About Berkshire Ballroom Dancers
(Berkshire County Chapter of USA Dance)

The manner in which the local chapter of the Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association developed is a somewhat interesting story.

Back in the spring of 2002 when we no longer had the monthly dances at the Falcon’s club, one of the local dance instructors suggested that some of the local dancers explore the idea of starting a USA Dance chapter. He indicated that this way it would not be left up to just one or two people to carry the whole load, but that a Board of seven or so members could volunteer for a year to run the chapter with the help of other volunteers and then the next year others from the chapter could serve. So in the late summer of that year, Diane & Jeff Sheldon invited anyone who was interested to come to their home for a gathering.

About ten or twelve of us attended. Along with the Sheldon’s they were, Sal & Joan Angelo, Mike & Kathy Baumgartner, Art & Jane Frederick and Guido Masiero among others. We were joined by Chauncey Jones, a representative of the Capitol District USA Dance, to help us with some direction.

We all agreed that a local volunteer chapter would be a good idea so as to continue the opportunity to have another once a month ballroom dance with a DJ, and also to promote the enjoyment and benefits of ballroom dancing to the community.
 
Some of this same group met again, picked a co-ordinator and a steering committee, and we were off and running! We contacted the national organization, received our Co-ordinators Manual, found a great dance space ( Boys’ Club), a DJ, arranged our first monthly dance for Nov. 16, 2002 and mailed out about 250 flyers. In spite of a storm of sleet, freezing rain and hail that evening, we had a successful dance party with about 95 in attendance. We have had successful monthly dances since.

So in just a three or four month period, we went from just a concept to a certified developing USA Dance chapter, with 80 plus members, a Board of Directors (7), monthly dances and  mailing list of about 275 addresses. Even the national office was amazed with our swift growth and success.

We want to thank all those who continue to make this chapter a success, and we would like to encourage all members to contribute their energy, ideas and talents to take this chapter to the next level and to keep this chapter actively promoting ballroom dancing.

Berkshire County USA Dance

Friends of Berkshire Ballroom Dancers
We are very fortunate to have received generous donations from our friends in the community.