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FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | SEPTEMBER 2021 49 Country Line Dancing In Mid-August, our class took a short trip to the Branding Iron Nightclub in San Bernardino. The DJ played some of our favorite music and we danced for hours. It was fun to be out and about after all the months stuck inside. Their instructor taught us a new dance with 48 steps. Needless to say, some of us got some of it and a few got all of it, but it will take more review in class to conquer this one. All of the dancers continue to improve and advance their dancing skills. Each class and each dancer moves at their own pace. One person catches on very quickly and another may struggle on a step or dance for weeks. I am always willing to repeat because none of us were born knowing how to dance or knowing all the steps. Once you catch on, it is an Ah-Ha moment and you wonder why you had so much trouble with it. Doug and Cathe Streuber have been teaching us a line dance tango. It is taking time, but after three to four weeks we are learning it and it is fun! Elizabeth and Phillip Westbrook often bring us new dances they learn at the Branding Iron. Learning new dances is so good for our brains and such great exercise. Besides, have you ever listened to country music? Did you pay any attention to the lyrics? Some are so sad it almost makes you cry, some so inspiring and uplifting, and some are very romantic, but a lot of them are funny. They all tell a story; some we can relate to and others just bring a smile to your face and make you laugh. All music helps us to relax. So turn on your music, dance and relax. If you have ever thought of learning how to line dance, stop in and try or just watch to see if it might be for you. You never know if it just might be your thing. ~ Martha Franck, marthafranck@icloud. com, (714) 345-8588 Step It Up Line Dancing The Lodge is now open until 10 pm so we can go all night long…well maybe back in the day we could have, but we can still get out and have fun, which is an accomplishment! We will be dancing to everything from basic beginner dances like Electric Slide and Billie Jean to more advanced dances that we've learned over the last few months. Everyone is welcome and all types of dancing are encouraged. Come join us, and either dance with us, or just bring your dinner and drink of choice and watch what our class has learned. Last month we learned "The Stroll" for those of you that remember this dance. It was fun to watch everyone stroll down the center lane. This was one of the first line dances ever created. We've also learned many new dances since we've started back up in April, and it's been so much fun getting together with our "friends/family" that we have all become. I really enjoy helping people who have never tried line dancing before, so I have started a new night time class on Wednesdays at 6:30 pm in the Ballroom. This class is designed for those who work or can't make the daytime classes for whatever reason. It's a basic beginner class for those who are just starting out. You are more than welcome to contact me if you have any questions or need additional information about the class. You can contact me at (949) 326-3133. ~ Janine Rohrbacker Let's Dance! During the early to mid-1900s, many, if not most, of the dances we do today were created and popularized. Although having deep roots in the past, our dances are relatively recent inventions. And dances changed even as they migrated across our country from east to west. Latin music is the sound of the streets and barrios. It's about rhythm and syncopation. You can't help but move to the beat. So, this month we offer the following dances for your pleasure. MAMBO: Although it has earlier origins, it was made popular by the Cuban musician Pérez Prado in the 1940s. Then, starting in New York in the 1950s, it swept all through the United States. SALSA: The hot dance, not the hot sauce! Popularized in the 1960s in New York City, it combines flavors of Mambo, Rumba, Pachanga and maybe even a little swing and tap. MERENGUE: You eat meringue, you dance Merengue. It's a mixture of African and French dances, starting in the early 1800s and originating in the Dominican Republic. It also incorporates elements of other Latin dances. Although we do a different dance each month, we soon discover that there are similar steps and moves we can use in many dances, and the dances become easier, more comfortable, and more fun as we go. Ballroom on Mondays: Beginners 6 pm, review 6:45 pm, advanced 7:15 pm. $10 per person. Information: Gary and Puring Stifter, (951) 922-8335, or purings@verizon.net. ~ Willis Fagan Heart & Soul Line Dance Heart and Soul Line Dance meets Wednesdays, 4 to 6 pm, in The Lodge Ballroom. It is a mixed level class, easier dances used at the beginning slowly changing the complexity of the dances that move us through dance levels. We use a variety of music that can satisfy everyone's taste, all the steps are broken down, and dances are repeated as we continue to incorporate new dances. Come on out and give us a try. If you have any questions, contact Priscilla Robles at (909) 239-6464. See you all on the dance floor! ~ Priscilla Robles

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