Shakin' the Tail Feathers at South County Dance Club
Jan 18, 2007 By
"Remember, it's the rock step that's crucial," reminds ballroom dance instructor Jason Esswein to his students in the South County Dance Club last Thursday evening at the Gilroy Health and Fitness Gym.
"Triple, triple, walk, walk, flick down, flick down ... follow with a rock step!"
The couples of the South County Dance Club come to learn new steps, have a date night, and work up a good sweat.
When invited by my friend Gale Kraft, I had in mind to bring my husband, but scheduling conflicts arose and I felt like the wallflower hanging around learning the man's part.
Jason took pity on me every few dance rounds and patiently corrected my urge to lead (a little bossy, I am).
Jason's regular dance partner, Sheila Lillie, graciously complimented my attempts at the East Coast Swing choreography and I soaked up the positive feedback.
Positively in love with ballroom dancing, Mike and Teresa Lawson of Morgan Hill have been taking lessons with Esswein for three years in San Jose, but now have a better commute since the formation of the South County Club.
"The benefit of the 8pm start time of the class allows us to come home from work, take a breath, then head out to class and have fun," Mike explains.
Shirley Manning and Mark Shipplett both gush over finding such a wonderful instructor in town while Roy and Rita Garcia claim, "He (Esswein) makes it fun and easy. He makes you feel successful."
Esswein wants his students to be successful and loves the challenge of teaching men who claim they have two left feet to have confidence on the dance floor.
"If a person can march in place to a beat, they can learn to dance," claims Esswein. "It's interesting that as a licensed marriage and family counselor, I see couples dancing the way they communicate."
Whoa. Do I dance that critically?
Last Thursday night I saw no arguing over steps, just intense learning going on and by the time the last step was demonstrated by Jason of toe-heel-cross, toe-heel-cross the room exploded in applause for Jason and Sheila as the couples laughed and said, "OK, now really slow, please!"
Linda Spence and Jerry Little barely looked up to answer a few questions after the formal lesson was over, as Jerry was eager to teach Linda more steps and practice the evening's lesson.
It's a good thing for the couples of South County Jason took the bribe from his mother at age 15 to "try a few lessons of ballroom dancing."
Jason got his mom to sign his driver's permit form and found a new interest!
The second story window in the gym showed a curious young male face sweaty from the less coordinated sport of weight lifting looking down to see a room of couples determined to get in sync.
The song playing on the radio coming home from class last week appropriately urged, "I hope you dance."
A few from South County have heeded the call.
If you're interested in joining them the classes are ongoing every Thursday night starting at 8pm at the Gilroy Health and Fitness Gym.
The dance club's Web site at www.southcountydanceclub.com has more details.
In case you don't want to dance and just want to watch a lot of young, hardworking performers dance, check out John Bisceglie's "Soul Terrain" playing at the Gilroy High School Theater the next two weekends.
John's well-known twisted humor resonates throughout the production lead by a team of super-talented young on-stage Breakfast Club type personalities.
"Soul Terrain" tracks the burst-into-song adventures of stereotypical high school couples in a South County Beach Blanket Babylon genre.
Timely material includes a Taco Bell lettuce-entertain-you song and appearances by Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes impersonators with an surprise showing of their baby.
As Bisceglie explains, "It's a liquid performance, anything can happen."
The "can you feel the pain tonight" song was very funny for anyone who has ever suffered wearing an annoyingly uncomfortable prop either on-stage or at a Halloween party.
Bisceglie has a loyal following of South County families such as Lisa Coddington and her daughters Michele and Nicole; Doug and Patti McBane and their daughter Shannon; co-producer Holly Fargher and her son Josh Fargher; co-producer Judy McBrearty and her son Ryan; Cathy Mirelez; and especially his mother Nettie Bisceglie, who states, "We come to every show, sometimes more than once!"
Youngest cast member Thomas McCoy idolizes Bisceglie and plays his spider part with lots of wiggle.
Bisceglie has found a formula for making an audience laugh and his performers creating fun on stage.
When asked if he ever does anything serious Bisceglie responds, "Just my taxes!"
Ugh, that's coming soon to a dining room table near you.
Ciao for now.
Have an event coming up or a hot tip for Mary Anne? E-mail it to highsociety@gilroydispatch.com.
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