After over three years of my leave of absence from teaching line dance, October marked the first month of my return to instruct a beginner class at the new Brookfield Scope Center. I’m happy to report that my students are a combination of people who have never taken line dance, to a few returning from a previous beginner class I taught, to others who (for some reason) have always wanted to take lessons from yours truly. During the first class, I explained that line dance has so many positive benefits, from the physical workout to the mental stimulation, and most importantly the social connection we all feel as dancers.
One of my students invited me to a “social dance” that was recently held at a senior center in nearby Hermitage, PA. They encouraged anyone who enjoys dance to attend; there were couples, line dancers, and freestyle groups. I noticed one of the ladies who looked familiar; when I introduced myself, she remembered me from my teaching days with Dance Center Studios, as I taught her daughter. Another lady commented that she recognized me from that same studio because her daughter and I were dance students together. It was heartwarming for me to chat with two different connections from those long-ago days and the ties that bind us to the present.
Later that same evening, I attended a Halloween line dance event in Prospect, PA. DJ Jake Curry, otherwise known as Stuck on Repeat Entertainment, definitely kept the dance floor packed and multiple groups of line dancers happy. There was line dance royalty in attendance, as Mark Paulino stopped in to check it out and dance. He is a well-known line dance choreographer who travels extensively. I told Jake’s wife Jordan that a dance Mark choreographed to the song “Body Like a Back Road” by Sam Hunt is one of my favorites. Jordan (of course) mentioned that to Mark and before I knew it, Jake announced both Mark and myself and played that song. It was an honor to dance alongside Mark; we were the only two on that large dance floor! Either no one else knew the dance, or they gave Mark and me the moment to shine.
Afterwards, a line dancer who I had noticed when I arrived came up to me. When she told me her name, I immediately remembered her from my dance classes at Dance Center Studios. I taught Mary for several years; I didn’t recognize her because she’s an adult now, but I told her that my eye was drawn to watch her because of her posture. I thought she looked like she had dance training; turns out, I was right! After all these years, Mary was so excited to see me and I felt the same way. She insisted on getting a picture of us so she could show her sisters and anyone else who took lessons from me. Talking with Mary sparked so many memories for both of us and the ties that bind us from the past to the present.
Here’s a link to the step sheet of the dance choreographed by Mark:
A Girl From The SouthSide – Mark Paulino (USA) – February 2017
Stay tuned for more line dance adventures as I attend other events!
