It’s Not Dating … It’s Just Dancing, Part 3
Tom Marshall
Raised in a British military family, Valerie Green began dancing in high school where posture was everything. “I maintain to this day that if one holds their body in the proper position, dancing becomes easier and, consequently, more enjoyable.”
In England, Valerie grew up with The Beatles. “I remember dancing with my boyfriend at the time who wore beautiful mohair sweaters, and I had these long, fake nails, so by the end of our dancing, my nails would be embedded in the back of his sweater. I had to ask for my nails back,” Valerie laughs. When she got to the United States, she fell in love with country-western music and gathered with a large group of friends who would go country-western dancing on weekends. Valerie also thinks we’re very fortunate to have Dale and Ann Pizzitola as our club’s dance instructors but wishes more single men would become interested in dance instruction besides east coast swing dancing.
Valerie, an avid gardener, also enjoys playing POP tennis, swimming, and travel. This summer, she’s joining her immediate family in Spain for a month. Valerie donates her time to the SaddleBrooke Food Pantry.
As a teenager growing up in South Africa, Elma Von Michaelis attended cultural and social fairs that celebrated the Dutch, German, and French pioneers who came in the 17th century to settle the land at the southern tip of Africa. Elma explained that traditional Afrikaner folk dancing is known as “Folke Spele,” where the women dressed in colorful, long dresses and caps and danced in a circle, changing partners as they moved around. She confirmed that one of these folk dances is the “Chaka Chaka,” which is a popular dance at our club events.
Elma always wanted to learn ballroom dancing, but her husband was not musical and couldn’t follow the patterns. “We were preparing to celebrate our 50th anniversary when he died suddenly.” Elma’s philosophy is simply stated: “Life is fragile, so now I will dance as often and as long as I can.”
Elma joined the Ballroom Dance Club a little over two years ago, and she appreciates the wide variety of classes offered, in particular the more classical dances like the waltz and foxtrot.
What could the club do to attract more single men? Elma thinks it’s a hard job because, in her words, “Men at this stage in their lives are likely to feel embarrassed at learning something so completely different.” Elma is a devoted line dancer, and she’s a member of the Cycling Club and the Hiking Club. She also enjoys playing POP tennis whenever she can.
The Foxtrot: Timeless Charm, Grace, and Rhythm
Dan Plattner
Dale and Ann Pizzitola, our resident professional ballroom dancers, will again be teaching beginning and intermediate Foxtrot classes in December.
The foxtrot originated in the United States in the early 20th century and is believed to have its roots in ragtime dances. Named after Harry Fox, a vaudeville entertainer who developed a style of trotting to ragtime music, it is characterized by long, continuous movements and unique trotting dance steps.
Classes will be held in the MountainView ballroom on Sundays and Tuesdays starting Dec. 1. Beginner class will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday and 5 p.m. on Tuesday, and intermediate classes will follow at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Registration is required, so sign up on our website sbballroomdance.com or by email to [email protected]. The Vermilion Room at the SaddleBrooke One clubhouse is available Mondays and Fridays from 4 to 6 p.m. for practice.
New to Dancing? Little or No Experience? Two Left Feet? Try Our Novice Program
Designed especially for those not ready for the main ballroom, Dale and Ann will introduce you to some basic steps and patterns in several ballroom dances. This program is an enormous success, and many dancers got their feet wet in our novice program before hitting the main stage. The Dec. 4 class will focus on the waltz and swing, with foxtrot and rumba being taught on Dec. 11. Classes are held in the DesertView Mariposa Room from 4 to 5 p.m. These classes are free. You do not have to be an SBDC member, but please register on our website with your name and the classes you wish to attend.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Practice makes perfect, and SBDC has many opportunities for you to work on and perfect the steps and patterns taught in our classes. Check out the Vermilion Room at SaddleBrooke One most every Monday and Friday from 4 to 6 p.m. and plan to join us for a supervised novice practice session on Wednesday, Dec. 18, in the Mariposa Room at 4 p.m.
Holiday Gala
Get your glad rags on and be ready to have some fun. Join us on Friday, Dec. 13, at 5 p.m. for our gala dinner dance held in the MountainView ballroom. Please check our website for information.
A Parting Thought
Several countries have studied ballroom dancing and found it is one of the top activities for brain plasticity, so heck of a bonus in addition to some low-impact body movement. And there is always the fun! Our mantra is, “Make new friends, learn new things, and increase your zest for life.” SaddleBrooke Ballroom Dance Club is where the learning continues, and the fun never ends.