You Belong! So...Dance Baby Dance!
Matt Duke, MBA
Operations Management & Strategy | Engineering Leadership | Innovation | Servant Leadership
The little things we do to include others can have a profound impact on people's lives...
This is a story about a simple act of inclusion that made a difference for me. As a youth I grew up in a single parent home, raised by my mother after she fled from an abusive marriage, with just 17 cents to her name. Growing up without a father in a small town I struggled with confidence and fitting in.
There were many ways that helped me and my family to grow past our struggles, such as a good extended family support system, church groups and mentors, and involvement in music and other extracurricular activities. All the little things added up to help personal progression and find my identity, and this is one of them.
Music was always a part of my life. My mother played the piano and some of my earliest memories centered around that piano in our living room. I started writing songs on the piano in high school, and eventually I shifted towards writing pop music.
When I was 14 years old I started going to my first dances. I remember walking in those doors and feeling petrified, not knowing how to interact or what to do at a dance. I spent many hours on the sidelines on the old wooden benches. I was an incredibly shy person...I will forever be known as "the quietest in the class" as written in my high school yearbook.?
But, when I was sixteen years old, I went to a very large youth dance. I had briefly met a girl the day before, and wow was she so incredibly kind and beautiful. I was smitten!?As I walked on that dance floor, this girl saw me and as the lyrics say "without hesitation" she walked straight over to me and pulled me in...I literally had no choice but to start dancing!!?
In those moments it was like everything was in slow motion when I saw her coming over to me. Imagine one of those scenes from a movie where everything slows down and the guy looks around, and is thinking: "Who...me??Is she looking at me??Is she really coming over to me??No way, this is really happening....I guess I better dance with her!!!"?This was a new found confidence that was just beginning...I could hardly believe this girl would want to dance with me.??
Those little things we do to show belonging to others can have a profound impact on people's lives.??
That's what that moment was like for me.?
You'll notice in the song that it says:
"I can do this anywhere"
Our belief and confidence in ourselves can carry on beyond the moment, if we let it, just as that moment did for me.
Watch the Dance Baby Dance! music video and subscribe to my youtube channel here:
And as you watch and listen:
Remember who you are! You can do great things! You belong!
Becky Willard and I wrote this song a couple of years ago. We are so excited to release this updated version with Dallas Whitman!?
The purpose of my music is to inspire people to be confident and to do great things.?
As the song says:
领英推荐
"Dare to show the world who you are, when you get up and dance!"
And along with simply enjoying the music and video, I hope it inspires you to do great things, to believe in yourself, and to reach out and include others.
-Matt Duke (Zev Duke Music)
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Follow Songwriter Matt Duke (Zev Duke Music) here:
Follow Songwriter/Producer Becky Willard (Vox Fox Productions) here:
Follow Singer/Performing Artist Dallas Whitman here:
Follow Videographer RJ Idos here:
Follow Dancers/Choreographer LillyWray here:
Millennium Dance Complex SLC - Salt Lake City
Synergy Dance - Utah
#rememberwhoyouare #youcandogreatthings #confidence #believeinyourself #zevdukemusic #zevduke #voxfoxproductions #rjidos #dallaswhitman1 #voxfox2 #lillywray #millenniumdancecomplexslc #synergydance
Realtor - Equity Real Estate - Advantage
3 年Matt, Thanks for sharing your story, there are many who can relate. And… I loved the music video, very impressive!
I coach business owners on how to profitably add solar as a additional service offering. ????
3 年Did you marry her? ;) Fun and well done! How about in the next video include people who might be more vulnerable (poor dancers, acne, overweight, etc) dancing carefree on the dance floor?
CEO at Kartchner Optimal Health
3 年Really enjoyed it Matt! I like the way you write! Let’s talk sometime again!!
Advancing Smart Manufacturing & Industry 4.0. Manufacturing advocate. Empowering individuals & partners in professional communities. Agile leader. CIMCO Solution Provider. Pioneering Smart Edge technology.
3 年You are a great story teller Matt! Really enjoyed reading this. Thanks for sharing.