Our 2023 Spring Show had a great lineup with lots of variety, but due to an ill-advised decision to try out new technology on the fly, we didn’t get video of all the numbers. Oh no! Fortunately, we were able to pick up most of what we missed from audience members and piece it back together for you to enjoy. Thanks everybody.
Joe had been taking salsa lessons for a little while, with the primary objective of using it when he went out with friends. He didn’t hesitate though when asked to participate in a show, and he did a bang up job dancing to the fast and furious Ran Kan Kan from the Mambo Kings.
Cat & Joe | Salsa
Cecilia and David started taking lessons so they could dance together to the classic 80’s rock that they both loved. The Power of Love was the perfect song for them, and boy did they make it look easy.
Cecilia & David | Push-Pull Swing
Always up for a challenge, Lulu and Brandon decided to tackle Viennese waltz. The song they chose, Lavindur, put a new spin on an old classic.
Lulu & Brandon | Viennese Waltz
Kayla and Brian’s bachata to Propuesta Indecente could have easily stood alone, but since the beginning covers a classic Astor Piazzolla tune, we decided to let Colleen and John set the scene with a little Argentine tango.
Kayla & Brian | Bachata
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And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
We eased into our big band dance getaway on Saturday evening. After everyone had checked in, we met up in the lobby in preparation for our first night out. We quickly noticed two things. First, a lot of people were traveling with their dogs. From a comical pair of bullies to a giant (and super chill) St. Bernard, the lobby was rarely canine free. And second, a giant gingerbread house was being erected just beyond the elevator doors. It looked and smelled so wonderful that Lulu threatened to snag a piece to nibble on. I think they may have her picture in security now.
Once assembled, we proceeded to dinner at the SQZBX, a cozy little pizza joint/microbrewery inhabiting an old radio station. In keeping with the musical theme, the walls were decorated with parts from old musical instruments which we had fun identifying. The food was delicious, and Clara vouched for their house-made hard cider. Next time I’m going prepared to try a flight of their specialties.
SQBX
After dinner we ambled down the street to the Maxwell Blade Theater for a magic show. Due to my almost phobic worry about being late, we were super early. It was too cold to wander around and check out the shops, so we went inside and found our seats (second row center!) and chatted (or napped) as we waited. It was pretty chilly inside too, and the psychedelic projection of Blade’s face floating across the walls may be burned on our retinas forever, but all was redeemed when the show started. Maxwell Blade is a fabulous magician, and funny to boot.
Mystified Young Volunteers
Well-fed and well entertained, we headed back to the Arlington and turned in.
Slow Sunday Vibes
Sunday morning was all about pampering, starting with a hot (really hot) mineral water soak. Then it was into the sauna before being swaddled in hot wet towels (unexpectedly comforting) for a nice little rest. And finally, after every muscle was relaxed, it was time for a massage. Ahh! Bliss.
After all that pampering, it was time to fuel up. The Arlington’s dining room is elegantly appointed at any time, but in late November it also as serious Christmas vibes. Live music by Jacob Flores added to the relaxed mood as we tucked into the enormous brunch buffet. And there was truly something for everyone, from fluffy omelets to juicy prime rib, and of course, decadent desserts.
Miles of Food
A Poinsettia in Every Window
After brunch? The crew seemed pretty evenly split between napping and exploring the wooded trails behind the hotel.
Tripping the Light Fantastic
As 3:00 drew near, our merry band drifted into the Crystal Ballroom fully relaxed, properly fueled, and ready to dance. There were several regulars there already (warming up and catching up) and quite a few of them came by our table to chat and make us feel welcome.
Looking Good!
In preparation for the trip I’d made sure everyone reviewed foxtrot because that’s usually the bulk of what is played by a dance orchestra. Well not this time! There were a few of course, but also lots of rumbas, swings, and slow-lounges, as well as a nice sprinkling of other ballroom dances. Really, the Stardust Big Band is a dancer’s dream. Of course our folks took advantage of the lovely music and complemented it with great dancing.
The Smile Says it All
Hand Change Behind the Back
So Happy Together
Bustin’ a Move
There was one odd encounter that I can’t resist recounting. An older fellow stopped by our table while returning to his seat. Without acknowledging anyone else he said to Lulu, “Man are you gorgeous!” Then he glanced at Brandon, added, “Are you with him?”, and just walked away. After a beat of stunned silence, we all laughed (and teased Brandon a little), but sheesh! Brandon is handsome, smart, interesting, successful, and an all-around nice guy, so yes Mr. Hawaiian shirt, she is definitely with him!
