BY ANDREW FRASER

Every Monday (except County holidays) from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., all are welcome to free ballroom dancing and lessons at the Betty Ehart Senior Center Center.  It is a Los Alamos County Activity organized by Terry Goodwin and Selmo Jaramillo.  Every month we focus on a particular ballroom dance, and in September is American Smooth Foxtrot.

Foxtrot is a smooth, progressive dance characterized by long, continuous flowing movements across the dance floor.  The dance is similar in its look to waltz, although the rhythm is in a 4/4 time signature instead of 3/4.  From the late 1910s through the 1940s, the foxtrot was the most popular fast dance, and the vast majority of records issued during these years were foxtrots. You can dance foxtrot to 21st century music from artists like Club des Belugas and Michael Buble.  Often known as a good “Party Dance”, dancers can maneuver easily and gracefully on a crowded dance floor.

From 7 p.m. to 7:15 p.m. we will be playing foxtrot music so that as folks arrive they can dance or watch.  From 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m., instructors will teach a lesson.  Then from 8:15 p.m. till closing at 9 p.m., we will play a mix of music for various ballroom dances.  Both the instructors and the dances change every month.  Clark Davis is the instructor for September.

The Monday night Ballroom community is friendly and always welcomes beginners.  Each lesson will contain some basics.  However, the moves taught will also build on previous lessons, so to get the most out of the class, it’s best to start coming on Monday Sept. 9.  Subsequent
sessions are Sept. 16, 23, and 30.

You never need to bring a partner because all dancers are encouraged to rotate partners.  It’s a great way to meet new people and improve your dancing at the same time.  While it’s at the Senior Center, younger people are welcome and many attend.

 Bring yourself, Shoes with little traction or leather soles if you have them.