She's a part of Sisters N Sync, one half of the New Life Steppers, she's placed in contests, throws parties, and is the wife of popular DJ Shorty Smooth, yet it still seems that Deon Farr has flown under the radar. I happen to know that she's fun, witty, and extremely opinionated, so after she challenged ChiStepper.com about putting up some "new" interviews, we figured we'd start with her. In this interview she discusses her past rifts with MSBU, why you should learn Steppin' from the New Life Steppers, and plenty more. Check her out ...
T. Pratt (TP): Deon, I believe this is your first solo interview on ChiStepper.com. A lot of the attention for the Farr’s goes to your husband Shorty Smooth. However, your popularity has been slowly rising. Why did it take the dance community so long to notice you?
Deon Farr (DF): What are you talking about? How can you NOT notice me? I am what Charnice [Simmons] (Sistas N Sync) calls “a secret weapon" when I come out. You don’t know what hit ya. But on the real, I really didn’t care for Steppin’ until about 3 years ago. I am real protective about my family and space so I did not welcome people or Steppin’ with open arms. The only reason I started dancing was to support my husband on something he wanted to do.
TP: Milwaukee performed well in the People’s Choice Awards, yet the city doesn’t seem to have the solidarity that other ultra popular dance communities outside of Chicago have, especially Detroit. Do you find that Milwaukee is less unified?
DF: We are no less unified than any other city. Because we are smaller, it tends to stand out more. Some of the newer steppers in Milwaukee seem to be motivated by fame, competition and territory and that stunts our growth as a whole.
TP: It’s been rumored over the years that the New Life Steppers were rivals with other popular groups in the Milwaukee area like MSBU and Whodini’s Steppers group. Was there ever a competitive rivalry between the popular instructional groups in Milwaukee from your perspective?
DF: I wouldn’t say we were rivals with Whodini or MSBU. Mykel was hungry for the dance and came out with so much motivation and determination that we may have stepped on some toes of the people who where here before us, [although] not intentionally. Also I was much younger, more protective and aggressive and so was Cynthia from MSBU, so we bumped heads a lot. Now we sit back and laugh about the things that happened in the past.
TP: Shorty Smooth has bragged on numerous occasions that the New Life Steppers instructional approach is different than most others in the Steppers community. Seeing that you were nominated in the Best Instructor of 2010 category in the People’s Choice Awards, do you find this to be true?
DF: Of course I find this to be true. We are a husband and wife team that learned both positions of leading and following. Our classes and workshops are fun, spiritual, and educational. We offer a family environment. We have taken information from a lot of instructors and combined it with our own. I encourage my students that it’s okay to relax and think outside the box when it comes to Steppin’.
TP: What is one of your Pet Peeves when it comes to Steppin’?
DF: Oooh I have a long list of those. Number one is followers that don’t have their own identity. Number two is groupies that hang around people because of their “Heavy Hitter” status. Number three is instructors that learned the basics and started teaching class and not furthering their education. Number four is some men with self-centered egos that were developed after they started Steppin’ and getting noticed. Number five is some women that think they are going to be better Steppers by spreading their legs.
TP: Shorty Smooth is quite popular in the Chicago dance community. It would be hard for a lady to argue that they didn’t know he was married to you. Do women still try to make passes at your hubby, or have the ladies been respectful of your relationship?
DF: No, I have never been disrespected by anyone. If I was you probably would be doing my interview behind bars. For the most part, many people love and respect us for our union and Mykel carries himself like a gentleman. Now I’m sure like Nate dog says “Every other city we go, every other video, no matter where we go, we see the same hoes,” so it may be a few that tried behind my back but it’s the same ones that would try to talk to any of the high profile steppers or DJ’s.
TP: If you could spend time with an older female Stepper to pick up some pointers, who would you choose?
DF: None, the older ones I would pick up pointers from are all ready on my team.
TP: You and Mykel host a popular Mardi Gras Weekend in Milwaukee every year. Did you choose the Mardi Gras theme because of your New Orleans roots?
DF: Yes, Mykel started throwing birthday parties for me about 5 years ago and since I missed New Orleans we decided to bring it to Milwaukee. Last year we focused more on him because it was his 40th. Be on the lookout this year October 2011, Mrs. Shorty turns 40.
TP: I have to ask about you and Shorty Smooth’s matching gold teeth? (Laughing) Is that also a product of your New Orleans heritage? I find that gold teeth are a lot more popular in the south.
DF: Since you trying to be a comedian BEAN HEAD, it is a part of the southern heritage so everybody has gold teeth in the south. When I got mine I was fresh out of high school. At times I wish I didn’t have them because so many judge you from it before they get to know you. Preconceived notions!
TP: You had an awesome showing in the MSBU contest last year. What was it like dancing with Drew? Were you nervous?
DF: It was like dancing with one of my kids ... I had a great time and it was fun and full of energy. It brought my sexy back. We may do it again this year if I don’t go with someone else on the waiting list. You, Tyk, or the hubby ... so I gotta decide. [As for being nervous], I was only nervous about the dip, [but] I had so much support I felt right at home.
TP: It’s been great having you on ChiStepper.com. Any closing thoughts?
DJ: In the beginning you said that this was my first solo interview right? Well, why the hell you kept asking me about Shorty Smooth? Be on the lookout for Shorty’s Angels – a group of my friends and students that are up and coming on the stepping scene.
TP: Deon, they say once you get married you become one anyway, so if I’m asking about Shorty Smooth, I’m asking about you. (Laughing) It’s been great having you on ChiStepper.com. Thanks for keeping it REAL!
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