ALPINE — The Alpine Community Center held the first of what they are hoping to be many dance events on Friday, May 26.
     The “Take the Lead” dancing extravaganza, taught by Luis Sumaya, from the Tri-Dance Center, led approximately 80 Alpine residents in a fabulous night of country and western line dancing, the two-step, the Cha-Cha, and swing dancing.
     Cinda Jauregui, the community center’s representative, is planning another “Take the Lead” for June 23, and is hoping to turn this into an Alpine Dancing Event at the center every Friday night.
     Sumaya has 24 years of experience teaching dance. He teaches dance at Cuyamaca College.
     In the past, he held these events at Pala Verde Ranch teaching ballroom dancing and line dancing, and has delivered dance lessons to the crowds at Viejas Casino, before the bands started to play.
     “We’re going to try and get dancing back in Alpine. It’s a good form of exercise and aerobics,” he said.
     Fran Devero, an Alpine resident who came to the center ready to dance was happy to see Sumaya. She said she danced under his instruction before and was delighted that he was teaching in Alpine again.
     The Dance Team featured approximately 12 dancers whose experience in the team, ranged from two months to over 10 years. Claire Woodburn has been with The Dance Team for two months, and was ready to perform every dance that Sumaya taught. Veteran dancers on the team, like Janie Van Tieghem, 10 years experience, and Helen Sickler, 14 years experience, were out there as well, wearing black vests, dancing boots, and bright red swirling skirts, inviting all of Alpine to dance.
     Some of the attendees, including Richard and Debra Lifer, who had taken dance lessons before. When they saw the flyer that promised dance instruction from 7 to 9 p.m. , and then open dancing until 11 p.m., they gathered a group of friends to attend and prepared for a night of fun.
Barbara Lennon also came to dance. Lennon, who has a family history of dancing, knew the Cha-Cha and the two-step, but wasn’t familiar with line dancing.
     “I’m up for anything,” Lennon said, “I haven’t danced for a long time, and it’s like anything else, if you don’t do it, you forget.” But as soon as the music started, Lennon quickly picked up the beat and was following all the dance steps.
     Sumaya began the evening teaching what he called a Mixer Cotton-Not-Joe. He lined everyone up in the traditional circle and demonstrated each step until everyone was comfortable. Then slowly everyone practiced and eventually people were twirling around the dance floor with a fluid ease.
“At first things seem awkward, then you find that you’re counting each step, and before you know it, you’re dancing,” Sumaya said.
     After the Cotton-not-Joe, Sumaya taught a line dance, that was a little more involved, but in the end, everyone was in sync. Then Sumaya presented a round-the-world type of two-step followed by the Cha-Cha, and winded-up with a little swing dancing.
     All the new dancers enjoyed themselves and, by the end of the evening, almost everyone was ready to let loose and cut up the rug with their new dance moves.
     Starting on June 3, the Alpine Community Center will host a country line dancing exercise class led by Luis Sumaya, every Saturday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. on the park stage at 1830 Alpine Blvd. The cost for participants is $7 per class. For more information, one may contact 445-7330.

At left, Mike O'Dea of The Dance Team, leads Cinda Jauregui in the two-step. At top right, George and Shirley Miller are also stepping lively.

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