Winding Down
After returning to our rooms briefly to change (back into pumpkins?), we reconvened once again and headed out with plans to dine at a restaurant overlooking Lake Hamilton. Alas it was not to be. Even though I had contacted them and been assured no reservation was necessary, they could not fit us in for at least an hour (near closing time), and we were not inclined to wait. It turned out fine though because this is an easygoing and resourceful group and we soon had a plan B. Props to Steve for finding Rolando’s, an Ecuadorian restaurant right across from our hotel. The ambiance was charming, the staff was welcoming, the food was fantastic, and of course, the company was delightful.
A Final Thought
Lulu and Brandon had been with us on our last trip to Hot Springs, so they knew what to expect, but this was Clara and Steve’s first trip with the studio. At one point during the dance I leaned over and asked Clara if it was what she’d expected, and with stars in her eyes she said, “Oh, it’s even more!” And that sums up our weekend perfectly.
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
Our 2022 Winter Show had two Santas and a Grinch! The guys were cool, the ladies were hot, and the dancing was awesome. Who could ask for more?
So much Christmasy bodaciousness!
When “Santa Claus Wants Some Loving”, he goes all out to woo Mrs. Claus. Based on her attire, it looked like Mrs. Claus wanted some loving too, so it was no surprise that Kayla and Brian ended up under the mistletoe at the end of their saucy West Coast swing.
Hammerlock Time
Surprise Tuck
Heel-Toe Swivels
Santa Claus Wooing with a West Coast Swing
“We Wanna See Santa Do the Mambo” is a campy old song that’s loads of fun. Lulu and Brandon went all in (including full Santa and Mrs. Claus costumes) and their fresh and flirty energy was infectious. An exciting full body drop at the end really put it over the top.
The Hop Makes the Move
Take That Santa!
Crossover Breaks
Santa & Mrs. Claus Do the Mambo
When it comes to Christmas, Colleen is all sleigh bells and fairy dust, while John is decidedly bah humbug. That made “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch the perfect choice for them to show off their foxtrot skills. I’m not sure if Colleen was Max or Cindy Lou Who, but she handled the Grinch’s shenanigans well.
Kick Those Long Legs!
Flip Flop
A Grinchy Oblique Line
A Grinchy Foxtrot
And of course, as always, we really appreciate the friends, family, and fellow dancers who turned out to cheer everyone on and do some dancing of their own.
The Friends and Family Cheering Section
And Plenty of General Dancing
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
Cat Tracks is an ongoing (and sporadic) series that features the students of Cat’s Ballroom and Memphis art installations. For Cat Tracks No. 3 we headed to the Memphis Sign on Mud Island. The sign was created for the Memphis River Parks Partnership by Tylur French (owner of Youngblood Studio), and the huge letters are clearly visible to anyone coming across the I-40 bridge into Memphis.
The Cat Tracks Crew
I love my students for a lot of reasons, one of which is that they’re usually up for anything. It came as no surprise then, that when I asked them to meet on Mud Island so we could film them dancing in front of the big Memphis sign, quite a few of them showed up ready to rock (or rumba, as the case may be). I also asked them to wear bright colors, which interestingly resulted in all the ladies wearing pink, and all the men ignoring me and opting for earth tones.
Scott & Nancy
Colleen & John
Brian & Kayla
Brandon & Kareem
Jesse & Cat
Generally, the tourists seemed unfazed by us as we were warming up and waiting for late arrivals, but once we spread out and really got going, everyone stayed clear of us. We weren’t there long though, so hopefully we didn’t ruin anyone’s vacation photo op.
One of our regulars was sick that day (We missed you Lulu!), but her partner brought a friend instead, and together with Jesse, they formed a slightly haphazard salsa line. We also rotated all the partners so that every leader got to dance with every follower at least once. Fun!
Tourists don’t care!
A quick salsa lesson for the guys.
The song we used, Beautiful Day by Jonathan Roy, was pretty open to interpretation. In the videos you’ll see rumba, push-pull swing, west coast swing, samba, Argentine tango (ridiculously difficult on grass), and salsa. You’ll also see me running in and out of frame because I forgot I could use the remote.
