Dance Classes??? (Las Cruces, Mesilla, Dona Ana: living, moving to, health)

[adgreenw]

My wife and I will be moving to Las Cruces in the Fall of 2010. My wife was a professional dancer in Philadelphia (African and Modern), but will be studying fulltime at NMSU.

Does anyone have any recommendations for adult dance classes in Cruces? She is not looking to dance professionally at this point, but would like to take dance classes at an advanced level. Though she is an African and Modern dancer, she is open to any types of dance (Latin, Bellydancing, Contemporary, Flamenco, etc) ...Any help is appreciated!

[LivingDeadGirl]

Good luck. LC is, and has always been seriously lacking in good adult dance classes due to lack of interest. Dona Ana Branch community programs once had some decent short non-traditional dance classes. Various instructors have attempted to start up studios/classes but insufficient interest and unmotivated students shut them down. I have always traveled to El Paso for classes. NMSU has a dance degree program with some excellent classes which your wife may find appropriate.

[adgreenw]

Thanks LivingDeadGirl! My internet research has been bringing up a bunch of big fat zeros in Las Cruces, just as you explained. Any particular studios in El Paso that you would recommend me checking out???

Thanks Again.

[LivingDeadGirl]

It's been a few years since I've taken lessons in EP but Shundo is great for ballroom, the best belly dance teacher is Soraya on Monatana, and i am seeing in the EP phone book, some studios advertsing Latin Dance. Of course, there are a large number of ballet studios. There were a couple of Russian ballet dancers (male) who settled in EP a few yrs ago that were tremendous! But i don't know if they are still there or which studio they may be affiliated with. Flamenco may be an option in EP and in Las Cruces since the NMSU dance program offers several classes in that area. For what is called Ballet Folklorico, here in LC is a tremendously fine man, Jose Tena, that I studied with. I haven't seen much about him recently and can only hope he is still around and teaching. But I don't know. Unfortunately, for older adults who were former professional dancers, it is extremely frustrating to have no opportunity to continue classes at least to maintain our health and to continue to move to music. Oh well, at least we have the memories.

[jaeraet]

Try Mesilla Valley Dance for adult dance classes in Las Cruces(mesillavalleydance.webs.com).