Ballroom Dancing comes to the Elks Lodge

The Owego Elks Lodge #1039 is pleased to formally announce that Ballroom Dancing has come to the village of Owego. You might have noticed the lights on in the Lodge Ballroom on Wednesday evenings for the past eight months. There, Tim and Peggy Sayers have been delighting on lookers and teaching beginner steps to participants.

They are proficient in many styles such as Waltz, Tango, Cha Cha, Salsa, Texas Two Step, and East and West Coast Swing. During the later part of August and into September, Cha Cha was the flavor of the season. Tim and Peggy like to start their students off slow and then continue to perfect skills for up to a five-week period. They truly enjoy sharing their love of dance and watching the smiles it brings to people’s faces.

Lessons are on most Wednesdays and will continue through the autumn months and into the new year. Instruction starts at 7 p.m. in the Lodge Ballroom. Hands on teaching lasts for an hour, then you can practice and perfect your skills on the dance floor until 9 p.m. There is no previous skill required and no accessories are needed. All you need is your enthusiasm, desire to learn and willingness to have fun.

Starting on Oct. 12, and running for five weeks, beginner Foxtrot will be taught. This five-week session continues through the month of October and a bit into November (Oct. 19, Oct. 26, Nov. 2 and Nov. 9). The cost for lessons is $5 per person. A new dance style will be announced in late November. And coming soon will be a monthly dance night, giving everyone the chance to dress up and find his or her inner Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Peggy and Tim Sayers have been dancing socially throughout the Southern Tier over the past 15 years. They began competing in 2013 at amateur dance competitions on the collegiate circuit and the USA Danceport circuit, bringing home many medals, trophies and awards. Becoming dance instructors came natural when they started preparing local “stars” for the Tioga United Way competitions two years ago. Around the town you may have had the chance to catch them dancing at the Strawberry Festival to MTB (Making The Band), or at the Hickories to TAC’s (Tioga Arts Council) Concerts In the Park music. They dance around the Southern Tier with the local club Moonlighters and with the Cornell University Dance Club. Their favorite performance venue is the Veterans Hospital in Oxford, N.Y. as they delight patients with their skills. However, anywhere there is adequate space to twirl along with a good tune, Peggy and Tim will dance.

So if you are looking for a new hobby, a different way to exercise or an excuse to get out of the house, join in the fun of Ballroom Dance lessons at the Elks Lodge. The Owego Elks Lodge is located at 223 Front St. in Owego. All proceeds from the lessons will support the Elks National Foundation. This foundation provides scholarships to students in each lodge district and provides grants toward lodge community capital projects.

For more information, call the Lodge at (607) 687-1039.