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Dancing the day away in Botha

Roughly 60 people gathered in the Botha Community Hall to enjoy live music, old tyme dancing and “one of the best meals of your life"
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Fran Clark and John Blonski enjoy a turn around the dance floor on Sunday

Roughly 60 people gathered in the Botha Community Hall to enjoy live music, old tyme dancing and “one of the best meals of your life,” according to Fran Clark, one of the event organizers.

The Botha Old Tyme Dance Club meets every last Sunday of the month at the Botha Community Hall from September until May or June. The final dance of this year is on Friday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m.

The event has a live band, which varies from month to month, and focuses on playing older music, such as polkas, waltzes, jives and other types of music that would be at home during a movie set in the 1950s.

“This year is the club’s 30th year,” Clark said. “On a good day, we have about 70 people here, dancing and having fun.”

The dance is family friendly and there’s no alcohol present, so people are welcome to bring younger adults, teens and children to the event to enjoy dancing and music.

On top of the small fee to get in and take part – which helps cover the cost of the live band – everyone also brings a dish for the pot luck meal at the end of the dance.

“Sometimes we jive, sometimes we waltz, sometimes we dance to the polka,” Clark said. “We want younger people to come so we can teach them these dances, so they don’t die out.”

While the dance floor is kept clear so the dancers can swing around the floor together, skirts swishing and feet shuffling, the gallery on the side is set up with tables and chairs so people can sit and chat, or rest.

“It’s about having the companionship of friends – we’ve become like family here,” Clark said. “It’s great exercise, it’s fun, and we love the music.”

After the summer break, the club will pick up again, with the first dance scheduled for Sunday, September 23.

It’s $12.50 to dance for the afternoon, plus a dish for the potluck. Everyone is welcome.