Cat Tracks No. 3 | Memphis Sign
(The good, the bad, and the ugly!)
Scott & Nancy
John & Colleen
Brian & Kayla
They’re a hot mess, but they’re cute!
Once we wrapped on the filming and pictures, we headed on over to the River Terrace Inn for and “after party”. Indulging in cocktails, nibbles, a glorious sunset, and a lot of good conversation was the perfect way to end Cat Tracks No. 3 (Memphis sign edition), and everyone seemed to have a great time.
My Little Ducklings
The View Didn’t Disappoint
So Relaxing
Accidental Twinsies
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
We love offering free outdoor dance classes in downtown Memphis, and our 2022 community dance classes were no exception. Beautiful locations, great people, and plenty of fun – who could ask for more?
2022 Community Dance Classes in Downtown Memphis
Spring was all about swing, and boy did we have fun. It was a bit chilly for the first one in March, but the night was still wonderful with an enthusiastic group, a gorgeous sunset, and a marvelous light show from the bridge in the background. We’re not talking about April (don’t ask), but May was extra exciting. One of the participants asked Jesse to record he and his girlfriend dancing, but unbeknownst to anyone, what he was really trying to capture was a proposal! Yup, dropped down on one knee right in the middle of everything. Very romantic.
March | Fourth Bluff Park
May | Fourth Bluff Park
In the fall we decided to mix things up a bit, starting with cha cha in September. Hot night, hot dance, and hot dancers – fabulous. In October we went back to swing and had a big turnout with lots of energy. The music must have been good too, because even a passing dog walker started bopping along to it. In November we had two offerings to wrap up our 2022 community dance classes. First Wiseacre Brewery kindly hosted a swing class as part of the Fieldaze lineup of events. There were plenty of willing participants on the stage, and quite a few spectators enjoying the show. Some of them even joined in with a little encouragement. And of course the year wouldn’t be complete without at least one salsa class. Although we were originally planning to use Fourth Bluff Park as usual, a last-minute scheduling snafu shifted us to The River Garden. We got the word out though and had a huge turnout. Shout out to the early arrivals that helped move tables and chairs to make space. And although the park is beautiful and the string lights are quite magical, if there’s a next time we’ll definitely find out how to turn on the lights in the pavilion!
September | Fourth Bluff Park
October | Fourth Bluff Park
November | Wiseacre
November | The River Garden
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check ourNew & Eventspage regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
On Friday, September 16, we staged our first show since before the pandemic, and it was fantastic!
This was everyone’s first show, and I don’t think they really knew what they were getting themselves into.
First up were Lulu and Brandon. Their sexy rumba to I Like You (A Happier Song) by Post Malone and Doja Cat really set the bar for the evening. Lulu’s family even got to come and cheer her on during her first performance. I’m not sure if that made them more or less nervous, but either way, they did a great job.
On deck next were Kayla and Brian with a flirty swing to Lizzo’s It’s About Damn Time. They both attended art school however, so they are pretty used to being in the spotlight and brought a lot of personality and flair to their number.
Colleen and John closed out the show beautifully with a challenging Viennese waltz to Hold My Hand by Lady Gaga. We had choreographed the first dance for their wedding, so technically it may not have been their first “show”. John said this was harder though, because at least at the wedding there was champagne.
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check ourNew & Eventspage regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
Memphis doesn’t offer very many opportunities to hit the hardwood to a live orchestra, so we decided to organize a dance weekend in Hot Springs.
Saturday
A weekend away was just what the doctor ordered. Upon arrival at the Arlington, some of us hit the pool and some hit their pillows, but we all went into relaxation mode!
We kept that laid-back vibe going with dinner, drinks, and great conversation on the roof of the Waters Hotel. Not only was the food good, but it turned out to be an ideal place for everyone to get acquainted better.
After dinner we ambled down the street in search of music and dancing. Our intended destination turned out to be small and crowded, so on a tip from a passerby, we headed to Fat Jack’s. Jesse went in first and reported that there was live music. Turned out to be karaoke, but hey, we can dance to anything.
Sunday
There was time Sunday morning for folks to explore the park, historic bathhouses, and shops of downtown Hot Springs before we rendezvoused for brunch at the Arlington Hotel. So much food!
