By Gary Bennett
You should be dancing—yeah! The Bee Gees sang those words back in the disco-crazed late 1970s, and boy, were they right! I can confirm what you probably already know: Dancing is a terrific aerobic and mental workout and a lot of fun, too.
Not to get too technical, but a large body of research touts numerous health benefits to dancing:
- Boosts cardiovascular health
- Builds core strength
- Promotes flexibility
- Helps with weight loss
- Assists with bone health
- Helps to prevent memory loss
- Promotes good mental health
- Minimizes stress
- Enhances a feeling of social connection
Of course, health benefits will vary according to the type of dancing you do. Slow dancing is still great for those non-physical benefits but won’t do much for the more physical items.
Not a dancer? Here’s the good news: it’s never too late to start. And no one will care what you look like doing it.
Sure, you can just get out there and shake around a bit like we all did in high school. That can be a lot of fun and a good workout, too. But for the more adventurous among us, why not wow the crowd and learn a few coordinated moves with a partner?
As you might expect, Frederick is well-served by dance studios and other organizations to help you get dancing. Sign up for a class and in no time, you’ll be impressing others in public—or yourself in the privacy of your home.
If my wife and I can do it for our 40th wedding anniversary, you can do it, too.
Depending on your level of experience, you will likely need anywhere from three to nine lessons to feel confident learning the rhythm, timing of the music, the dance steps, how to lead or follow and more complex moves like spins, dips, and potentially a lift (if you’re feeling daring!) My wife and I polished off a pretty simple routine combining swing and hustle steps in six easy lessons, plus we practiced some at home, too, but not too much.
The easiest dances to learn are the waltz, foxtrot, swing, rhumba, and cha cha. Most reputable dance instructors will be able to discern what you want to accomplish and your ability level quickly. Start with a song you want to dance to and go from there. We chose to learn a dance that worked for the song “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” from the movie Dirty Dancing and had no regrets.
There is wisdom in that adage “dance like no one is watching.” Of course, it helps if you have confidence and a few moves to show off.
The following organizations do not comprise an exhaustive list, but they all offer adult dance classes, and I considered them all in my quest to impress. Keep in mind that many Frederick-area dance studios specialize in children’s dance or a specific type of dance such as belly, ballet, pole, or aerial. Those studios are not listed here.
City Rec Department
Go with the City for a more casual dance experience and to drop in as needed. Salsa, swing, line, jazz and tap classes will be taught at the Talley Rec Center on Bentz Street over six weeks beginning in January. Classes are held in the evenings Sunday through Wednesday. Prices range from $35 to $75 per session.
YMCA
The Y offers classes in ballet, tap, ballroom and hip-hop. Go with ballroom dancing to get you onto the floor quickly. No prior experience is needed. Classes typically run one hour and are offered on various days in the afternoon and evening. Monthly memberships for adults start at about $50 per month.
24/7 Dance Studio
This studio on Prospect Boulevard offers adult classes in hip-hop, tap, contemporary, ballet and jazz. Contemporary is the one you’ll want for dancing to pop or rock music. Classes are held on various days and range from half hour to 75-minutes. Most classes are based on a 32-week season and start at roughly $70 per session.
Dance Unlimited
This studio on South Jefferson Street offers adult classes in tap, ballet, jazz and hip-hop. Classes typically run a half hour to one hour and held in the evenings. Monthly payments range from $65 to $90. Total class time ranges from as little as two hours to nine hours or more. You can stop when you’ve met your goals.
Elite Feet
This studio on East Fourth Street offers adult classes in hip-hop and tap over six-week sessions. The adult classes are designed to provide a fun, safe space for adults to learn dance while also getting exercise. Prices range from $60 per month for half-hour classes to $80 per month for 90-minute classes. A full class schedule spans 32 weeks.
Ballroom Dance of Frederick
This studio on Grove Road specializes ballroom dancing’s two styles: American and International. American style is both social and competitive. International style is more focused on competition but can also be enjoyed socially. They offer a structured dance experience that moves through levels from basic to very advanced. They also have their own dance club. Contact them for specific pricing at 301-662-1602 or ballroomdanceinfrederick@verizon.net.
Fred Astaire Dance Studios
This studio on Pegasus Court near the Westview Promenade shopping area is the one my wife and I patronized and the one I recommend. They are the most complete and customized studio. They tailor their offerings to your needs and goals. They offer adults-only classes and one-on-one instruction in wedding and ballroom dances, including foxtrot, waltz, tango, salsa, merengue, hustle swing, cha cha, rhumba, samba and jive. They offer competitive dance events and their own dance parties.
Take advantage of the introductory offer of $50 per couple for two lessons. Afterwards, one-hour sessions run you about $100 per session, but you can stop at any time.
Where to dance?
Once you’ve got your moves down, you’ll need a place to show them off. Technically, any venue that plays live or recorded music and has a dance floor is a good place to dance. Of course, it helps if others are dancing, too.
Here is a short list of bars, night clubs, social clubs, dance clubs and events in Frederick where you can shake your groove thing. Go to their websites for more information:
- AARCH Society Unity Ball, annually in October
- Alive at Five, summer on Carroll Creek, Frederick
- Anchor Bar, near FSK Mall, Frederick
- Bushwaller’s, North Market Street, Frederick
- Café 611, North Market Street, Frederick
- Cellar Door, East Church Street, Frederick
- Community Living Gala, annually in September
- Delaplaine Annual Gala, annually in September or October
- Firestone’s, North Market Street, Frederick
- Frederick Ballroom Dance Club, West Frederick Street, Walkersville
- Frederick Eagles Club, West Patrick Street, Frederick
- Frederick Elks Club, Willowdale Road, Frederick
- Hurwitz Breast Cancer Fund Pink Ribbon Gala, annually in October
- Mental Health Association Gala, annually in April
- Mission of Mercy Gala, annually in September
- Monkey La La, (part of Avery’s Maryland Grille) Baltimore Road, Frederick
- New Thurmont Dance Club, (part of American Legion) Thurmont
- Old Towne Tavern, North Market Street, Frederick
- Orioles Nest, West Patrick Street, Frederick
- Owls Club, South Jefferson Street, Frederick
- Platoon 22 Red Tie Gala, annually in September
- Sass Choice Awards Gala at Tenth Ward Distillery, annually in September
Top Classic Dance Songs
These 25 songs are guaranteed to get you out of your chair and onto the dance floor. Ask your DJ to give them a spin. Not all at once, though!
1999 – Prince
All Night Long – Lionel Ritchie
Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
Brick House – Commodores
Celebration – Kool & The Gang
Dance to the Music – Sly & The Family Stone
Dancing Machine – Jackson 5
Dancing Queen – ABBA
Don’t Stop ‘Till You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
Flashdance – Irene Cara
I’m So Excited – Pointer Sisters
I Want to Dance with Somebody – Whitney Houston
Night Fever – Bee Gees
Play That Funky Music – Wild Cherry
Respect – Aretha Franklin
Rock the Boat – Hues Corporation
September – Earth, Wind & Fire
Shake Your Groove Thing – Peaches & Herb
Stayin’ Alive – Bee Gees
Thank You (Falettin Me Be Mice Elf Again) – Sly & The Family Stone
The Hustle – Van McCoy
The Twist – Chubby Checker
We Are Family – Sister Sledge
YMCA – Village People
You Should Be Dancing – Bee Gees