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

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, February 12, 19, 26 with Amy & Ilene:

6:30 – 8 p.m.:  3 week “Tango Intensive”.  Learn American Tango and add on lots of cool moves!

 $15/person/class

 

Wednesdays, March 5 – April 9, 2025

6 Wednesdays with Ilene and Amy 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.  Register here (scroll down to dance classes):

https://www.gocolumbia.edu/communityeducation/commed_registration.html

 

Fridays with Erika & Tom, Next class February 14 (changed from Feb 7th), February 21st, then “every other week” at The Dance Castle: 

    6:15 p.m.:  Beginning Bachata:    Bachata is a latin dance from the Dominican Republic.  This vibrant dance style has gained worldwide popularity.  Come learn the fundamental footwork and basic, fun dance patterns.

    7:15 p.m.:  Salsa Technique:  Develop your salsa skills.  We will focus on cuban motion, strengthening the frame, body isolations to improve ribcage and shoulder motion, spins and turns and if time allows, we will finish with salsa shines.

$10/person/class

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Exciting Dance Opportunities:

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

 

JUST DANCE & SALSA RUEDA:

Celebrates Valentine’s Day!

Date:  Sunday, February 16, 2025 

Time:  1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Dance

             3:30 to 4:30 Salsa Rueda Lesson

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!

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

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The Dance Pavilion

Our “outdoor dance studio and events area!”

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

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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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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

 

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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: