Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellie Foster.
Hi Ellie, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I’m a born and raised Cincinnatian and my life has centered around exploring how I can contribute to the community. I’ve found that in order to contribute I have to discover what inspires me.
In June 2019, I found the inspiration I was searching for from a stranger stepping to the beat at a music festival I attended. She was shuffle dancing and it motivated me to express myself. Dance is an invaluable vehicle for expression.
As soon as I got home I looked up “how to shuffle” on Youtube. I practiced for hours each week in my college apartment while I was a student at the University of Cincinnati.
I kept practicing and putting myself out there by dancing in public and posting videos to my social media. People would stare at me when I danced. At first thought, it seemed like a judgemental stare, but the more I did it, the more people would ask me about it. Turns out some people thought it was pretty cool and unique. It made me unafraid to be myself in front of others and that was empowering. I wanted others to be empowered too.
In 2021 I started Cincy Horseplay with my good friend, Grant Benninger. Cincy Horseplay is a community of shufflers in the Cincinnati area. We’ve created a space for authentic expression, connection, and creativity through music and dance.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
If shuffle dancing has taught me anything, it’s that we can do anything we want to do. If you are inspired by it and put in the work then you are capable of any dream you have. Self-doubt leads to fear of judgement and it’s an obstacle I’ve faced in all areas of my life. But the more I practice dance the more confidence I gain. Dancing has allowed me to let loose and move authentically.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I dance and I build brands. I created the Cincy Horseplay brand that Grant Benninger and I founded in January of 2022. This year we’ve held weekly shuffle meetups that have gotten over 30 members involved. We’ve also hosted three pop-ups with live DJs including the official activation for the Insane 51 mural at Cincinnati’s Blink Festival.
In addition to dancing, I work for a Mi Domina Records, a music label founded by Nala. She’s a tech house DJ based in Los Angeles. I create artist merchandise, design graphics, manage social media, copywrite, and work in A&R.
I also take on many passion projects that combine my dancing with the work I’m doing for the city.
I co-hosted Just Dance for Justice with Nashville dancer Kim Quintanilla in 2020, a fundraiser for Revolution Dance Theatre. The event raised over $800 for the Cincinnati nonprofit dedicated to building cultural diversity in the world of dance. We had live music, performances, and a lot of shuffle dancing.
Also in 2020 I directed the Up & Up Virtual Wellness Festival. My team and I created a virtual experience with over 200 participants and fundraised over $400 for Revolution Dance Theatre. We partnered with DAAP Cares, a University of Cincinnati design team led by Avery Nowosielski at the time. We had performances from University of Cincinnati dance groups The Classy Cats and Dance to Enhance.
In 2021 I created BE Yoga and Shuffle Series with local yoga instructor and mental health counselor, Brittany Bowerman. BE was five-part wellness series that fundraised over $200 for LifeWorksUSA, a Cincinnati nonprofit that provides care and support for veterans.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The shuffle dance scene in Cincinnati is growing. As electronic music becomes more mainstream in Ohio, it opens up opportunity. Just this year, we’ve seen the nightclub, Alice pop up in Over the Rhine. Alice is a dance music club. Tulua Nightclub opened its doors shortly after in October of 2022. Tulua is a more niche nightclub than Alice, as it’s catered to the house music crowd.
There are notable house music event groups that have kickstarted this year such as Departure Lounge, Warmth, and Regularly Scheduled Programming. You’ll find shuffle dancing at these events. A few years ago the Cincinnati house music community was a scene where everyone seemed to know everyone. Now multiple house music events are happening every weekend. This year big steps were made for Cincinnati house music. In the future, we’ll only keep expanding. I’m hoping to see more shuffling and house music incorporated with Cincinnati’s Blink Festival.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/flowkittyellie/ | https://www.instagram.com/cincyhorseplay
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ellie.foster.399
Image Credits
Allison Darling, Roxy McGhee, and Victoria Kelly
