Kicking up their heels in Arden

Feb 10, 2011

Photo: members of Arden's Line Dancing groupA group of ladies in Arden start their week by kicking up their heels every Monday morning at the Kennebec Hall - and it’s nothing new. The Arden Line Dancers have been stepping together in unison for the last 17 years.

The group was started by three transplants to the Arden community, Audrée Tompkins, Shirley Menyes and Diane Nicolson, who were looking for a bit of regular fun and fitness. The three began by first attending Beryl and Brenda Garrett’s line dancing group in Sharbot Lake. They soon tired of making the trip and decided to start their own Arden group. The Garrets came out to Arden to help the ladies get started and taught them a number of routines. The three took turns leading the Arden group until the late Rosie Wadham, who had been teaching line dancing in Florida for a number of years, took the helm and brought to the group a number of different dance routines that she perfected while down south. After Rosie passed away in 2010, Diane and Wanda Harrison, who joined the group back in 2006, have taken the lead.

When I attended the class on Feb. 7 Wanda took the group through a number of different routines. The routines are made up of about 20 different dance steps that include shuffles, vines, step digs, locks, cha-chas and polkas, the more tricky steps I am told are the jazz boxes, the lindys, fish tails and the scissors. Wanda begins each class by reviewing the individual steps and preceding each routine runs through all of the steps. Doreen Millar mans the boom box, which belts out and eclectic mix of big band oldies like the Bossa Nova, Puttin' on the Ritz, and Up a lazy River; classic pop like the Locomotion and Layla; and of course good old country tunes like Achy Breaky Heart plus a Scottish reel thrown in for good measure.

“The ladies seem to really enjoy the fitness and fun of it,” Wanda said. “It's good exercise and a really great way to start the week off. There is also a certain amount of fellowship and afterwards we usually will enjoy coffee and snacks and linger to catch up on all the local news - we usually spend as much time together after the class as we do during.”

Dancers range in age from 50 to 90 years old and each is encouraged to step at their own pace. While there is only one lone fellow in the group the ladies are in no way averse to male members and in its earlier years the group included a number of couples.

The groups welcomes new members, young and old, and each participant pays 25 cents per class to help pay costs. For those coming out for the first time Wanda recommends loose pants, rubber-soled shoes, and a loose fitting top. “Bringing water is also a good idea,” she said.

Sheila Duthie who has been attending the classes for years said, “I like the fact that the routines make you think as well as move. And if we happen to get mixed up we all have a good laugh about it.”

The Arden Line dancers meet every Monday at 9:30 am in Arden at the Kennebec hall.