BELLEFONTE — On a recent Sunday, a large group of people met at Lambert Hall in Bellefonte to enjoy an afternoon of ballroom dancing.
Rod and Ann Hart organized the event, and it was the second time since before the pandemic that the dance took place. The first half hour was devoted to lessons and after that everyone enjoyed dancing, visiting with friends or taking advantage of the refreshments provided with the $10 charge.
“We moved here in December 2022,” said Ann Hart. “There was nowhere to dance. So rather than complain, Rod and I decided to get something started. Many people here today have been dancing for years and were part of other groups around the area.”
Vicki Wedler and her husband, Joe Herrle, have been dancing for most of their 17 years together. Wedler said she started dance lessons with Carter and Ruby Ackerman at Panorama Village School. Wedler tells a story about one time at Christmas, when her pastor taught that a real gift is when it hurts to give something. So, if you have a new coat you don’t like or wear and you give it away — you don’t feel it. But when you do something for someone that’s difficult — that’s a real gift. So, that is how Joe got involved with ballroom dancing lessons. It was not easy or pleasant for him — but he took dance lessons, and he and Vicki appeared to be having fun on the dance floor.
Wedler told of other places where dances were held in the past. There were dances at Panorama School, at the Elks where Mountain View is now, and later at the Friends School in State College. People brought food to share, and a DJ brought all the equipment. Dances later took place at Centre Hills, again with food and the same DJ, but then the pandemic brought everything to a halt.
The name Kevin Fee came up as the owner and instructor of Dance Harmony in Pleasant Gap. Many local dancers got their start at his studio. There have also been dances at the Spring Mills Old Gregg School where there was a nice wood floor for dancing.
Debra Heller, a chiropractor from Millheim, said she knew the waltz and the East Coast swing, but has enjoyed all the dances since coming to the area in 2008. Mary Murray from Lewistown said she started dancing through Kevin Fee also.
One of the nicest surprises at the dance on Aug. 6 was the presence of some young dancers, who seemed to be enjoying the lessons and the dancing. The next dance at Lambert Hall will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 3. It will be a special tribute to Kevin Fee.
