Life is good with line dancing

Line dancing is a dynamic way to stay in shape, both in body and mind. Though what comes to mind for most people is a group of thirty or so individuals forming three or four rows to do Electric Slide, line dancing is a way to open new doors to health and happiness in life.

Line dancing is a dynamic way to stay in shape, both in body and mind. Though what comes to mind for most people is a group of thirty or so individuals forming three or four rows to do Electric Slide, line dancing is a way to open new doors to health and happiness in life.

While even learning the Electric Slide, can be a challenge for the person who has never tried to fall into step with others, it is just a shadow of the complexity of steps. Still, the appeal of line dancing for many people is its relative simplicity for beginners with the promise of easily attaining the next level.

Adrienne Hart, who has been teaching all levels of line dancing at La Mesa Adult Enrichment Center for 20 years, has watched this happen with her own students.

Her students particularly love the Latin music and upbeat songs. Some of their current favorites are “Key Largo” with the cha-cha step, “Imelda’s Way” and “Something in the Water.”

“They also love dances that challenge them. If I am teaching a particularly complicated dance, I tell them that is one of our ‘Alzheimer’s’ prevention’ dances.  That always gets a big laugh,” Hart said.

In truth, line dancing is one of the suggested activities by the Alzheimer Association to help prevent the disease.

Cathie Lopez, who teaches line dance at the Lakeside Community Center, gives the lessons with that in mind, too.

Last month, she was one of the instructors at an all-day workshop for beginner and intermediate dancers. She called out the steps to the people learning a dance for the first or second time.

“You have to use both your mind and your body to line dance. It’s the perfect thing to fight dementia and Alzheimer’s,” Lopez said, leading the students in a series of turns and steps.

John Greenwood, president of San Diego ‘N’ Line Dancers, suggests that people new to line dance take lessons at a beginner class once a week and practice.

“Don’t give up. If you learn one or two dances a week, you will soon be able to dance many at your favorite venue,” he said.

A new dancer need not be worried about being stuck with one line dance or song.

“If there is a popular song, there is probably at least one line dance choreographed to it,” Greenwood said.

The camaraderie among people learning line dance keeps them coming back. Kimberly Sather, who started eight years ago, wanted to learn line dance partly for the fun and the music. She ended up getting a lot more out of it than she ever thought she would.

“I get a good aerobic workout, I learn and perfect different techniques, dances and steps, and I have fellowship with really nice caring people,” Sather said.

Sather has worked with many different teachers, learning something new each time from them. But Lopez is one of her favorite teachers.

“She is a wonderful teacher and so encouraging. I was very shy when I started dancing and only went to classes. She encouraged me to take her class at the Wagon Wheel on Thursdays in a club I was horrified at first to dance in a club in public but got over that and meet such wonderful friends there,” Sather said.

Lopez also encouraged Sather to join the SDNLD for its workshops and a social each month, usually in Balboa Park.

One of the biggest surprises for Sather is how much she enjoyed performing this year with SDNLD, particularly at the San Diego County Fair.

To prepare, Sather took as many classes as she could, dancing four times a week.

“We danced over 20 dances in one hour at the fair. It was huge for me to perform like that,” she said. 

San Diego ‘N’ Line Dancers also has a dance-ready team with whom she has performed. Last month they put on a show for the Special Olympics in El Cajon.

“It was fun and we got to teach the audience how to dance and have them participate with us, giving back to the community,” she said.

For anyone who has made line dancing a part of their lives, new doors to friendships have opened. In fact, Lopez is one of Sather’s dearest friends.

“She is a blessing in my life that opened doors,” Sather said of Lopez.

To get a look-see into line dancing, check out the Concerts on the Promenade in El Cajon every Friday evening. A faithful group of dancers, many from Diane Rojas’ class at the Foothills Adult Center, line up in two or three rows and dance to everything from cha-cha tunes to rock ‘n roll.  

Patricia Alesi, who takes Intermediate Line Dance classes from Rojas, said that she gets a good exercise with line dancing.

“And I get to go to all kinds of places, and make lots of friends,” Alesi said.

Hart added that dancing is great for health and happiness. 

“You don’t need a partner, so everyone can enjoy dancing,” Hart said.

Hart’s class at the Adult Enrichment Center takes place every Monday, from 11:15 to 12:45. She will also teach line dance lessons in El Cajon at Infinity Dance & Performing Arts studio at 580 Broadway beginning Sept. 9, on Wednesdays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon.

Rojas’ classes begin soon for both beginners and more advanced students. Register for her classes at www.adultschool.guhsd.net.

For information about SDNLD, go to www.sdnld.org.