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Dance opportunities abound in the region--from salsa to hand dancing and more! Date published: 7/10/2008
BY SHAYNA JACOBS
To the sound of the guitar played by Carlos Santana, Kevin Tisdale and Dana Martin glided and swayed hand-in-hand at Ticker's Coffee shop. "It's really pretty to watch," Pablo Cuadrado, Ticker's owner said from behind the cashier's counter. The pair flowed down a wooden aisle that divides the floor, first to the Latin guitar legend, then to a faster R&B riff. The instructors at Smoother Than Smooth, a Fredericksburg outpost of Washington hand-dance group Smooth & EZ, were performing a demo as about 20 students prepped for their turns to get their moves on. Tisdale's class meets Saturdays for beginners and intermediates. "It's a very mature atmosphere," Tisdale said. "People just come in to have fun." Hand dance--derived from flapper-era Harlem club inspiration--has a scene in Washington, which branched to parts of Maryland and Virginia, but was lacking in the Fredericksburg area until two years ago, Tisdale said. He said he now has students in the area from all walks of life, including teachers, professors, government employees and ministers. There are about 30 people per class on average, Tisdale guessed, though women make up the majority. "Most classes are full of women and we're just fighting to find some men," Tisdale said. "But that's how it is throughout hand dancing." A recent graduate of the program, Bill Brock, warned Tisdale beforehand that he had no rhythm. "I sat on the wall my entire life watching everyone else twirl around," Brock said. Brock was looking for an activity to share with his wife of 17 years, and Tisdale told him he could be taught technique. "I stuck it out and had a blast. I wasn't about to quit," Brock said. Brock, who said he lost 25 pounds during the classes, was glad to find something local that he and his wife could enjoy. "I made a lot of really great friends and I found a network there I really enjoyed," he said. Though the current 15-week session started June 7, Tisdale said he has allowed exceptions up to five weeks late. Sept. 13 is this year's last class. SPICY FRED NIGHTS "Attitude, c'mon!" Abby Toro told her students to get lower and shake harder as the Latin rhythms intensified. "You have seven minutes left," said a doorman.
Date published: 7/10/2008
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