Line Dance
Where could you line dance every day and all day,
seven days a week? Vivienne Scott reveals all.
The Villages In Florida started in the Jean hosts a covered-dish dance party for
Seventies thanks to a certain Mr. Schwartz the guests, instructors and her dancers
way back in the 70s. He wanted to build the evening before the Festival. Those
the perfect retirement community; Villages dancers sure know how to cook as
one that would enable retirees from all well as dance! Then the workshop starts
walks of life to live healthy active lives at 10 the next morning taking place in
pursuing their interests. Acres of land Laurel Manor which is more like a posh
were acquired in central Florida and Mr hotel than a Recreation Centre. This year
Schwartz started building homes. Initially Bill McGee from Orlando joined me to
it was hard going, but eventually others teach. Bill is a very popular instructor and
began to see the merits of his dream choreographer. The dancers thoroughly
and today, over 60,000 people make The enjoyed his sense of fun and his warm,
Villages their home. approachable manner. Between us we
taught a mix of dances that we hoped
The Villages is made up of a number of would give everyone of all levels a
Villages all of which have their own character chance to dance. In the afternoon, we
and their own golf courses, recreation were treated to an excellent routine by
centres, swimming pools and so on. All the ‘Sweet & Sassy Villages Line Dance
of them are beautifully designed and Team’ ably led by Christine Bass of ‘Beer
maintained. At the same time there For My Horses’ fame. The volunteers
are larger amenities that serve the were terrific and were there early in the
entire community. Altogether there are morning, cheerful and ready for anything.
28 swimming pools, 23 Executive golf The dancers were well looked after and
courses, eight championship courses, they were indeed up for fun.
in fact recreational facilities galore. In
addition there are clubs for people with But let me tell you a little more about Line
interests such as cycling, chess, figure dancing in general at The Villages. There
drawing, philosophy, photography, you is a class to suit most. I visited two ultra
name it, they’ve got it, over 1000 clubs! beginner classes, one taught by Jean and
the other by Margaret Koll, and there
But one of the most amazing thing (for were over 200 dancers in each class,
me anyway) is that The Villages is a a number often repeated in other ultra
Line dancing paradise with instructors beginner classes. The instructors are very
who attract hundreds of dancers to their thorough in teaching the basic steps so
classes. I discovered this little bit of heaven that everyone is comfortable. They teach
over the last four years of my visits, three very simple dances to songs that everyone
of which were to teach at Jean Brewer’s enjoys, and then constantly review them.
Line Dance Festival. This last Festival Then dancers who want to go a little
(09) was sold out with 180 dancers, further go to different classes for the next
including a number who registered from level, and then to intermediate classes. All
outside The Villages – word had spread! classes have healthy numbers of attendees
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