The dance is a poem of which each movement is a word.
Private Lessons Anytime
Perhaps you have a special event or wedding coming. Perhaps your preferred dance style is not on the group lesson program this season. Do you want to accelerate your learning and improve your proficiency? Do you want to catch up with a particular dance style in order to join the advance lessons this season?
Tom offers private lessons in his home in Alexandria, for solo dancers and couples. The schedule and number of lessons are very flexible. The rate is $60 per hour plus HST ($67.80 per hour).
Tom offers private lessons in his home in Alexandria, for solo dancers and couples. The schedule and number of lessons are very flexible. The rate is $60 per hour plus HST ($67.80 per hour).
Group Lessons for the Winter of 2026.
You are always welcome to take the first lesson of any program at no charge to see if you like it, and then register and pay after the first lesson. There is still time to join a group for the second lesson if you missed the first lesson, but we cannot accept new dancers after the second lesson in each season.
Our lessons are open to adolescents and adults, couples, family and friends dancing together. While it is best to bring a dance partner, we definitely welcome single dancers. We invite but do not enforce partner rotation to integrate our single dancers, and single dancers may spend some time practising alone.
Our lessons are open to adolescents and adults, couples, family and friends dancing together. While it is best to bring a dance partner, we definitely welcome single dancers. We invite but do not enforce partner rotation to integrate our single dancers, and single dancers may spend some time practising alone.
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Alexandria Ontario
Tom Manley teaches Ballroom Dancing for Fun upstairs at the Glengarry Sports Palace (arena), 170 McDonald Blvd, Alexandria, ON. On Tuesday mornings, Jan 13th to March 17th, with March 25th and March 31st reserved for snows days or cancellations.
On Thursday evenings, Jan 15th to March 19th, with March 27th and April 2nd reserved for snows days or cancellations.
The Two-Step is danced to quick country music and is one of the most common dance methods in eastern Ontario given the popularity of country music. Experienced dancers will recognize it as the opposite count but similar footwork compared to the Foxtrot. Our Two Step is inherited from the Round Dancing Two Step which is very different from the Country Two Step and the Texas Two-Step. Our simplified International Foxtrot is danced to 4-beat slow music with a Slow-Quick-Quick movement. It feels like dancing the Waltz to four beats; we convert the 1st and 4 movement from the Waltz figures to the Slow movement of the Foxtrot. It is among the popular styles of dance to enjoy with live country and pop music in rural eastern Ontario. The Triple Swing dance, also called East Coast Swing in American Ballroom, evolved from the swing and Lindy Hop dance styles in the 1940s. It is high energy, lots of fun, and very versatile. We can dance Triple Swing to classic rock, soft rock, country rock, and pop music. The count of 1 2 3-ah-4 5-ah-6 keeps us hopping and mixing all kinds of creative figures. Originating from Cuba, the Cha Cha dance style is upbeat and energetic. It is versatile and adaptable to latin, pop, and some soft rock music. The count of 1 2 3 4-ah-1 makes the International and American versions almost identical. Fees are in the range of $113 HST included per person per course for the season (one hour per week for 10 weeks). Program registration will open soon with the Township of North Glengarry. |
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Russell Ontario
Tom Manley teaches Ballroom Dancing for Fun at the Frank Kinnaird Hall, Russell Arena, Russell, ON. On Wednesday evenings, 10 weeks, from January 21st to March 25th, allowing April 1st and 8th for snows days.
The Bachata is danced to typical music from the Dominican Republic. It is a count of 4 beats: 1, 2, 3, touch, and then we return on the other foot. It offers lots of hip movement and a solid feeling of the beat of the song. The Samba was created in Brazil from the music and dance culture that people brought from Africa. Samba is very rhythmic, involves a rolling hip movement, and follows a beat of ta-ta-ta for every two beats in a count to eight. This version is an international Samba, which is quite different from the Brazilian Samba. It is danced to many Latin-American songs and contemporary pop music. The mixed review is intended for experienced dancers. We will offer practice time, review some past lessons, and offer a few new figures in a variety of dance styles. The hour will be adapted to the requests of the participants and the dance styles that they know. Fees are in the range of $113 HST included per person per course for the season (one hour per week for 10 weeks). Program registration is available with the Municipality of Russell, and online registration will be open in the first week of January. |
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Cornwall Ontario - Benson Center
Tom Manley teaches Ballroom for fun at the Benson Center, 800 Seventh St W, in Cornwall. On Mondays evenings starting Jan 12th for 10 weeks, and finishing on March 16th, allowing March 23rd and 30th for cancellations such as snow days.
The Triple Swing dance, also called East Coast Swing in American Ballroom, evolved from the swing and Lindy Hop dance styles in the 1940s. It is high energy, lots of fun, and very versatile. We can dance Triple Swing to classic rock, soft rock, country rock, and pop rock music. The count of 1 2 3-ah-4 5-ah-6 keeps us hopping and mixing all kinds of creative figures. The Viennese waltz is a rotary dance, with a count of 1-2-3 and 4-5-6, where the dancers are constantly turning either toward the leader's right (natural) or toward the leader's left (reverse), interspersed with non-rotating change steps to switch between the direction of rotation. The Viennese waltz is the original form of the waltz, actually a fast waltz danced at about 180 beats per minute, in contrast to the slow or English Waltz. We can use this dance to some 3-beat country music songs, some soft rock songs, and many classic French songs. The mixed review is intended for experienced dancers. We will offer practice time, review some past lessons, and offer a few new figures in a variety of dance styles. The hour will be adapted to the requests of the participants and the dance styles that they know. Fees are in the range of $113 per person HST included and cover each course of one hour for 10 weeks. Save some money by registering for two classes. Registrations and payments are made to the City of Cornwall, and will open in late December, or visit the Benson Center to register in person. |
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Chesterville Ontario
Lorna Jackle teaches American Social Ballroom and the old community center in Chesterville ON. She offers Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Triple Swing, Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Night Club Two Step and Bachata.
Dance lessons are available Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings almost year round. The next set of lessons will begin February 12, 2026. These lessons are administered through the Township of North Dundas and those wishing to register should phone the township during regular business hours at 613-774-2105 or visit the Township's website. For more information, write to Bruce Henbest.
Lorna Jackle teaches American Social Ballroom and the old community center in Chesterville ON. She offers Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, Triple Swing, Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, Night Club Two Step and Bachata.
Dance lessons are available Tuesday and/or Thursday evenings almost year round. The next set of lessons will begin February 12, 2026. These lessons are administered through the Township of North Dundas and those wishing to register should phone the township during regular business hours at 613-774-2105 or visit the Township's website. For more information, write to Bruce Henbest.