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Havana Social Club lessons a chance to make friends, dance
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Published: September 10, 2009
Fringed skirts and tight shirts were prominent as students from the Havana Social Club in Cornelius flitted across the floor of Mooresville's Prickly Pear for the first set of lessons being offered at the restaurant last weekend.
"We just hope that everyone has a good time. We're going to teach a few Latin dances like the salsa for all ranges of talent, for clients and their friends," said dance instructor Yusimi Cruz, who said he's been dancing since age 5.
Rhonda Fisher was on hand to perform the Cha-Cha with Cruz, and said she's been dancing for a year and a half.
"I was looking for a different form of exercise besides the gym because I just don't like going there," she said with a laugh. "A friend told me about Havana and I went for my free first lesson and I've been hooked ever since."
Fisher said she's stayed in shape through dancing and that she loves it. Her son, who had never seen her dance before, showed up in time for her performance and proudly took pictures and watched as his mom shimmied across the dance floor.
"It's very social. I've met a lot of nice people," she added. "It just brings me such joy. I love getting dressed up in the outfits and the bling."
Leitha Brown, also a student at the club, brought her friend Joe Griffin to the Prickly Pear to move their feet and have some fun.
"I've been doing this about a year," she said. "I'd always loved the music that went with dancing, you know, the big bands and the Latin music, and knowing how to move to it now is so exciting. I've also found a great group of friends and it's great for people my age who don't want to go to bars but still want to get out."
Griffin said he started ballroom dancing at age 25 when he was in the Air Force.
"I was stationed in a rural part of Georgia and I was looking for something interesting to do," he explained. "My parents had taken ballroom dancing, so I figured it was a good opportunity to learn."
After catching up with friends and having a few drinks, the crowd moved into the main dining area of the Prickly Pear to watch the performances and dance a few steps of their own.
To learn more about the Havana Social Club, visit www.havanasc.com.
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