Tune Up Your Dancing Shoes
Photography: Douglas Burke
You know who they are. You see them at parties, fundraisers, concerts and occasionally around town in local bars. You envy the ease in which they move, and the pleasure they seem to take in it. With effortless motion, they start in one place and moments later appear across the room without even breaking a sweat. They are the envy of the dance floor—those who have discovered the pleasure of ballroom dance and put their knowledge to use!
It’s an old art, full of history and tradition, but it’s taken on new twists, new music, and even new venues. “Ballroom dance” or “social dance” is an international phenomenon that has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity over the last several years. Movies such as “Scent of a Woman” and “Strictly Ballroom” have glamorized it, and recent television hits “Ballroom Boot Camp” and “Dancing with the Stars” have brought its nuances and fun into our living rooms. Even the documentary, “Mad Hot Ballroom” shows the degree in which society participates in this exhilarating activity.
Ballroom dance classes and clubs exist throughout Europe and Asia. American colleges that offer courses or clubs have plenty of takers. And believe it or not, even in this day of cutting athletic programs, ballroom dancing is now recognized by the Olympic Federation and on tap to become an official Olympic sport.
As always keeping with the trends, Park City has its own outlet for this grand adventure. The Park City Social Dance Club has been waltzing and quickstepping around town since 2002.
Longtime dance instructor and studio owner Ed Crane offers weekly lessons for those who seek the joy of dance. The class is ongoing from October to May, and although weekly attendance fine-tunes skills, drop-ins are common and very welcome.
Cindy Rae, who also teaches at the Social Dance Club, suggests anyone can try it. “We have taught all ages, and all ages can, and do learn. We really try not to make it intimidating. Class sizes are such that we can usually give lots of individual attention, and the average person can catch on quickly.”
Although ballroom dance has wonderful physical benefits, Rae goes on to say, “It does not have to be physically difficult. We try to help students master 10 basic steps. Beyond that, it’s like anything else. The more time you put into it, the better you’ll be!”
The regulars who attend the Park City Social Dance Club obviously have a lot of fun, and many a newcomer has been bitten by the dance bug after just one session. Don’t dismiss the athletic challenges of ballroom dance, though. Moving around a dance floor with such precision and grace takes years of hard core training and practice. (Sport dancers are athletes; just try to keep up with one!)
For those of you who perhaps aspire to just move around the local club’s dance floor with a little more flair and style, your chance could just be a class or two away!
Learn the mambo, quickstep, cha-cha, waltz and other steps weekly at the Park City Dance Academy. Call 435.658.2345 for specific nights and times.
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