Ruth B. Slaughter

Charlotte - Ballroom dancer Ruth Irene Slaughter left this world gently on September 19, 2015 taking her final steps at age 97.

She is survived by her daughter, Dana Glandon of Charlotte. She leaves behind a loving family of dancing friends and instructors. She was preceded in death by her husband, Dan Slaughter of Kannapolis, NC.

Ruth was born on March 31, 1918 in Charlotte. She grew up on a farm. In 1937 she married Dan Slaughter. The couple had a happy life together filled with many activities and sports. Adagio style roller-skating, horseback riding and weekend dancing were among the fun things they did as a couple. When Dan joined the Navy in 1941, Ruth took a job as a seamstress to stay busy while he was gone.

The couple’s only child, Dana, was born after 17 years of marriage when Dan and Ruth had nearly given up hope of having a family. While raising their daughter, Dan and Ruth continued to enjoy an active life. It was after their daughter grew up and left the home that Dan and Ruth took up a new hobby that would redefine their lives. They began taking ballroom dance lessons.

The couple performed showcase routines, attended parties, and even began to compete. Ruth’s enthusiasm for dancing led Dana to pursue ballroom dance as a business so Ruth and Dan could have a place to dance. After Dan’s passing in 1993, Ruth continued dancing on her own. She danced through life with teachers and coaches from several different countries. Many of the greatest names in the world of DanceSport enjoyed working with Ruth. She came to be known simply as, “Mama”. Her enthusiasm for ballroom dance led to a movement that turned Charlotte, NC in to a renowned dance center for world-class dancing to this day. The Queen City’s legacy will forever live on in the memory of “Mama” Ruth.

Ruth Slaughter will be laid to rest at a private service in Green Lawn Cemetery, China Grove, NC. In lieu of flowers it is requested that donations be sent in Ruth’s memory to any youth dance foundation to benefit future dancers.