New to the area in 2023: Country Line Dancing with Sunset Coast Country Dancers! Debuting on Tuesday, April 4th, 2023, Sunset Coast Country Dancers brings the beat for beginners, teaching line dancing, pattern partner, and country swing dancing to St. Joseph.
Led by Sharon Haynes and Jason Sutton, each evening costs just $5 per person, and allows you entry to the hottest new Tuesday night gathering! Lessons will begin at 7 p.m on April 4th and April 18th, and will continue on the first, third, and fifth Tuesday of each month. “We are excited to host our kick-off event at Union + Social, the beautiful event space next door to Silver Harbor Brewing Company,” Sharon says.
‘A Chance To Dance’, the ballroom lesson dance group that began in 2014, can also be found 216 Court Street, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, beginning on April 25th at 7 p.m. Event Organizer, Jessica Ladd, explains that they will be teaching a variety of ballroom lessons throughout the year, including waltz, tango, foxtrot and more, and will begin the season with a Swing lesson (on the 25th). “We focus on a different style each month! Beginners are always welcome, as every lesson will begin with the basic steps before moving onto building patterns,” Jessica says.
In the past, dances and ballroom lessons, taught by Sharon and Tom Catania, were held at the Whitcomb, Shadowland, and Hidden Pointe. In 2022, the group gathered at Weko Beach House for their dynamic season. After their usual winter hiatus, this year’s announcement of their move to the Union + Social event space has the community jiving with joy.
‘A Chance To Dance’ evenings cost $8 per person, $15 per couple, and offer a forty-five minute lesson, then will open to Open Social dancing from 8 p.m to 9:30 p.m. In May, dancers will learn to Hustle, and can perfect Salsa dancing in June. Don’t worry about not bringing a partner; Sharon says things work out pretty evenly, as attendees meet new people and rotate partners. “We generally have twenty to forty-five people each night,” Sharon says. “And there is no need to RSVP or register, just come as you are!”
“My favorite part of being involved in the dance community is all of the connections that can be made on the dance floor,” says Jessica Ladd. “I’ve seen people meet the love of their lives through dance! Personally, Ballroom dancing helped change my life and I’m happy to be able to provide that to the community”.
Whether you are interested in trying a new social activity, or looking to brush up on your moves, your Tuesday nights are covered. Follow ‘A Chance To Dance’ on Facebook for the calendar, updates, and announcements about this season!
By Jocelyne Tuszynski, MOTM Contributor
