Ballroom dancers strut their stuff

Published 10:15 am Saturday, September 5, 2015

What’s good for your soul but not your soles?

Dancing!

Milledgeville has a group that gets together to dance once a month. Meeting at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Flannery O’Connor Hall, the individuals love to foxtrot, waltz or east coast swing their way around the room.

“About five years ago, I began learning how (to ballroom dance),” said Carol Brock, the dance hostess. “I was commuting to Macon every other week and everywhere else I could find to practice, but I wanted an opportunity to dance more.”

Brock said she hosted a ballroom dance, and it was such a success that Sacred Heart offered its fellowship hall to the dancers.

“At the first dance, 35 people showed up, but we didn’t have enough space. I didn’t realize ballroom dancers would drive to such lengths to dance,” Brock said. “I had only hoped for five couples, but it was more successful than that.”

While the average attendance hovers around 12 people each month, Brock said the group has had up to 20 people in some months.

“We’re not a sponsored organization, just a group of like-minded dancers who dance as a social activity,” Brock said. “We have all levels of dancers — accomplished, beginners and people who have never danced before. We take them to the side of the floor and show them a dance step.”

Although group members are more than happy to teach a dance or two to newcomers who have no experience in ballroom dancing, Brock said her group does not instruct ballroom dancing. She said it would be helpful if attendees know a little bit about ballroom dancing, but it is not required.

“We have men and ladies who will take them and say ‘Come on, we’ll show you one step.’ If you can get one step down, you can basically ballroom dance. You don’t have to know every step to get on the dance floor,” Brock said.

Some of the more common dances seen at the group include the ramba, foxtrot, waltz, cha cha and east coast swing. The tango has also made its debut, though Brock said very few people who attend do the tango, and a west coast swing has been spotted even though it’s not generally considered ballroom.

Dancers of all ages are welcome to attend. While most of the attendees average age 50, in the past students from both Mercer and Georgia College have attended, including some outreach students at Sacred Heart.

The oldest to attend, Brock said, was a 92-year-old. The group has also had pre-teens and teenagers join on rare occasions.

“It’s a wonderful exercise,” Brock said. “Recent studies have shown that people who ballroom dance have less health issues and more mental faculties as they age. We’re quite open to whoever wants to come. It’s a fun outing once a month.”

Brock said ballroom dance is an inter-generational activity.

“We think it’s a very good idea that we have young people who come. We have older people dancing with younger ones, and we learn from each other,” she said.

Brock said younger participants get a chance to learn dancing social skills, and people do not need to bring their own partner to attend.

“We also help newcomers with ballroom dance etiquette in asking how to dance and get them on the floor,” Brock said. “It’s social skills for younger people. As people progress in, it’s OK to ask someone to dance and it’s OK to refuse politely if she chooses not to. It’s a good place for learning polite dance etiquette.”

In many groups, ballroom dancing requires a specific dress code. The for dancers at Sacred Heart, they like to call their code “dressy casual.”

“Most ladies come in a dress or skirt, but we do not frown upon pants,” Brock said. “Most have heels, but some wear flats. Most men have on khakis and a button down shirt of some sort.”

Those who may be worried they don’t know the music can rest assured that a ballroom dance can be performed to nearly any sound. As host, Brock prefers the 1940s big band sounds but said one woman who helps select the music prefers more contemporary songs.

“You don’t have to dance to big band music to ballroom dance,” Brock said. “Most of the music we do play is big band sounds, but we east coast swing to popular hits of the ‘60s and we can ramba to the 80s. We have even been known to do a line dance or two.”

Admission to the dance is $5, which goes toward several different things.

“I always serve light refreshments, but not heavy hors d’oeuvres,” Brock said. “I also give back to the church after I cover the costs and give to the campus outreach because it was that group that helped secure the church. I am not a member of Sacred Heart; it is the generosity of the church that lets us dance there.”

The dance is held from 7:30 to 10 p.m. once a month at in Flannery O’Connor Hall at Sacred heart Catholic Church, 110 N. Jefferson St. The event is alcohol and smoke-free. For more information, Call Carol Brock at 478-453-3345 or email cdhm@windstream.net.