Sorta Dancin with the Stars

Description

Dancing with the Stars features dancers of all ages doing a variety of dances.

“Sorta Dancin’ with the Stars,” a program offered by the LSSE department, replicates the television show right here in Amherst.

“Instead of learning just one dance in a class, this offers a sampling. Dancers will learn the basic steps of a variety of dances,” said Jacqueline Maidana, who has taught dance classes for LSSE for over 20 years.

Maidana will introduce a new dance every other week in the class that runs from March 27 through May 15 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Bangs Center.

The class will begin with the Ballroom Waltz then twirl on to the Fox Trot, Swing, Latin and ending with the Polka. The initial skills of each will be reinforced with further practice in the ensuing weeks.

Maidana began dancing at an early age. “I was a city kid. You weren’t anybody if you didn’t know how to dance. We all taught each other and we watched Dick Clark’s American Bandstand,” said Maidana, who also watches“So You Think You Can Dance.”

She studied with professional dancers and brought the Argentine Tango, which is her specialty, to the Pioneer Valley in 1992. The tango community is alive and well, said Maidana, who teaches two classes in the genre for LSSE. She also plays Argentine tango music on her Valley Free Radio program that airs on Wednesdays at noon.

The class offers more that learning how to dance. “Dancing is fabulous exercise and a wonderful social experience. People meet wonderful people on the dance floor,” according to Maidana.Studies show it’s healthful, can maintain flexibility and is good for the heart. And it’s good to learn something new. It gives the brain elasticity and you’re mentally more active, she said.

“And dancing is fun, fun, fun,” said Maidana, who also teacher Swing, Salsa and Merengue classes.

For those who want to continue the beat, Maidana offers a Salsa and Merengue dance class Tuesdays from March 27 to May 15 from 6:30 to 7:30 at the Bangs Center.

For information or to register call 259-3065 or visist:www.lsse.org