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

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 twenty years.  I started dancing 30 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.    I taught Ballroom and Swing dance classes at Columbia College with Paul Miller for five years, then another fifteen years with Jim.  We continue to teach through the Community Education program at Columbia College, in addition to our private home studio. 
 
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

 

Dance  Classes:   2024

Dancing is good for the body and mind.  Ballroom dancing is one of the best ways to prevent dementia – a scientific fact!   Being social increases longevity.  And, it’s just plain fun, fun, fun.   

Summer is winding down as are all the fun days of dancing.   Autumn approaches with new energy and a time to focus on learning.  We have an amazing line-up of classes starting in September, so why not learn a few steps to get ready for the holiday dances?

Be sure to check out the dance classes by clicking on the “Classes” tab, above, for more details.

Here’s the daily class line-up outline:

See more details under “classes” tab, above.

Mondays, 7-9:  Folk Dancing with Carlos at The Dance Castle, on-going.  Free class

Tuesdays 6:15:  Salsa at REVIVE COFFEE with Erika & Tom

Wednesdays, starting January 15 with David Hogg:

4 week classes, January 15, 22, 29 and February 5, 2025 at The Dance Castle

    6 p.m.:  Beginning Country 2-step

    7 p.m.:  Beg WC Swing

    8 p.m.:  Intermediate WC Swing

$40 for the 4 week session, payable at the first class.

Wednesdays, March 5 – April 9, 2025

6 Wednesdays with Ilene at The Dance Castle (sponsored by Columbia College):

    6 – 7 p.m.:  Beginning Ballroom

    7 – 8 p.m.:  Beginning Swing

Enrollment is $50 for the 6 week session through Columbia College Community Education.  Link available soon.

Thursdays at 6 p.m.:  Classes with Amy TBA

Thursdays at 7 p.m.:  Classes with Amy TBA

$10/person/class

Fridays with Erika & Tom, Next class December 20, 2024 (every other week): 

    6:15 p.m.:  Beginning Bachata

    7:15 p.m.:  Salsa Technique

$10/person/class


For MORE Salsa with Erika & Tom  . . . 

Salsa Tuesdays at Revive in Downtown Sonora.   

6:15 p.m.:  Beginning – For people who are new at salsa dancing and are still learning the basic steps. 

7:10 p.m.:  Intermediate Beginner – For people who know the basic by heart, know the basic patterns and have been doing salsa for a while.

8 – 9 p.m.:  Salsa Dance Party!

Revive is located at 81 S. Washington Street, downtown Sonora

NOTE: There will NOT be a barista, please bring water!!  

Also, bring shoes you can turn in . . . NOT TENNIS SHOES

For questions, please contact Tom at sonorasalsaclub@gmail.com 

 


Exciting Dance Opportunities:

for more details see “Local Dance Events” tab, above

 

JUST DANCE:

Date:  Sunday, December 15, 2024 (third Sundays of each month)

Time:  1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Place:  First Presbyterian Church (49’er Church), 11155 Jackson Street, Columbia

Music:  DJ & Vocals by Frank Silva

               Music will be played for ballroom, Latin, swing, Country Western and party favorites!

Food:  Light refreshments provided; please bring something to share if you can!

Cost:  $5 for seniors (60+), $10 for adults, no charge for under 18 years old.

Just Dance is a fun place to practice and learn new steps.  Ilene & Jim are always available to help and support you.  Looking forward to seeing you there!

contact Ilene for more information:  wingstodance@yahoo.com


New Year’s Eve Dance:

“DISCO FEVER!”

20th  ANNUAL NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY 

TUESDAY,  DECEMBER 31, 2024

SONORA ELKS LODGE 1587

Doors open 5:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M.

Dancing to the Tunes of  “FRANK SILVA”

7:00 P.M. to 11:00 P.M

Prime Rib or Salmon (Please select one) Dinner served at 6:00 P.M.

Champagne Toast at 9:00 P.M.

PRIZE RAFFLE

$65.00 per person

 

                    Reservations for  “Elk  Members only” start on

              November 1st through 30th, limit one table of 8 or less

           December 1st, Elks and all other guests welcome till we sell out.

 

      Reservations must be in and paid for by Thursday December 26th

(If reserving for more than one couple, please list all last names below) 

Paid reservations must be made in advance. Make checks payable to                                                                                 

                                   Sonora Elks Lodge #1587

                          100 Elk Drive, Sonora, Ca. 95370

 

 Any questions please contact:  Skip or Deanna Hoy, 209-736-2310,

Marge Nath, 209-532-2229 or Sonora Elks Lodge #1587, 209-533-1587

……………………………………………………………………………

NAME(S)_____________________ 

TOTAL ____$65.00=_________

Please select one per person:   

SALMON______      PRIME RIB_______

VEGETARIAN ALSO AVAILABLE____


 

Saturday, December 7th, 7 – 9 p.m.:  Aronos Dance (37 Elkin Street, Sonora).   Fun place to dance, practice and meet other dancers!   Every first Saturday of the month.   $10 donation appreciated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


The Dance Pavilion

Our “outdoor dance studio and events area!”

IMG_1168_smll

We are planning to have 2024 galas!   More details to come!

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Check out all the photos on our facebook page:

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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Inspiring videos for our next flash mob! (the second video takes great creative liberties with the basic steps (fun!):


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)

group-best

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:

 

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