Line Dancing Lessons @ Our Old Alma Mater ~ Boogie Your Way To Fun & Fitness

Attendees dance to the "YMCA" as one of the Southern Cultural Heritage Center's Country and More Dance Party.  

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center hosts line dance practices every Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Stacey Mahoney has one goal: to help others stop being wallflowers when it comes to line dancing.

The Southern Cultural Heritage Center offers weekly classes where participants can learn a variety of group dance steps, from "Boot Scootin" Boogie" to the "Cha Cha Slide."

And to put those lessons to use, a Country and More Dance Party is held once a month, allowing folks to cut a rug.  Mahoney, executive director of the Southern Cultural Heritage Foundation, is a dance instructor.  

Mahoney, who has a background in dance, said the notion of holding the line dance classes and dance parties evolved following a conversation she had with two women.

"A couple of ladies came to me after they had attended a dance event in Pearl and said, "Hey, this is what we went to, and it was so much fun, and you've got the space for it," Mahoney said.

Upon hearing their request, the first dance party was held in March.

Afterward, Mahoney said several people approached her about offering dance lessons.

"They said, "Hey, we need practice.  Can we have practiced so when we have the dance party, we will know what we are doing?" Mahoney said.  

Thus weekly line dance classes began being offered.  Mahoney said these classes, which include men, women, and people young and old, have ranged in attendance from five people to 20.

In addition to the "Boot Scootin" Boogie and the "Cha Cha Slide," other oldies but goodies are taught, as well as some of the newer line dances, which include the Lonely Drum Line Dance and the Shivers Line Dance - fashioned from Ed Sheeren's song "Shivers."

The line dance practice classes begin at 5:30 p.m. and are held Mondays at SCHC academy 1302 Adams St, "except for the third Monday of the month when we have board meetings and on holidays, Mahoney said.

The cost for each class is $5.

The Country and More Dance Parties are held on the second Saturday each month from 7-9 p.m. at the SCHC auditorium.  The cost to attend the party is $10.

"What we do is have a two-hour playlist set, and dancers get a program that lists all the dances in the order we will be doing them.  We also have a cash bar and refreshments," Mahoney said.

Before the dance party, Mahoney said a tutorial is offered from 6 to 7 p.m.

"That's so we can go over a few of the dances.  A lot of people will come to the tutorial," she said.  The tutorial is included in the $10 cost of the dance party.

Mahoney said participants of both the dance line classes and parties have fun.

"And it's a great way to get your exercise," she said.

Dance classes and dance parties are scheduled to continue through the summer.  For more information, call 601-631-2997 or visit www.southernculturre.org.