COMMUNITY News:

Every Monday (except County holidays) from 7-9 p.m. everyone is 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 they focus on a particular ballroom dance, and in July the focus is West Coast Swing.

West Coast Swing is a social dance in which partners learn some basic moves, practice connecting with each other, and then are able to improvise with each other to make a unique dance. This style goes well

with a variety of music, including country, 90s rap, and modern pop songs. Whether your idea of “modern” is from the 80s or from last week, you can probably dance to West Coast Swing to some of your favorites.

From 7 to 7:15 p.m. they will be playing swing music so that as folks arrive they can dance or watch. From 7:15 to 8:15 p.m. the instructors will teach a lesson. Then from 8:15 till closing at 9 they will play a mix of music for various ballroom dances.  Both the instructors and the dances change every month. Dr. Madeline Bolding is the instructor for July and is a staff scientist in B division at LANL. She comes from Holcomb Kansas.

Beginners are always welcome and 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 July 1. Subsequent lessons are July 8, 15, 22 and 29.

Partners are never needed 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.

Here are the details:

• What: West Coast Swing dance lessons and ballroom dancing.
• Where: Betty Ehart Senior Center at 1101 Bathtub Row.
• When: Mondays 7-9 p.m, July 1, 8, 15, 22 and 29.
• Instructor: Madeline Bolding.
• To Bring: Yourself. No partner necessary. Shoes with little traction or leather soles if you have them.