Last Monday, I stopped by the Ridgeway Recreation Center, and I’m glad I did.
I wasn’t able to stay long, but I stayed long enough to realize I had stumbled into one of the best things happening in town.
Every Monday at 6 p.m., TJ Canty leads a line dancing class that draws about 30 people, mostly women, who come ready to move, laugh and get their exercise in.
And trust me, they are getting it in.
These ladies are not just walking laps around the gym. They are out there sliding, turning, gliding and stepping in the name of love.
TJ keeps the music flowing with a little bit of everything.
I heard some James Brown, a little “Doin’ It to Death” and newer songs like “My Type of Carrying On,” which many folks know from TikTok thanks in part to Ridgeway native and Fairfield Central alum Alvin Wilson Jr., better known as DJ 1K.
The playlist covers all the bases: classic line dances, trail ride music, square dancing and songs that make you want to say, “I don’t know what step they’re doing, but I’m about to jump in and figure it out.”
That’s what I loved most about the class.
Everybody is learning together.
Some folks are beginners. Some are there just to move a little and have fun. And then you’ve got the advanced division, people like sister and brother duo Jordyn and Carson Adams, who make it look so smooth you start wondering if they graduated from TikTok University. Y’all, they are so good. You could really just come to watch them dance.
But no matter what level they’re on, everyone is helping each other.
They miss a step, laugh, and jump right back in.
Now, I do have one question.
Where are the menfolk?
The ladies are holding it down, but we need some men in there too.
And before you say, “I can’t dance,” neither could half the folks in there when they started.
That’s the whole point.
You show up, you laugh at yourself, and you learn.
Plus, if nothing else, it’s good cardio.
You can either spend $5 learning to dance or spend $150 at the chiropractor because your knees locked up trying to cut grass all weekend.
I’m planning to be there next Monday at 6 p.m., ready to get my Cha Cha Slide on.
I hope you’ll join us.
I believe the cost is $5, and, based on what I saw, it is worth every penny. Well, we don’t make pennies anymore, but you get the point. It’s worth it! So come on out.
Good music. Good people. Good exercise.
And in a world where too many people are isolated, it’s a simple reminder that sometimes the best thing you can do is step out, get moving, and be part of the community.
See y’all on the dance floor. Or at least somewhere near it, trying to keep up.
Kenny Robertson, an educator and comedian, is a native of Ridgeway.