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Dancing in Cinco
GIRARD
USA Dance Youngstown-Warren Chapter 2015 kicked off today’s Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo with a lively Monday night dance.
The organization, in collaboration with dance instructor Teresa Flora of Latin American Ballroom in Boardman, sponsored a free salsa dance lesson at Kuzman’s Lounge, 1025 S. State St., with Latin music, chips and salsa — and fun.
“Our chapter does a lot of outreach activities,” said Susan Ryan, president of USA Dance Youngstown-Warren Chapter.
The “fifth of May” event started with open dancing. Peggy Christy of Sebring and her friend John Himes of Poland were among the first to hit the dance floor.
Christy said she started taking lessons under Flora last year.
“I’m here to learn some more,” she said.
Coordination took its turn, when Flora started salsa dance lessons as guests lined up — women on one side and men on the other.
“Men always start on the left foot. Women start on the right,” she said while instructing them.
Flora then taught three different steps of one of Latin America’s popular dances.
“Dancing is still on the high swing,” said Flora, who started dancing at 16.
Among the more than 30 guests who attended the event were Marcella Stubbs of Austintown and Kevin Ellerbe of Liberty.
“I’m a newbie,” Stubbs said, adding that she’s looking for dance opportunities.
On the other hand, Ellerbe has done a variety of dances over the past five years, including modern and hip-hop.
“I have a particular love for salsa dancing,” he said. “It’s a fun, diverse exercise.”
Ellerbe said he’d love to see more people from the community participate in similar activities.
Founded in 1965, USA Dance is a national nonprofit run by volunteers promoting ballroom and Latin dancing as both a social activity and a competitive sport. The Youngstown-Warren Chapter has monthly dances with a lesson before the dance, which are open to the public. Each month has a different instructor.
Flora also was an instructor at one of the monthly dances at the Orthodox Center, 1025 N. Belle Vista Ave., in Youngstown in February.
“So far, we had a good response,” she said.
The chapter will host its next monthly dance with waltz lessons at the Orthodox Center at 5 p.m. May 17.