Dr. Eric Bailey has a hidden talent. Dancing.
It surprised even him. But winning the Mirrorball Trophy — the grand prize — for the annual Dancing with the Stars competition hosted by the YMCA of Memphis & the Mid-South solidified he did not in fact have two left feet.
“I don’t dance much (especially in public) so my only favorite dance move is a little one-step or a line dance,” said Bailey, who serves as the senior associate vice provost for Student Academic Success at the UofM.
Among the judges at the competition was University of Memphis Spirit Coordinator and Head Dance Coach Carol Lloyd.
“Carol confirming that I didn’t suck was affirming that I actually did do a good job,” said Bailey.
Although he has never seen the television show, Bailey and dance partner Courtney Carter, Cumulus Media on air personality, looked like pros. Randomly matched as dance partners with their choreography coach Maxx Reed, they practiced two days a week for two hours at each practice. Reed also coached last year’s winning team which included UofM alumnus Dr. Mario E. Brown (BSET ’03, EdD ’12).
“Maxx and Courtney were very adamant about winning so they made sure we practiced enough to be comfortable but not to hurt ourselves,” Bailey said. “I was surprised at the ability to lift Courtney the way I was able to lift her. We did some pretty big lifts, and I was not expecting to do that going into the practices. Winning the mirror ball meant that all of the practices paid off. I was happy to win for both Maxx and Courtney.”
Bailey said he was able to incorporate his favorite music into the performances which include ’90s R&B, old school blues and soul, and hip-hop. “Mostly anything with a good beat to keep my attention,” he said.
Although he was completely out of his comfort zone, Bailey was happy he stepped out and tried something new which raised more than $228,000 for families in the Mid-South.
Working with students, he urges them to do the same. “My only advice for students would be not to be afraid to try new things because you might actually be good at it … and ultimately end up winning a Mirrorball.”
As senior associate vice provost for Student Academic Success, Bailey and his team oversee the Academic Advising Center, the Center for Academic Success and Achievement, the Center for Athletic Academic Services, Disability Resources for Students, Office of Professional and Academic Testing, Peer Power Institute, TRiO and Upward Bound.
“It’s rewarding working with so many colleagues that want to see students succeed,” he said.
As an alumnus of the University, Bailey gets to give back to the same student community he was once a part of. “It’s wild honestly. I never would have thought as a student that I would one day be leading student success efforts. I means I get to serve students that remind me of myself.”
