Wiedmer: Ringgold's White dares to dance for charity

Mark Wiedmer
Mark Wiedmer

Exactly 102 days from today, on the 23rd of September, professional dance instructor Tisha Deal hopes to be led to the winner's circle of the Kidney Foundation of Chattanooga's 10th annual Dare to Dance fundraiser by Ringgold High School assistant football coach Houston White.

Given that one of her first critiques of White's dance moves reportedly ended with the warning, "The next time you step on my foot like that I'm going to take my (high) heel and dig it into your toe," his chances for victory against his 13 co-competitors might seem slight at best.

Nor did a second opinion from Tigers head coach Robert Akins exactly strengthen the notion that his defensive coordinator could become the next Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly or Michael Jackson under Deal's deft direction.

"Houston's got two left feet," Akins deadpanned last week. "Hopefully he won't hurt anybody."

Yet no less than Deal - who has previously led her amateur partners to victory seven times in similar competitions in Dalton and North Georgia that benefit Alzheimer's - noted on Monday, "If someone's got rhythm, they can learn to (ballroom) dance and Houston has great rhythm."

Deal isn't merely saying this to drive interest in the event slated for the Chattanooga Convention and Trade Center.

Of one former partner she bluntly observed, "He was tone deaf and dyslectic. He never had a chance."

But White's wife Kendall believes her husband has a great chance, if only because he's displayed great rhythm, timing and athleticism since long before he graduated from East Ridge High School in 1991 as a four-sport letterman who went on to play defensive back at Alabama-Birmingham.

"When Houston was in high school he was part of a break dancing group - the Flying Dragons," she said. "He got on MTV one time while he was on spring break in Panama City. He's a really good dancer."

Dare to Dance is certainly for a good cause. It's expected to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars each year for the Kidney Foundation, those funds going for everything from transporting patients to dialysis to nutritional aids to medication and medical equipment assistance.

To help that along, each of the 14 contestants - including the 44-year-old White - is expected to generate at least $15,000 before the event takes place, which is a considerable amount for a high school assistant coach and teacher to be responsible for.

As of late Monday afternoon, Susannah Warren was the early leader among the Footloose 14 with $3,150 raised. White was ninth with $150. Fellow participants Ali Albritton, Kimberly Copeland, Hank Dehart, Wayne Fullam, Jill Hartness, Angie Hodges, Kyle House, Paulo Hutson, Ryan May, Lori Mitchell, James Purgason, Sunny Sadanandan were mostly scattered in between Warren and White.

"I don't know that Houston will raise the most money," said Kendall White, "but he may win the people's choice for best dancer."

Hopeful of winning both, Houston White has scheduled at least 36 two-hour sessions with Deal, as well as setting up at least two fundraisers.

"She's not afraid to tell me how it needs to be done," he said of his dance coach. "She's not quite Bobby Knight. But she's firm. She's also fair and fun."

Said Deal, "Learning to dance with a partner is so challenging, especially when the male is the amateur and the female is the professional. I have to teach Houston to lead. The female contestants don't have to do that. Their partners know where to put them. I'm supposed to follow Houston's lead, which isn't easy when he doesn't know what he's doing."

Added White: "It doesn't help when the footwork you use in football is almost opposite from ballroom dancing. The first time I met (Deal), she said, 'Remember there's a difference between barroom dancing and ballroom dancing. "

But fundraising is fundraising. To help him reach his goal, White has scheduled a 10-team kickball tournament at Ringgold High on Saturday, July 1st for 10 teams at $150 a team. He's also planning a Coaches for Kidneys Youth Football Camp on Saturday, July 15th for youngsters age 5-12 for $25 a kid. His wife will help run a Fitness Dance-a-thon at the same time for $20 a person and if two members of the same family sign up for both, the rate drops to $40 a pair.

Further down the road, Ringgold is in discussions with Heritage High to stage some fundraising event when the two teams meet on the football field early in the season.

All of this began for White via the internet. Kendall is, in Houston's words, "Facebook famous. She posts these videos and pictures under 'White House Family Adventures.' She'll show us dancing in the kitchen or dancing with our (six) kids. Apparently somebody from the Kidney Foundation saw one of the videos and called me a year ago to ask if I'd be interested in doing this."

White had too many conflicts last year, but he and Kendall and their children - Savannah, Kailey, Scout, Kyle, Allie and Bo - were all in for this year.

"They love it," said Kendall of the kids. "They roll their eyes and laugh."

Houston isn't approaching this as a comedy, however.

"I'm hoping my competitive nature and willingness to practice will be enough." he said. "I'm hoping I can practice long enough and hard enough to win it."

No less than Ringgold linebacker Noah Keaton believes his coach can win it all.

"He's pretty crazy," Keaton said. "I think he can do it."

Anyone interested in supporting White can call him at (469) 233-7015 or email him at hwhite.rhs@catoosa.k12.ga.us. For all other participants, go to amanda@kidneyfoundation.com.

Contact Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@timesfreepress.com

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