WV DANCE, INC., (304-984-1939)

    

     There are several places to dance in West Virginia. 

 

Beckley

     If you're in the Beckley, Oak Hill, or Fayetteville areas, check out the Beckley West Virginia Chapter of USA DANCE, Inc. 

     You may also wish to note that ballroom dancing takes place on Friday evenings at Gilley's, located at 1126 Hancock Drive, Beckley.  The entrance to Hancock Drive is easy to miss, but it's right across the road from a Ford dealership.  On Friday evenings a beginner's class is offered from 7-8 p.m. and a class for intermediate dancers is held from 8-9 p.m.  General dancing takes place from 9-10 p.m. 

     For those of you who enjoy shag, check out the Beckley Shag Club's website at http://www.beckleyshagclub.com/.

Charleston

     Charleston West Virginia features many different ballroom dancing clubs including the Passepied Club, Latin Club, Academy Club, University Club, Charleston West Virginia Chapter of USA Dance, Inc., Quadrille Club, and Cotillian Club.

     Passepied Club

     The Passepied Club, pronounced "pass-pee-A", holds 10 dances throughout the its dance year which runs from September through June.  Dances are held on the second Saturday of each month between September and June, and dances take place from 8 p.m. until 11 p.m.  The location of each dance is the University of Charleston's Geary Ballroom which is located on the third floor of the University of Charleston's Student Union.  (Click here for a map of this location.)  Each dance features a live band and attire rotates between formal (tuxedos or dark suits for men), semi-formal (suits for men), and dressy casual (khakis with or without a jacket.) 

     Admission to Passepied Dances is $10/person for club members and $15/person for guests attending the dances.  Members as well as guests (with a sponsoring member) are welcome at each dance.  Annual dues to the Club are $60/couple or $30/single membership. 

     If you want to attend a Passepied Dance and are not yet a member of the club, you can attend as a guest of a member.  I am a member of the Passepied Club. 

     To join the Passepied Club, you must attend one dance as a guest of a current member, fill out a short, one page application for membership, pay an annual membership fee, and then be approved for membership by the Passepied Club's Board of Directors.  Membership applications are available at every Passepied Dance; therefore, if you attend a dance as a guest of a current member, you can pick up a membership application at the dance, fill it out, and give it to one of the Board members attending the dance so that the Board can consider your membership for the next dance.    

     If you need more information about attending or joining Passepied Club dances, please contact me. 

     Latin Club

     The Latin Club holds various dances during its dance year which runs from August to May.  Dances for this coming year will be on the following dates, at the noted times, and at the noted location (in parathenses): 

February 23, 2008 -- 7 p.m. - 10 p.m.  (Berry Hills Country Club)

May 4, 2008 -- 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. (Berry Hills Country Club)

     Only dances of Latin origin, including the Bolero, Bossa Nova, Cha-Cha, Mambo, Merengue, Rhumba, Samba, Salsa, and Tango are danced at Latin Club dances.  All music is performed by George Hall. 

     To attend Latin Club dances, you must either be a guest of a current member or you must be a member of the club.  To join the club you must first attend one dance as guest of a current member, fill out a membership application, and pay an annual membership fee.  I am currently a member of the Latin club. 

     Unlike the Passepied Club and USA Dance Club dances where you can simply show up at the door the night of the dance and pay for your admission, you need to make reservations ahead of time to attend Latin Club dances.  The reason for this is because the Latin Club dances feature meals along with the dance and an accurate head count is needed in order for the Club to ensure that enough plates are reserved for the meals.  

     For more information about attending Latin Club dances or in joining the Latin Club, please contact me. 

     USA Dance

     The Charleston Chapter of USA Dance, a national amateur dance organization, presents dances almost every month on the first Saturday of each month.  Dances are usually from either 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. and they are held in the Fellowship Hall at the First Presbyterian Church in St. Albans, West Virginia.  Attire is always dressy casual.  Music is provided by DJ Sandi Elam, president of the Charleston chapter of USA Dance. 

     Guests are always welcome at USA Dances and guests do not need to be invited by a member of USA Dance in order to attend the dances.  Admission to dances is $7/members and $10/non-members.  Membership in both the local chapter of USA dance and its national umbrella organization costs $25 annually and includes a subscription to the bi-monthly magazine, Amateur Dancer.  For more information, contact Sandi Elam at usabdacwv@suddenlink.net

     Academy Dance Club

     The Academy Dance Club offers five dances throughout the year.  

     The protocol for attending Academy Club dances is similar to the protocol for attending Latin Club and University Club dances.  You must attend an Academy Club dance as either a guest of a current Club member or as a current member of the Club.  Also, you must make reservations for the dance ahead of time as the Academy Club serves food at its dances and an accurate head count is needed ahead of the dance for determining the amount of food needed for each dance.

     For more information about the Academy Club, visit the Academy Club's website at www.academydanceclub.net   

     University Club

     This dance club offers five dances from September through May of each year, including the very popular New Year's Eve Dance.  

     Admission costs to each dance varies according to food served, the dance venue, and other variables.  Annual membership fees for the club are $35/person.  The protocol for attending dances is similar to the protocol for attending Latin and Academy Club dances.  Both members and guests are welcome to attend most dances. 

     For more information about the University Club dances, contact Jim Wallace, president, at 304-984-9877 or wallacestar@hotmail.com  

     For those of you who enjoy shag, check out the Charleston Area Shag Society's website at www.wvshag.com.

Clarksburg

     If you're going to be in Clarksburg, be sure to check out the "Almost Heaven Shag Club."  You can visit their website at: http://www.almostheavenwvshaggers.com.

Huntington

     Dick Newman deejays dances at the Junior League hall in Huntington, West Virginia.  The address is 617 9th Avenue, Huntington, West Virginia.  Dances for 2008 will be held on the following dates:  1/11; 2/8; 3/14; 4/11; 5/9; 6/13; 7/11; 8/8; 9/12; 10/10; 11/14; 12/12.  All dances begin at 7 p.m. 

Lewisburg

     For those folks in Greenbrier County and surrounding environs, check out the Lewisburg West Virginia Chapter of USA DANCE, Inc.

Parkersburg

     The dances that were held at the Dils Center have been cancelled for the time being.  A dance will now take place on the first Sunday of every month at the St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Porterfield, Ohio.  The Doug Hess Orchestra plays at this dance, and brunch is included with the dance.  Cost of both is $12.00/person.  Food is available from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the orchestra plays from 12 noon - 3 p.m.  The continuation of dances during the summer will depend upon attendance, according to the organizers of this dance.        

     [See Note Above:  The following dances have been temporarily suspended:  Regular dances are held at the Dils Center which is located at 521 Market Street, #8, Parkersburg, WV, 26101 (Phone number = 304-485-1407).  Typically, these dances are on the 1st Sunday of each month and are from 12:00 p.m. - 3 p.m., weather permitting.  The Doug Hess Orchestra provides  entertainment.  For more information about where to dance in the Parkerburg area, contact John Brownfield at softshoe@charter.net] 

         If you like to shag, check out the Mid-Ohio Valley Shaggers' Club website at http://www.movshaggers.com/.