So you think you can dance?

In Maine in the winter?

Yes, you sure can.

With reality TV dance shows attracting tons of viewers, the idea of being able to actually do dances with particular steps to them (we’re not talking about the Macarena here) has been catching on. It’s fun, it’s social, and across the state there are plenty of dancing opportunities beyond going to a club for freestyle grooving.

So if one of your New Year’s resolutions is to finally get rid of one of your two left feet, here’s your chance.

CONTRA DANCING

• Bowdoinham Town Hall, 3 School St., 666-3090: Third Saturday of the month. All dances taught. Beginner lesson is at 7:30 p.m.; dance is from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is $9.

• Chase Hall Lounge, Bates College, 56 Campus Ave., Lewiston, www.bates.edu: Usually the second Friday of the month during the academic year. The next scheduled dance is Feb. 11. Beginner lesson at 7:30 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Admission is $6.

• Belfast Flying Shoes, American Legion Post 43, 143 Church St., Belfast, www.belfastflyingshoes.org: First Friday of the month. Begins with a community dance at 6:30 p.m., during which you can brush up on your skills or learn. Potluck begins at 7:30 p.m., followed by the contra dance at 8 p.m. Admission to the community dance is $2; $1 for children. Admission to the contra dance is $8; $6 for teens and for those who attend the community dance.

• Mayo Street Arts, 10 Mayo St., Portland, mayostreetarts.org, 615-3609: Third Tuesday of the month. 7 p.m. Admission is $5. Mayo Street Arts also holds square dances occasionally. Check the organization’s website for updates.

• Wescustogo Hall, Route 115, North Yarmouth, 233-4325: Second Saturday of the month. Family dance at 6 p.m. Potluck at 7 p.m.; beginner lesson at 7:30 p.m.; dance 8 to 11:30 p.m. Admission is $10; $7 for students and seniors.

• Greater Portland Community Dance Series, Falmouth Congregational Church Hall, 267 Falmouth Road, 582-6378: First Saturday of the month. Beginner lesson at 7:15 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Dessert potluck around the 9:45 p.m. break. Admission is $10; $7 for seniors and students; $5 for children under age 12.

• Bath Dance Works, 72 Front St., Bath, bathdanceworks.com, 522-3900: Third Friday of the month from October to May. A family dance of old-time country dances is from 6:30 to 8 p.m. followed by a contra dance. Admission is $3; $12 for a family for the family dance. Contra dance admission is $9; $22 for a family.

SALSA DANCING

• First Friday Salsa with Grupo Esperanza, Empire Dine and Dance, 575 Congress St., Portland, www.portlandempire.com, 879-8988: First Friday of the month. Salsa lesson at 9 p.m.; dance around 10 p.m. Admission is $8. Ages 21 and older.

• Saturday Salsa with Wendy Edwards, Grace Restaurant, 15 Chestnut St., Portland, www.pmsalsa.com: Local salsa instructor Wendy Edwards organizes a monthly salsa dance night at Grace. So far, she has scheduled dances for this Saturday, Feb. 19 and March 12. She offers two full lessons prior to the main dance. The lessons are generally geared to beginners and advanced beginners. This Saturday’s lessons are beginner bachata at 7 p.m. and advanced beginner salsa at 8 p.m. The dance is from 9 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $10 for the dance only; $12 for the dance and lessons.

• Salsa Dance Party, Pulse Dance Studio, 865 Spring St., Westbrook, www.pulsemaine.com, 899-1435: Third Friday of the month. Dance lesson at 7 p.m.; dance 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10.

BALLROOM DANCING

• Maplewood Dance Center, 383 Warren Ave., Portland, www.maplewooddancecenter.com, 878-0584: Dances are held on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Lessons (dances taught vary) begin at 7 p.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays and at 7:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Maplewood’s dress code is dressy casual. Nice jeans (no tears or holes) are acceptable for Friday dances. Admission is $10 ($12 for semi-formal dance party on Jan. 29).

• Pulse Dance Studio, 865 Spring St., Westbrook, www.pulsemaine.com, 899-1435: Second Friday of the month. Dance lesson at 7 p.m.; dance at 8 p.m. Admission is $10.

• Maine Ballroom, 614 Congress St., Portland, www.maineballroomdancing.com, 773-0002: Every Saturday. Lessons (dances taught vary) at 7:30 p.m.; dance from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10. (Admission includes lesson except when there are visiting professionals.)

SQUARE DANCING

• Mix ‘n Mingle Square Dance Club, Wentworth Intermediate School, 40 Gorham Road, Scarborough, mixnmingle.squaredanceme.us: Third Saturday of the month, September to May, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Admission is $.

• Central Maine Squares Square Dance Club, Waterville Junior High School, 120 West River Road (Route 104), centralmaine.squaredanceme.us. Third Saturday or Sunday of each month, October to May. Upcoming schedule is 2 to 5 p.m. Jan. 16, Feb. 20 and March 20, and 7 to 10 p.m. April 16 and May 21. Admission is $6.

• Nubble Lighthouse Keepers Square Dance Club, Wells Activity Center, Sanford Road (Route 109), nubble lighthousekeepers.squaredanceme.us: Sundays from September through May. Workshop from 2 to 2:30 p.m.; dance from 2:30 to 5 p.m. Admission is $5.

LINE DANCING

• Wrong Turn Pub, 947 Grant Road, Kenduskeag, www.wrongturnpub.com, 884-7330: Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is $5.

SWING DANCING

• Deering Grange Hall, 1408 Washington Ave., Portland, 653-5012: First and third Fridays of the month. Beginner lesson at 8 p.m.; dance at 9 p.m. Admission is $10 for first Friday dances; $8 for third Friday dances.

• West Coast Swing, Maine Ballroom, 614 Congress St., Portland, jackdepwm@yahoo.com: Second Friday of the month, 8 p.m. Beginner and intermediate lessons offered. Admission is $10.

OTHER DANCING

• International Folk Dancing: Dances from the Balkans, Israel, France, Greece, South America and elsewhere, held the first Sunday of the month in Pownal and the third Sunday of the month in Portland. At both locations, the lesson is 7 to 8 p.m. followed by the dance. Admission is $5; $3 for children. The Pownal dance is at the town hall on Route 9. The Portland dance is at Portland New Church, 302 Stevens Ave. 318-7108.

• English Country Dancing: Masonic Hall, Route 139, Thorndike, 568-7597: Second Wednesday of the month, 7 to 9:30 p.m. All dances are taught. Admission is a suggested donation of $5.

• Club Dance Party: Pulse Dance Studio, 865 Spring St., Westbrook, www.pulsemaine.com, 899-1435: Held on the fourth Friday of the month. Dance styles vary from West Coast swing and the hustle to swango. There’s a lesson at 7 p.m.; the dance is from 8 to 11 p.m. Admission is $10.

Staff Writer Stephanie Bouchard can be contacted at 791-6455 or at:

sbouchard@pressherald.com

 

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