Fans of "Soulline" can expect to see dancers

    they'll recognize doing the "Marvin Gaye
    Walk," the "Texas Twist," "Booty Call" and
    other popular line dances on the new show.

   The most recognizable face surely will be
    that of Butch Thomas, the program's host
    and executive producer. The 57-year-old is|
    to "Soulline Revue" what Don Cornelius
    was to "Soul Train." Thomas is th3 show's
    chief creative force and the man responsible
    for bringing the program back on the air.

"We're coming back stronger than we've ever been," said Thomas, from Voorhees. "With "Soulline Revue,' I'm maintaining that connection viewers have with "Soulline,' " he said, "but I'm also incorporating all the new ideas I've had to make "Soulline Revue' even more accessible to both loyal and brand-new viewers."

Thomas said he'll be interacting more with the dancers on "Soulline Revue," which is being taped at Temptations Restaurant & Jazz Club in Philadelphia.

The program will also include a dance-lesson segment as well as a community bulletin board feature, during which viewers can find out about upcoming line-dancing events in the area.

The new show is being directed by Harold Yates and produced by Thomas through Yates' DocuVision production company in Philadelphia.

The premiere of "Soulline Revue" is still more than a week away, but for many "Soulline" fever has continued through weekly dance lessons offered by show associates.

There are five dance-lesson locations in South Jersey -- Cherry Hill, Willingboro, Somerdale, Vineland and Newtonville (Buena Vista). Lessons are available for all ages.

Joyce Myers, a longtime "Soulline"

   associate who's conducted line-dancing
   lessons in Cherry Hill, Willingboro and
   Philadelphia for years, said she's looking
   forward to "Soulline Revue" and getting
   more people to come out for lessons.

"I think it's going to have a big impact
on the success of our classes," she said.

   Last Monday, Myers was in full control
   of more than 20 dancers -- young, old,
   male, female, black, white and Hispanic who came to the Holiday Inn in Cherry Hill. She slipped in a CD of Mary J. Blige's "Just Fine," and brought the class in line. Three of those dancers -- music teachers in South Jersey schools -- said they plan to take the lessons they were learning back to their students.