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Jews are joining
the throngs
who are learning
to swing, tango
and waltz.

WAN

O

* a t

LYNNE MEREDITH COHN
StaIT Writer

•

Chuck Kellner tangos
with Carol son at
Stardust Ballroo?n

he music starts. Light, tropi-
cal tunes lull listeners into
relaxation. It's like a slow
seduction: careful steps,
coordination, rhythm. People can't
help smiling when they dance.
_ "I want to see some hip move-
ments," instructor Cindy Geralds
yells, and a beguiling rumba rumbles
from the speakers. The music is slow
and happy, like a summer's day. The
dancers seem to melt into it.
Feet are moving and the dancers
count silently: 1-2-3, a graceful spin,
right, left, hips sway, start again, 1-2-
3 ...
Out on the parquet in front of mir-
rored walls, dancers build self-confi-
dence with each choreographed step.
Out on the floor in front of everyone,
the moves help them feel good about
themselves.
Whether they're learning to tango
for an upcoming wedding or dancing
for exercise and socializing,
people are signing up for for-
mal dance lessons in metro
Detroit. They're even invit-
ing dance instructors to
teach tricky steps at private
parties.
Dancing provides a total
body workout because it
focuses on the key aspects of
physical fitness: cardiovascular,
flexibility, strength and power,
balance and coordination.
Dancing is growing in popu-
larity partly due to trendy line
dances — like the hustle or
macarena — that don't require
a partner.
Among Jewish Detroiters,
dancing is slowly catching on.
Ruth and Dr. David L. Edgar,
Ruth and David Edgar s rted danc- who signed up at Stardust
ing _fir their children's weddings, and Ballroom to learn to "cut a
rug" at their children's upcom-
keep doing it because they love it.
ing weddings, say most people

3/6
1998

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