RSS Feed
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||||||||||
|
Keeping the beat at the YMCA
The couples say they've had a ball - learning the waltz, fox trot, rumba, and swing. They completed their first five lessons, and most have signed on for another five. The instructor is Jose Quintero of Lafayette, and his dance partner is Joanna Douglas. "The instructor is very good," said Pat Leahy, "and very patient," said Rhoda Kratz. "He makes it fun," added Kimberly Stoddard. "I never danced before because I didn't think I could," said Bill Stoddard. "But after four lessons, we learned the basics. We could be more graceful, but we know the basics." "We had wanted to take dance class for a long time, but didn't want to drive to Lafayette or Kokomo," Teresa Fife said. "We both love it," she said, speaking for herself and husband Tony.
Family weddings coming up prompted more than one couple to take the classes so they can dance at the reception. "I have a niece getting married in July of '09," said Pat Leahy. "It was my idea to take the class. My wife, Jennifer, was flabbergasted. We go to dances, but we don't dance. We just watch. Now we can dance, too. It's really pretty easy. I don't need to dance like Fred Astaire. I just need to get out there and look like I know what I'm doing."
Joe Mayfield, David Kratz, and Jeff Smith talked each other into giving this gift to their wives - Barb Mayfield, Rhoda Kratz, and Donna Smith -because they knew their wives would love it. And, if the guys were going to take the lessons, they thought they might as well take them together. The Mayfields' son, Joey, is getting married in May, so Joe gave the lessons to him and his fiancée, Julie Replogle, as Christmas gifts also. "I'm not very good," Joe said about his dancing skills. I don't feel the beat. But I like the waltz. I can feel comfortable doing it. For someone who doesn't have any rhythm, like me, swing is the hardest." Pat Spence said it really helps when your dance partner is a music teacher (husband Joe). "He works with music and rhythms every day, so he's really ahead of most guys," she said. "His sense of humor helps too, because it's really been fun!" Barb Payne said she loves to dance, and she especially likes the faster-paced steps. She admits that her husband, Jim, was less enthused about taking the classes, but he did like the idea of supporting the YMCA programming. "It's not as bad as I thought it might be," Jim said. "It's been kind of fun. But I have to concentrate on the counting, and on my right foot and left foot." Jim also said he has learned a lot. "I didn't even know what the fox trot was," he said. Jim said he thinks the dance shows on TV have contributed to the interest in ballroom dancing. Barb noted that the class has included couples of all ages. Although most of the couples who signed up were novices at dancing, Jack and Donna Cross said they have taken dance lessons before, so this was a chance to brush up on their skills and also meet some new people. They typically go dancing at clubs in Tippecanoe County. The Stoddards say they have enjoyed the class, and practice their dance steps whenever and wherever they can. "When you hear the music, you want to dance," Kimberly said. She gave an example of breaking into a waltz at Home Depot. The second round of classes started Feb. 25. The one-hour Monday night sessions go for five weeks. Russ Siler, interim director at the Y, said the class is for veterans from the first round and for newcomers. "The steps can be picked up pretty fast, and the instructor reviews all the time," Russ said. Kimberly Stoddard highly recommends the class. "It's a blast," she said. |
for larger version       Ads have a Patent Pending. Click Here for More Information |
|||||||||
)
)
)