Are you looking for a place to “cut a rug” a couple times a month? Well, look no further than the Riverfront Community Center in Glastonbury. Behind the double doors you will see ballroom dancing at its best. The community program called “Everyone Has a Beat” is a collaboration between the Ballroom Club and the Health and Physical Education Department at Glastonbury High School and the Glastonbury Senior Center. The exciting evening program has been providing ballroom lessons for seniors and young people, twice a month, for about two years.

On April 22, seniors and high school students gathered at 300 Welles Road to dance the evening away from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. Although there are two teachers, Kate Egan and Tina Grinold, “the kids do the teaching” explained Kate. “They are learning leadership skills, along with dancing skills.”

There are also no rules against swapping dance partners. In fact, it is encouraged . This way you get to learn different styles of dancing. Annie Torrance and Bob Czarnecki, longtime friends and dance partners from Glastonbury, agree that the dancing “is just fun.” “It allows us to get out and get exercise,” said Bob.

In the early 20th century, the onscreen dance pairing of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers greatly influenced ballroom dancing in the United States. In times past, ballroom dancing was “social dancing” for the privileged. Today , it is enjoyed by people of all ages, both socially and competitively, around the globe.

Transportation is provided by the Town of Glastonbury from Glastonbury High School at 3:45 to the Riverfront Community Center. Participants must arrange for pick-up transportation at 6:00 p.m.

The successful program has been running every second and fourth Tuesday since Oct. 23. If you would like to see what all these committed dancers have learned, they will be showing off their moves at the Glastonbury Wellness Expo/Relay for Life on May 31.

For more information about how to join, contact Kate Egan at egank@ glastonburyus.org or Tina Grinold at grinoldt@glastonburyus .org. You can also contact the Riverfront Community Center Senior Services at (860) 652-7638 .