A number of dance enthusiasts didn't let a little snowy weather stop them from getting together for some ballroom dancing Saturday night. Some 80 people — mostly couples — assembled at the Boy's & Girl's Club in Pittsfield to take part in the first event of the newly formed Berkshire County chapter of the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, a non-profit, volunteer organization that governs amateur ballroom dancing in the United States.
"The famous Sal Cannavo" deejayed the dance, playing a varied mix of classic and contemporary hits from 7 to 11 p.m. The dance was held in an area of the building called the Light House, a ballroom that used to house high school dances 30 or 40 years ago. Some of the night's dancers, many from the baby boom generation, attended those dances as teenagers and now as married couples, said David A. Daunais, the coordinator of the Berkshire chapter. "I like to call it 'the romance
continues,' " he said.
The night was slated to begin with free beginners swing lessons from 7 to 7:30 p.m., but dance instructor Steve Dessereau, who teaches in Pittsfield and Albany, had to cancel because of the weather, as he had to travel from the Albany area.
From new Santana tunes to "I Will Survive," couples twirled around the dance floor of the Light House, which is the designated venue and "perfect spot" for the new chapter, Daunais said. Onlookers and dancers taking a break sat in chairs lining the dance floor and at tables — covered with tablecloths and small candles — on the balcony, which overlooks the dance area. A pleasant atmosphere permeated the Light House, its dance area somewhat dimly lit and adorned with small, white Christmas lights and a disco ball.
Two dance hosts — one of whom, Jolene Daunais, is the daughter of the chapter coordinator — were available for attendees without partners or for those who wanted to learn some new moves.
Although most of the dancers were from Berkshire County, there were also some from nearby New York, Franklin County in Massachusetts, and Vermont, Daunais said. He said double the number of people probably would've attended had the weather been better.
Albin and Bebe Rothermel, of Dalton, came out to dance for a number of reasons. They came to practice and for some exercise and aerobic activity. Besides that, ballroom dancing was something for them to do. "It's certainly a lot better than the barroom scene," said the couple who took up ballroom dancing three years ago. "There's only so many movies you can go to," added Mr. Rothermel.
The Rothermels said they had been looking forward to Saturday's dance, citing the lags between local ballroom events and the need to travel to New York to dance.
How the Berkshire chapter came to be
At a monthly dance Daunais has been attending for five or six years, Dessereau suggested starting up a Berkshire chapter of the U.S. Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association. Diane Sheldon, who is now a member of the chapter's steering committee, put the word out, and about 12 people attended the first meeting, deciding they would try to start a local chapter. At the second meeting, they decided they needed a coordinator and designated Daunais as the person to fill that role.
Daunais contacted the national chapter of the association, which sent him the guidelines for starting a new chapter. A new chapter needed a coordinator, a suitable dancing location and a deejay. Daunais, a Lanesboro resident who has been ballroom dancing for 2 1/2 years — a self-described "neophyte in the world of ballroom dancing" — looked at the basketball courts at both Berkshire Community College and the Boy's & Girl's Club before happily discovering the Light House, he said.
A chapter needs 25 members to become an official chapter, Daunais said, and the Berkshire one had 26 prior to the dance, which he attributes to word-of-mouth. Some people signed up at the dance, and many people took home applications, he said.
At the Boy's & Girl's Club, the Berkshire chapter will host one dance every month throughout the year. There will not be a dance next month, however, because of the holidays. The next dance is slated for Sunday, Jan. 19, he said.
For more information, contact Daunais at 499-1865 or 442-4688.
What is ballroom dancing?
Ballroom dancing is dancing performed with a partner in a ballroom, which is simply a large hall for dancing, Daunais said. Ballroom dances generally include 10 different types: waltz, fox trot, swing, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, merengue, samba, tango and hustle.
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Winter Storm Warning Issued for Berkshires
Another snowstorm is expected to move through the region overnight on Friday, bringing 5 to 8 inches of snow. This is updated from Thursday's winter weather advisory.
The National Weather Service in Albany, N.Y., has posted a winter storm warning for all of Berkshire County and parts of eastern New York State beginning Friday at 4 p.m. through Saturday at 1 p.m.
The region could see heavy to moderate snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour overnight, tapering off Saturday morning to flurries.
Drivers should exercise caution on Friday night and Saturday morning, as travel conditions may be hazardous.
Saturday night should be clear and calm, but warming temperatures means freezing rain Sunday night and rain through Monday with highs in the 40s. The forecast isn't much better through the week as temperatures dip back into the teens with New Year's Eve looking cloudy and frigid.
Many homeowners are showing their holiday spirit by decorating their houses. We asked for submissions so those in the community can check out these fanciful lights and decor when they're out.
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