NEW SWEDEN, Maine — When it comes to the waltz there are no mistakes.
Instead, according to dance instructor Christina Theriault, there are only opportunities for couples to think on their feet in one-two-three time.
“I believe the people [in Aroostook County] were starved for ballroom dancing,” Theriault said on a recent Saturday night as 11 couples prepared to trip the light fantastic at the New Sweden Consolidated School gymnasium as part of her Ballroom in the Valley series. “It’s a great way for couples to connect and for people to get to know each other.”
Theriault began teaching ballroom dancing in the St. John Valley after moving north from Boston — where she taught dance for a number of years — with her husband and dance partner, Jake Theriault, two-and-a-half years ago.
“Ballroom dancing did not exist up here,” she said. “I asked people where the closest ballroom dancing would be, and they would say, ‘Portland,’ so I said to myself, ‘I guess I’ll start teaching again.’”
Theriault first approached the SAD 27 adult education office, which said she was welcome to offer a ballroom dance class, as long as she got at least 10 participants to sign up.
“I thought, ‘No way am I going to get that many,’” she said. “But that first night, 16 people showed up, and it’s been growing ever since.”
Theriault offers eight-week sessions and usually teaches out of the New Canada town office. She moved this past weekend to New Sweden for a change of scenery and to provide a more central location for people south of The Valley.
This night’s focus was on the waltz, a dance style Theriault said is among the most romantic.
“Ballroom dance is any partner dance,” she said. “I know 18 different styles but routinely teach six of them.”
Among those are the tango, rumba, swing, fox trot and cha-cha. One of her favorites is West Coast Swing, a style she said differs from other dances in that both men and women trade off taking the lead.
“In the other dances, the man leads and the woman follows,” Theriault said. “In swing, there is more give and take, and it really gets the creative juices flowing.”
Dating from the 16th century, the waltz, Theriault said as she lined up her students — men on one side, women on the other, facing each other — is the oldest and original ballroom dance.
“It was extremely scandalous when it was first introduced,” she said. “It was the first dance where couples actually touched each other.”
Like it or not, she said, for the three hours of dancing Saturday night, the men were totally in charge, at least when it came to the waltz.
“As long as you are on the dance floor, the guys are in control ladies,” Theriault said. “But only until 9 o’clock.”
For information on Theriault’s next dance class, or to schedule private lessons, email BallroomChristina@gmail.com.
