| Eagleville's Thomas Maupin was born to dance |
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By: ERIN EDGEMON, Business Editor
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Posted: Sunday, July 5, 2009 8:13 am
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Dancing is in Thomas Maupin’s blood.
He never took any lessons. The rhythm of buckdancing was just born in him.
“It was just in me — my rhythm and timing,” Maupin said from his west Murfreesboro home.
The Eagleville native came from a family of dancers, but even as a young child something stood out about his style of dance.
As a child roaming around the small town, people would often say to him “dance me a little jig,” Maupin, now 70, said.
Maupin has a passion for dancing that is hard for him to describe.
“Music makes me high like maybe someone drinking,” the thin gentleman said.
And, it is important to him to work to preserve the tradition of old-time music and dance. He has traveled across the country dancing and does workshops when possible and will show anyone a step or two.
For his contributions to old-time music and dancing, the six-time buckdancing national champion, is the recipient of this year’s Trailblazer Award at the 32nd annual Uncle Dave Macon Days festival.
The award will be given on the opening night of the festival Friday, July 10 at 7 p.m. Maupin’s grandson, Daniel Rothwell, will accompany Maupin on the old-time banjo in a dance following the award presentation.
The honor is well overdue, said Gloria Christy, president of Uncle Dave Macon Days.
“Thomas has been a hero all over the country, but he hasn’t been honored in his hometown,” she said. “He is one of the few buckdancers left that still does the traditional form of dance.”
Maupin is humbled by the honor and almost teared up when he spoke about it and his love of dance.
“It is something,” he said of the honor. “It really shocked me.”
But, really Maupin is used to winning awards. The third-generation dancer is considered one of the best flat-foot dancers in the country. He has won more than 60 first-place honors and last year he won the Nashville Silver Stars Talent show for artists 60 years and older.
This year he was a finalist for the Tennessee Governor’s Award in the Arts.
Buckdancing is a form of dancing that is hard to explain. You just have to witness it for yourself.
“Old-time music was made for buckdancing,” Maupin said.
The dance is similar to clogging except in buckdancing you hit every beat of the lead instrument with your feet.
“You play the tune with your feet,” he said. “When I am dancing I become a part of that tune. I become an instrument.”
And, Maupin said his style of buckdancing is a little bit different than most.
“You don’t have to see it, you can turn your head and listen.”
Maupin is home on stage.
“I am rich right here doing my thing,” Maupin said.
And, he is looking forward to performing for the crowd Friday night.
There is only one thing he desires. He wishes his mother, Mable Maupin, who never got a chance to see him dance could be there.
“I would like to look out at the audience and see her,” he said.
Erin Edgemon can be reached at 869-0812 and at eedgemon@murfreesboropost.com.
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