Join the community for the love of dance
From the time I could walk, I danced.
My parents tell a story of my first dance recital. The routine we performed had a shimmy in it. It was meant to be cutesy considering we were 3-year-olds, but apparently I shimmied like a veteran flapper. Take this with a grain of salt considering they are my parents, but they say I brought the house down.
Dance has always held a very important place in my heart. I studied in Columbus with Patty Taylor at the Academy of Fine Arts (now Academy Dance Center) and founded the Columbus High School Dance Team under the mentorship of Melissa Wilks. I danced throughout college, even serving as artistic director of two student companies.
Once I graduated, the dancing dropped off abruptly as other obligations took precedence. I long ago resigned myself to the fact that I would likely never take a formal dance class again, let alone dance for an audience. But next week, that will change in a big way.
There are two awesome, dance-related benefits taking place on April 29, perfect for those who believe themselves to be dancers and those who just love to watch.
At 6 p.m., the annual Dancing Stars of Columbus benefit event for the Alzheimer’s Association, Georgia Chapter will commence at the RiverMill Event Center. I attended this event last year as a guest, and wrote a column afterward because I was so impressed with how well executed and heavily supported the event was. In fact, Dancing Stars of Columbus is currently the area’s biggest fundraising event.
This year, my father, Dr. Vincent Naman, and I will be dancing in the show. I am the “pro” and he is the “star,” but after my long hiatus from dance we are both pushing ourselves with this routine. The choreography and music is ’90s hip-hop. There is a bit of breakdancing in it, and we regularly pray that the dance is the only thing we break. Besides the performances, there is much food and drink, and a live auction during intermission.
Later that night at 7 p.m., the Spring Swing dance party will kick off at Woodruff Park to benefit the new Dance Minor program at Columbus State University. With the sunset and the stars as the backdrop, the 10:30 Band will play all night long as people dance (swing dance, if you’ve got the moves!) until midnight. This event also features food, spirits and the chance to help make history at CSU.
Neither event requires dance skills to attend. They both cost, but at varying degrees. And because Spring Swing will be hopping until midnight, there’s no reason you can’t get your full fill of dance and support both events!
A quote by the late dance critic Edwin Denby says, “There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.” Don’t be afraid to hit the dance floor and look a little insane next Friday. You’ll be doing yourself and two very worthy causes some good.
Natalia Naman Temesgen is an independent contractor. Contact her at nntemesgen@gmail.com.
This story was originally published April 21, 2016 at 10:41 PM with the headline "Join the community for the love of dance."