What’s happening?
The Dance for Fun Club is having a community barbecue and open house on Saturday, Aug. 26 at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall, 318 Keary St. The barbecue and open house run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by cross-step waltz lessons for folks 13 and up from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. and open swing, ballroom and country dancing to DjStarr from 8:30 to 11:45 p.m.
Who’s invited?
Everyone is invited, including residents living in the neighbourhood and folks interested in learning to dance. Kids are welcome to attend with their parents at this all-ages event, but lessons are appropriate for those 13 and up.
“We want to fill the hall,” said host Byron Starr. “We want to have lots of people coming and having a look at it.”
What is the Dance for Fun club?
The club rents space at the Sapperton Pensioners Hall and offers drop-in dance lessons and dances four times a month – on the first and third Wednesdays and the second and fourth Saturdays of each month. The events attract 50 to 60 people, with about 10 per cent of attendees being under 20 years of age, 10 per cent over 65 and the bulk of dancers between 40 and 65 years.
Is it fun?
“We make it fun and we make it easy. That’s what we are specializing in,” Starr said. “We are trying to end up building a whole new crop of dancers who know how to lead and follow, which means they’ll stay in the dance world for many years.”
What kind of dancing is offered at Dance for Fun events?
“It’s all swing, ballroom and country. We teach all the popular dances,” Starr said. “We don’t teach all the ballroom – we teach jive, cha cha, a little bit of rumba and a little bit of street hustle. This is aimed at people who just want to go have fun dancing.”
What if I have two left feet?
“Perfect. That’s what we want,” Starr said. “We specialize in making people feel comfortable on the dance floor and learning the basics. They learn something about rhythm, they learn about how to lead and follow.”
Tell me more.
Dance for Fun events are alcohol-free gatherings featuring snacks, desserts and beverages, starter lessons and a dance. Experienced dancers are encouraged to dance with beginners during the dances.
“It’s really a social club is what it is, but it is centred around dancing,” Starr said. “It’s amazing the doors that fling open for people when they get involved in the dance world. You are going to learn a skill that you’ll use for the rest of your life and you’ll be happy with it. That is what we are doing.”
What’s coming up?
Cha cha lesson are set for Wednesday, Sept. 6 and 20; Country two-step is on Saturday, Sept. 9 and 23; and West Coast Swing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 4 and 18. Dances are $10. For more information, contact Byron Starr at [email protected] or 778-709-8880.
