Photo by Adam Skoczylas During the African-American History Month Celebration at ATEC’s Command Headquarters, Feb 26, guests watched and participated with Kevin Tisdale, owner of Smoother than Smooth Hand Dance Company, swing dance to blues music with Tippi Marvette, a dancer working for Tisdale.

Maj. Gen. Roger Nadeau, ATEC commander, hosted the event Feb. 26, to which Dr. Robert L. Satcher, Jr., NASA astronaut and ‘‘The Smoother than Smooth Hand Dance” company were invited.

Flight delays because of inclement weather prolonged Satcher’s arrival to ATEC’s celebration, but spirits were not dampened, and though he arrived late, he had much information to share with the crowd.

Satcher, an orthopedic surgeon, was selected by NASA in May 2004 and has logged over 259 hours in space. He was on the 31st shuttle flight to the International Space Station.

He gave a presentation of his achievements and challenges as a black man in his quest to become an astronaut, culminating with his recent flight on the space shuttle Atlantis to the International Space Station. He made two space walks.

The ‘‘Smoother Than Smooth Hand Dance Company” performed a number of different dances for guests in honor of African-Americans and their contributions to dance throughout history.

Sgt. 1st Class Cynthia Pearson, ATEC’s Equal Opportunity advisor, provided welcoming remarks, and announced this year’s theme: ‘‘History of Black Economic Empowerment.”

Kevin Tisdale, owner of the dance company, thanked ATEC for being invited to the African-American History Month celebration and described the role swing dancing has played in African-American heritage.

‘‘They called it Jitterbug, Shim Sham, The Charleston. Whatever the name, swing dancing has always played an intricate part in the African-American Community,” Tisdale said. ‘‘We can trace the dance back to the 1800’s when they first called the dance the cake walk. This was actually the first time African-Americans had the opportunity to mix and mingle with caucasian Americans through dancing. This was also a time the Emancipation Proclamation came into effect.

‘‘Swing dancing has been a part of our culture since we can remember, and we have struggled for years as Black Americans to own homes, own land and for equal employment,”Tisdale said. ‘‘But, economic empowerment has been available to us the whole time through dancing, swing dancing and what we call it in D.C., hand-dancing. Here is to social growth and integration through black economic empowerment. Here is, to swing dancing. Let’s keep on dancing.”

Tisdale’s remarks were followed by a big round of applause and the song ‘‘Flip, Flop and Fly” filled ATEC’s conference room, and dancers, including Tisdale, jumped out in front of the crowd to show ATEC’s guests what swing dancing is all about. It wasn’t long until members of the audience were invited to join the dancers in learning the steps it takes to swing dance.

The celebration at ATEC concluded with an ethic food sampling for all to enjoy.