And finally, the main reason for our trip – the Stardust Big Band in the Crystal Ballroom. The orchestra was fabulous, and the other dancers were friendly and welcoming. Being their first time on a large floor filled with experienced dancers, there may have been a few fleeting looks of panic as our students slipped into the flow, but they soon got the hang of it and comported themselves admirably.
Humorous side note: At one point a fire siren started blaring, and for quite a while, the band continued to play. It was a very Titanic moment. Fortunately, it was a false alarm and we quickly got back to dancing.
So, our dance weekend in Hot Springs was a stellar success, and the only question I heard when we got back was, “Where are we going next?”
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
Wow, what a year it was. We offered more free community dance classes in 2021 than ever before!
Beautiful people and gorgeous sunsets.
The Downtown Memphis Commission and Memphis River Parks Partnership kindly let us use Fourth Bluff Park to offer a community salsa class in April, and the response was so amazing that we quickly set up three more. The Latin Dance Series (merengue, bachata, and another salsa class) made the hot these hot summer evenings even hotter.
Salsa | Fourth Bluff Park | April 17, 2021
Merengue | Fourth Bluff Park | April 22, 2021
Bachata | Fourth Bluff Park | June 19, 2021
Salsa | Fourth Bluff Park | July 24, 2021
We also partnered with The Brooks Museum to offer a merengue class during an outdoor exhibit by Ball Nogues Studio. Dancing in and among those fantastical creations was a real delight.
Merengue | Brooks Museum | May 1, 2021
And let’s not forget the crazy weekend that was Fieldaze, when downtown Memphis turned into a playground for adults. Salsa at Wiseacre Brewery and Swing in Fourth Bluff Park were our contributions to the mix.
Push-Pull Swing | Fourth Bluff Park | November 6, 2021
The Fallback Fall Dance Series rounded out the year, pairing fun social dances with old school music. It got a little cold towards the end, but as soon as the dancing began everyone was feeling fine.
Nightclub Two-Step | Fourth Bluff Park | October 9, 2021
Push-Pull Swing | Fourth Bluff Park | December 11, 2021
If you missed out on the fun last year, don’t worry, we’ll be back at it again soon. Although, maybe not in July or December. 😉
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
With the Cat Tracks series we want to celebrate three things: 1) Memphis places and spaces, 2) our amazing students, and 3) the abundant variety of ballroom dance styles.
Pocket Garden
Tucked in an alley in Overton Square is a magical little world of murals, sculptures, and gardens. John is a car guy, so a mural of a vintage vehicle seemed like the perfect place to leave some Cat Tracks.
Our Hoopty Hoop
Colleen started dancing in college, and now John is happily along for the ride. They are smart, kind, and lovely to work with. At the time of this video, they had been dancing with us for about a year. West coast swing is just one of many dances they enjoy, which goes to show what you can accomplish with a little hard work and practice.
West coast swing is a laid back and playful dance that’s perfect for blues and funk. Danced in a “slot” (like an old mechanical bank), it was supposedly developed in Hollywood in the early days of film.
Showing out in Overton Square
Experienced dancers will notice that this demonstration doesn’t contain any whips (a staple of WCS). That’s because they learned this dance over Zoom during lock-down! Whips are tricky to teach by video, but since we’ve resumed in-person lessons, we’ve definitely added them to their repertoire.
West coast swing (sans whips)
Just in case you’ve never seen an antique mechanical bank
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree seemed like the perfect theme for a party next to a giant tree. But then there we were, standing in the cold in the middle of Main Street and wondering if anyone would show up. Was a party outdoors in December in the middle of a pandemic too crazy and idea?
But no! First one couple…
…and then another…
… and another (!)…
…and pretty soon we were
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree!
Everyone had a great time dancing up a storm to their favorite holiday classics, with plenty of chances to do push-pull, slow lounge, rumba, and even waltz. If you’ve ever danced on brick in 40-degree weather, you can truly appreciate just how dedicated this crew really is!
And of course, no holiday party would be complete without a hot cocoa break!
Some have been dancing for a while, and some are brand new, but they all look good!
And on a personal note, it’s been a pretty bleak year, but getting to celebrate together like we used to (kinda) really made my season bright. Thank you everyone!
We’d love to have you join in the fun, so be sure to check our New & Events page regularly. Better yet, sign up for our newsletter, What’s Happening At Cat’s Ballroom, and get information about special events and classes sent right to your inbox.
And remember, your first lesson with us is free, so why not try one today?
