Ballroom dancing’s appeal stepping up

If you’re hooked on the hit television show, “Dancing with the Stars,” or have drooled over the sensual moves of Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez as they danced the tango in the 2004 movie, “Shall we Dance,” it’s easy to see why ballroom dancing is on the rise.

USA Dance is an organization supportive of all ballroom dance across the country, and has worked hard to get the sport of ballroom dance into the Olympics. Five years ago a Sandpoint chapter was born.

“John and Luise Peyton from Bonners Ferry had the idea to start it,” said Diane Peters, dance instructor. “Luise is from Germany and grew up dancing and wanted to bring it to the area.”

The group started out small, but has grown to a membership of 53 dancers, with approximately two-thirds couples and one-third singles. Ages vary from high school kids to people well into their 80s. Most who start ballroom dance lessons are beginners, and the instructors say it takes about six months to feel comfortable with all of the dances. Members learn everything from the classic ballroom waltz and fox trot to the more passionate Latin dances of the tango or mamba, to the increasingly popular salsa.

Ballroom dance used to bring to mind coming-out balls and cotillions. However, slipped into movies like “The Legend of Zorro,” where Antonio Banderas and Catherine Zeta-Jones had moviegoers breaking into hot flashes as they watched their sensual tango, many people yearn to give it a try.

“One neat thing about our dances is we have a free lesson at the beginning of them,” said Peters. “A total novice can come in and get a lesson, then stay for the dance. We bring in outside instructors all the time, and we have a beginner class and an intermediate class so all of the dancers have a good time.”

The majority of the dances are held at the log Sandpoint Community Hall at 204 S. First St. The lesson is from 7 to 8 p.m. the fourth Saturday of each month, followed by the dance, from 8 to 10. The dances are smoke and alcohol-free; cost is $10 for nonmembers and $8 for members.

“Some people have never danced before and some are really experienced,” said Peters. “But all of us who are experienced remember when we were brand new dancers. So we’re really open to new dancers and happy to have them, because we know how much fun they’ll have.”

Banderas in the 2006 movie, “Take the Lead,” struggles to teach inner-city high school kids confidence and respect through dance. Respected actors and actresses make the moves look easy and romantic on the big screen, and help contribute to the recent ballroom dance craze.

“We’re developing programs in the middle school and high school to teach children how to dance, and we’re getting a lot of interest from the parents,” said Peters. “Not only does it teach kids to dance, but they learn etiquette and how to treat each other. Our goal is to start them out in fifth grade and keep them interested through high school, and hopefully college.”

But, what makes someone take the leap to learn ballroom dance?

“My guess is the female part of the couple dragged some guy there,” says Dwight Sheffler, current president and longtime member. “She wants to learn how to dance, and so he’s kind of put on the spot. What usually happens is they come in and take a lesson, then get confused again and can’t remember a thing about what they learned. We want to make them aware that one dance lesson does not a dancer make.”

Learning to dance well takes time and practice. The members of Sandpoint USA Dance want people to come committed to sticking it out and learning the moves.

“I’m hoping for our community that dance will get back to the way it was when I was growing up,” said Sheffler. “I was lucky enough to grow up with parents who belonged to the Elks Club, which had big dances. I grew up around dancing so I’ve always been comfortable with it. For many years it seemed like dancing was almost lost. Now people watch ‘Dancing with the Stars,’ and wish they could do it. I want to see dancing get back to the way it use to be when people didn’t have to learn how, because they already knew. That’s one of my personal goals.”