Dancing the night away

Dancers at the Sunday night event ranged from 16 to 80 years of age.

By HAROLD GWIN

VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER

YOUNGSTOWN — “Gentlemen, you are in control,” Chuck Hurd announced, drawing chuckles from exactly one-half of the half-dozen couples assembled before him at the Ukrainian Orthodox Center on North Belle Vista Avenue.

“The only time in your life,” Hurd added, acknowledging that it was the men in the group who laughed at the thought that they were in charge of their female dance partners.

The couples were getting some tutoring in the cha-cha from Hurd, president of Chapter 2015 of USA Dance, Youngstown Warren Ballroom Dance Association, before Sunday’s monthly evening of ballroom dance sponsored by the group.

There are 175 registered members and, on any given dance night, between 70 and 90 people show up, Hurd said.

“We have them from rank walkers to some pretty advanced dancers,” he said.

Most are middle-aged, but some, like Helen First, are a bit older. The 80-year-old Boardman woman has been a member of the group for years.

“I’ve always loved dancing,” she said as she quickly took her place in the dance line for some tutoring.

Others are considerably younger.

Mike Chiovitti, 16, of Boardman, showed up with his mother, Mary Chiovitti, who has been a member of the dance group for a couple of years.

Mike, a sophomore at Boardman High School, said it was “curiosity” that prompted him to accompany his mother to Sunday’s event. He wasn’t sure if it would be a one-shot deal for him, explaining, “It depends on how I like it.”

Mike considers himself a good dancer, although ballroom is something new for him.

Mary said she’s danced everything from country to ballroom, and her favorite is the cha-cha. Actually, she likes “anything Latin — it’s infectious.”

Not everyone needs a partner.

Former school teacher Marty Brenner of Poland uses a walker to get around these days but said that hasn’t stopped her from enjoying her membership with the dance group.

She began dancing in 1982, taking lessons and entering amateur competitions around the country, dancing in contests from Canada to Las Vegas and New Orleans, she said.

“It’s marvelous fun,” she said, adding that she still comes to the monthly events.

“I dance with this,” she said, motioning toward her walker. “I move around the edges [of the dance floor],” she said, getting up to demonstrate some of her moves.

Dancing is an excellent fitness workout, Mary Chiovitti said, and Hurd agreed.

“Healthwise, it helps everything,” he said.

Ballroom dancing has been reported to be helpful in dealing with Alzheimer’s disease because the routines are a good workout for the brain as well as the body, Hurd said, adding that his organization has recently formed a partnership with a local Alzheimer’s support group to provide dance instruction.

USA Dance Chapter 2015 also sponsors the weekly Dance Club for students at Youngstown State University and organizes the annual March Ballroom Madness, which takes ballroom dancing into local high schools. This year, the program will be held at Boardman and John F. Kennedy high schools on March 1, 8 and 15.

gwin@vindy.com