DANCE . . . . . is a beautiful form of art to which each artist can feel and interpret the magic of the moment. I love to feel music and I am so grateful for all those who brought dance into my life, especially Paul and Elsie Miller. Some people say that I was born to dance, but I think I was born to share dancing with you.

Jim and I dance. We have been dancing together for over ten years. I started dancing 20 years ago with such great inspirations from line dancer Rayma Garcia, choreographers Cam and Lori Wong, and dancers extraordinaire Carlos and Karen Canto. I went on to study ballroom, latin and swing dancing from ISTD professional Paul Miller and his wife, Elsie. Jim thought he’d better learn to dance to date me, and it worked! I taught Ballroom and Swing dance classes at Columbia College with Paul Miller for five years, then another five years with Jim. The Community Education starts up again in the Spring of 2013, and our classes are again a part of the program.

We opened our own home studio, The Dance Castle, in September 2010 at the request of our students and friends. Our mission is to share our love, provide low-cost lessons and have a place to dance. The lesson donations are used to help finance the Dance Galas and overhead. Everything gets invested back into dancing. We do have a day job as Owners-Biologists for our company, Foothill Sierra Pest Control. Our evenings are filled with teaching and dancing in our community.

Love and Dance,

Ilene and Jim

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The Dance Pavillion

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Check out all the photos on our facebook page:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Dance-Castle-Jim-Ilene-Tassano/103779559679869

My daughters manage my facebook page. I’m totally fb-phobic, so please continue to email me directly or through this website. Oh . . . I’m told to ask friends to “like” us on facebook . . . .

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As this is a summary page, please also check out the links under the header photo to keep informed about our classes, galas and the local dance events.

GALAS!

Thank you for all your support; galas return in 2020!

see the “gala” tab above for all the details and photos of past galas!

Dance Classes: 2019

for more information, click on the tab under the header photo!

Classes are $5 – $10 donation, as noted!

Mondays with Kayla

Classes resume on September 2, 2019

6:30 p.m.: Beginning West Coast Swing

7:30 p.m.: Intermediate West Coast Swing

classes are $10/person/class

NEW BALLET CLASS on Tuesdays

5:15 – 6:16, on-going: Join Angela’s Adult Beginning Ballet class for a mix of barre, floor and routines. Great fun and a great workout! ($7.50/class)

Note: no class on October 15, 22, 29 and November 5th.

Wednesdays with Ilene & Jim

September 4 – October 23, 8 Wednesdays: Columbia College Community Ed Introductory Courses (taught at The Dance Castle with Registration done through Columbia College or on the first day of class) $60/person/8 week session. Call the college to register at 588-5198 or just show up to the first class (bring checkbook or charge card to do registration). Address: 23496 Gold Springs Drive, Columbia.

7:00 – 8:00 p.m.: Beginning East Coast Swing (your basic swing that can be danced everywhere!)

Thursdays with Peter Baldridge:

Peter will teach the basics of social tango as it was danced in Buenos Aires during its Golden Age.

6:00 – 7:00: Beginning Argentine Tango, on-going

7:00 – 8:30: Intermediate Argentine Tango, on-going

$10/person/class

Fridays at the Dance Castle:

7 – 9 p.m.: Folk Dancing is on first, third and fifth Fridays of the month with Carlos. Dancers and non-dancers of all ages will have fun learning these beautiful international dances. No partner is needed. We are loving the music, the dancing, and the wonderful time together with other dancers. Join us!

SATURDAY WORKSHOPS with Nathan Ahlgrim:

Saturday, September 28, 10 a.m. to 12 noon: Viennese Waltz Introductory Workshop, $10/person. We’ll be floating through our outdoor dance floor . . .

Come learn the classic elegance of Viennese Waltz in a two-hour introductory workshop. Have you ever wanted to recreate the scenes of grand balls from your favorite period drama (or Sleeping Beauty)? In this workshop, we’ll cover the basics of how to float down the floor, spin and be spun, and most importantly, how to do all of that without getting dizzy! Enroll by showing up at 10 a.m.

Saturday, October 12, 10 a.m. to 12 noon: Beginning Rumba Workshop, $10/person.

Come and add some flair to your Rumba in this two-hour workshop. Do you have the box down solid, and some basic turns in hand? We will work together to get those hips moving, and introduce some dynamic moves to spice up your dancing. Enroll by showing up at 10 a.m.

for more information, contact Nathan at (630) 363-4305, nathan.s.ahlgrim@gmail.com

BEST EVENTS . . . . .

If the Beat Fits, JUST DANCE!

The Sunday community dance continues on the third Sundays (some dates have been changed due to holidays and scheduling conflicts). See Events tab for all the dates.

JUST DANCE is held from 1 to 4 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church (of the 49er’s) in Columbia. Meet wonderful dancers and have a place to practice and dance to awesome live music. We love the wonderful talent and energy the musicians bring for our listening and dancing pleasures. Les Olson of Les’ Entertainment will be entertaining us this year. $5 donation goes to the church’s Historic Building Fund. Light refreshments available . . . and of course we love it when people help with bringing something to share!

See you out dancing!

Big hugs from Jim & Ilene

just to share . . . .

2016 was a BLAST and full of dance!

Congratulations to the West Coast Swing Flash Mob group under the direction of Stephanie Merfeld and Jim Clapp:

We had an amazing time performing all over the county for the International West Coast Swing Flash Mob Day! Dancers: Jim Duffy with Ilene Tassano, Kyle McDonald with Colleen McHenry, Mark Wright with Lisa Reza, Quentin Jongejan with April Foster and Jim Tassano with Bonnie Brunk.

The Thriller/Zombie class entertained the living in October. Big thanks to Heather Nordstrom for the classes! (see photo below)

Dance Fitness Instructor, Susan Forbes, has been amazing at instrumenting our Witchy Dances in October. The “Dance Castle Witches” had their All Hallow’s Faire Debut on October 22nd as a pre-show for the Tinder Fire Dancers:

The Fire-Dancers were amazing:

I was honored to work with this talented group of young men and women:

Teresa’s Quinceanera, choreographed September, 2014:

The Dance Castle

Welcome to the Dance Castle, Ilene’s dance website!