DURHAM—School is in session, and so is Curtis Taylor, teaching economics at Duke University for his 16th year, and what a sweet 16 it has been.
"I feel like I've got the best job in the world, really. It's right up there with being a rock star," Taylor said.
Duke senior Shashidhar Masireddy spoke highly of Taylor, calling him brilliant.
“You could go up to him after class and ask him a mathematical question, and he'll be there doing multivariable calculus in his head,” said Masireddy.
Some call it brilliance, and others call it efficiency. But like any good economist, Taylor does not waste his time or his talents.
"When I was teaching at Texas A&M, I decided maybe I should start running marathons, so I ran two there, and three more after moving to North Carolina," said Taylor.
But, due to a childhood disease, Taylor must have a partner when he runs.
"If he's drifting away from me, then I just grab his elbow. And it's easy because if it's a right turn, he'll bump into me. I have a lot of respect for him," said running partner Jianxing Liang.
Taylor has earned the respect of his peers not just through academic and athletic rigor, but also through his rhythm.
"I think part of the reason I like swing dancing so much is that I don't get to lead a lot of things in life. But, on the dance floor, I get to call the shots," Taylor said.
But Taylor takes to the dance floor with a challenge most dancers will never face.
"My visual impairment, my blindness, stems from a childhood disease. It was a manifestation of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and so from the age of 20, it's been pretty much total blindness."
Taylor's visual impairment caused his dance teacher to alter his typical teaching style.
"With Curt, I had to lead him to give him an idea what it felt like. Also, I backed him with me as the follower, so we'd get the motion, and then I'd use descriptive language with him like 'Make a circle with your hand,' or 'Have your palm facing upwards or downwards," said dance teacher Richard Badu.
Whether in the classroom, on the run, or in the groove, Taylor doesn't stop teaching.
"I just live my life, as far as I can, on my own terms, and if people find that inspirational, I guess that's fine. I just have a love for life, and enjoy having a full life, and it's important to not let things pass me by," he said.
• For more information on Curtis Taylor, click here
• To find out how you can get involved with the Triangle Swing Dance Society, click here.
*Reported by Mark Olexik