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:   2025

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:  Salsa at REVIVE COFFEE with Erika & Tom, on-going

   6:15:  Beginning Salsa

   7:15:  Intermediate Beginner

   8 – 9 p.m.:  Salsa Dance Party

more details, below

 

Wednesdays with Amy & Ilene:  tba in June

 

FRIDAYS at the Dance Castle:

Hot LATIN Fridays with

Erika & Tom

---

Oh my gosh, it’s starting to look like summer!

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

So much fun coming up . . .

Concerts in the Park & Outdoor Market

At West Side Memorial Park in Tuolumne City

Bands play from 6 to 8 p.m.   The Outdoor Market is open 5-8 p.m.  Bring a chair.  Lots of fun food vendors or bring your own picnic!

June 4:  The Lack Family

June 11:  Kinland Station

June 18:  Tuolumne Jubilee, NO CONCERT

June 26:  Breakaway

July 2:  The Essentials

July 9:  Lelani and The Distractions

July 16:  Swing Gitane

July 23: Burn Permit

July 30:  Rusty Rockers

August 6:  Columbia Big Band

August 13:  Blowbacks

August 20:  Spinout  (and car show)

August 27:  Left of Centre

September 3:  Happytime Posse Band

 

 

---

For Tango Affecionados (newbies welcome!):

May 17th Workshop in Modesto (series of 3 workshops for $60)

For more information, contact:  Marymenz44@gmail.com, 209-522-1571

---

JUST DANCE & SALSA RUEDA PARTY:

Date:  Sunday, May 18, 2025 

Theme:   Mother’s Day Tea Party

Time:  1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dance

             3:30 to 4:30 Salsa Rueda Lesson with Erika and Tom

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.

3:30 PM- 4:30 PM Salsa Rueda – Also known as Rueda de Casino. It is like square dancing, but it is done in a circle instead of a square.  Couples dance to moves & patterns in unison, called out by a leader.  The switching of partners adds an element of excitement to the dance!  Must know basic salsa steps.   Donations accepted.

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

---

Saturday, May 24th – Save the Date for another amazing event!

---

Get ready for Summer Dancing . . .

What an awesome line-up at Inner Sanctum Cellars in Columbia!

Get your tickets here:  https://inner-sanctum-cellars.obtainwine.com/collection/events

More dance events coming soon!

 

---

The Dance Pavilion

Our “outdoor dance studio and events area!”

We are planning to have 2025 galas!   More details to come!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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 . . . .

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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)

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: