Sandusky Line Dance Crew offers free lessons

Sandusky resident Bridget Seavers makes a good case for showing up at the free Tuesday-night lessons in line dancing at the Ohio Veterans Home."Since November, I've lost 37 pounds" said Seavers, 52.She doesn't claim the two-hour weekly session at OVH provided all of her health benefits. Want to dance? •WHAT: Sandusky Line Dance Crew •WHEN: 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays •WHERE: Ohio Veterans Home, enter through main entrance •COST: Free. All are welcome. •MORE: "Sandusky Line Dance Crew" on Facebook Since she started attending the weekly dance sessions, she's also eating better. When she drives to the store, she parks away from the door and walks, rather than circling slowly around, looking for the parking space closest to the entrance.But the dancing was a fun way to get moving, she said."I'm not a great dancer. That's what I'm saying," she said. "I haven't been physically active in the last 20 years"Seavers is a member of a new group, Sandusky Line Dance Crew, that meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays at OVH, in the main hall through the main entrance. Although the local group is mostly women and mostly African American, everyone is invited to attend.Line dancing crosses all kinds of musical and ethnic boundaries. Many men line dance. The Sandusky Line Dance Crew dances to R&B, but in many parts of the country, line dancing is associated with the twang of country music.According to online sources, the 1992 country hit "Achy Breaky Heart," by Billy Ray Cyrus — better known these days as Miley's dad — helped bring line dancing to many people's attention. Line dancing is a choreographed routine in which the dancers all do the same steps at the same time.The Sandusky Line Dance Crew's instructor is Racquel Pace, 46, a Sandusky resident who encountered line dancing at her brother's 1976 graduation party."They were doing the Bus Stop," she said. "That was awesome. Everyone was doing the same thing at the same time"Pace, like the other members of the Sandusky Line Dance Crew, wears a purple T-shirt with the name of the group on it. But she's the one at the front of the group, giving instructions. She also has enough selfassurance to dance in tall high heels, when everyone else seems to be wearing tennis shoes.After each week's lessons, Pace posts the lessons on the group's Facebook page for anyone who wants to practice at home. The group's Facebook page lists 38 members.Group member Tondra Frisby joined after she spotted a posting about the group."I saw somebody post something on Facebook," said Frisby, explaining how Pace makes it easy to pick up the dances. "She teaches in segments, piece by piece"For many, the dancing is a family affair. Seavers' daughter, Briana Seavers, 27, and granddaughter, Juliyah, 8, also dance.Pace's students also include her daughter, Imani, 15, a Sandusky High cheerleader, and John Pace, her husband.The group was founded by Charles Hancock, 59, of Sandusky, a local taxi driver who got tired of hearing doctors and nurses tell him to do something about his weight. Through a passenger, Hancock tracked down Pace and persuaded her to teach the new group.As the dancers practice, veterans home residents often drop by to watch. During Black History Month, in February, the crew gave a dancing demonstration to entertain the residents."They had the room lined up with all of the residents," Hancock said. "They really seemed to enjoy it"In June, when the weather in Sandusky finally warms up, the group will move outside for the Tuesday-night sessions. "Our plan is to take it to the street" Hancock said.Register photo/ANGELA WILHELM Racquel Pace, left, and Tondra Frisby spin as they dance Tuesday.