Added on April 11, 2016 Sara Swanson

Community dance shakes the rafters Saturday night!

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Dance! Manchester's April dance was a square and reels dance called by Banjo Jim with live music by the Blue Water Ramblers. They have one dance left in this series coming up the second Saturday in May.

Dance! Manchester’s April dance was a square, reel, circle and line dance called by Banjo Jim with live music by the Blue Water Ramblers. There is one dance left in this series coming up the second Saturday in May.

Saturday Night Dance! Manchester held its second-to-last dance of the season in the Emanuel Gym with live music by Michigan folk band Blue Water Ramblers and square, reel, circle and line calling by Banjo Jim.

While organizers worried that attendance may be low because of spring break, the gym was full of more than 30 dancers by the end of the 1/2 hour beginners instruction period, and more dancers filtered in every few minutes after that. The dance had a good balance of men and women and organizers provided ties for women to wear when the numbers were off.

There were quite a few new faces and Banjo Jim provided a lot of instruction at the beginning. When moves didn’t go as planned, no one got grouchy; instead dancers broke down in peals of giggles. One first-time dancer stated, “It’s not hard! If I can do it, anyone can.”

If you have been waiting to try it, you have one more chance this season. Dance! Manchester will be holding a dance on May 14th from 7:30 to 10 pm in the Emanuel Gym at 324 West Main Street. Marlin Whitaker will be calling and there will be live music by Stouthearted String Band. Dance instruction for beginners will be from 7:30-8 pm. Organizers ask for $5 suggested donation at the door.

Dance, Manchester! is a monthly dance held here in Manchester with the goal of spreading the joy of dancing as well as its music, its camaraderie, and its invigorating effect on the individual and the community. With sponsorship and support of 5 Healthy Towns through the Manchester Wellness Coalition, they scheduled nine dances in the 2015 – 2016 season. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, you can contact organizers Patty Swaney, Eileen Parker and Jeannie Armstrong by emailing Eileen at etparker@comcast.net. Keep up with the group by liking them on Facebook HERE.