Today we’d like to introduce you to Palomar Smooth Dancers.
Hi Palomar, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Palomar Smooth Dancers is a non-profit social club whose purpose is the promotion of ballroom dancing. It provides its members support in their interest to learn, and improve, their Ballroom Dance skills, whether just beginning or experienced dancers. It also offers opportunities to meet and share friendships within the background of ballroom dance. There are seven Chapters in California reaching from San Diego to San Francisco with a total of more than 650 members. The Palomar Chapter, with 94 members currently, was established in 1959 for North County residents. Lessons are held once a week in Vista and we have a monthly social dance in Carlsbad, usually the last Sunday of the month, where a variety of ballroom dance music is played. Occasionally show dances are also performed, and an opportunity for the Advanced class to display what they have learned from lessons is provided as well. Often the Social will have a theme, such as Halloween, where members can optionally dress up for the dance.
Once a year, the club hosts a Holiday dance the last Sunday of November that will include a meal as well as being semi-formal.
Group lessons are divided between Beginning and Intermediate levels each week. Beginning lessons are meant for people with minimal experience, although more advanced students also may get a lot out of the basic fundamentals taught. Intermediate lessons are for those students with experience in the dance taught. An opportunity to perform the lesson’s teachings is provided at a following Social.
Beginning Lessons change monthly with an emphasis on the basic dances, Waltz, Fox Trot, Rumba, Cha Cha, Swing, and Tango. The lessons build over the month, introducing more complexity and moves through the interval.
Intermediate lessons are taught over 2 months to allow for more in-depth training for the particular dance. Other dances may also be introduced, such as Viennese Waltz, Bolero and Night Club 2-Step.
A non-profit, volunteer-run organization, National Smooth Dancers (NSD) was founded in 1938 for the purpose of creating greater interest in ballroom dancing and to establish friendliness and good will among dancers. Two large events bring the National Smooth dancers together from across the state.
Bakersfield Smooth Dancers hosts a 2-day convention at the end of March. While providing multiple opportunities for dancing, with a theme for each session, they also provide a formal dance as part of their coronation. As part of the weekend, Showcases spotlight members from each club as teams perform dances to show their skills.
The National convention is held Labor Day weekend and is hosted by one of the 6 other clubs. From Friday evening to Monday morning people from across the state gather for a weekend of ballroom dance.
Activities include amateur competitions, whether Chapter Teams performing club dances, or individuals competing in a variety of dances at various levels. Professional Dancers also perform during the weekend to highlight the best of Ballroom Dancing.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Covid created unique challenges for a dance club as we obviously are in-person and non 6 foot apart when dancing. Our previous venues were closed, and a hiatus was required from club activities. We kept in touch as a group though, using Zoom for our monthly club meetings. We then followed County guidelines to open up our activities again. We also found a new venue for our Social dances in Carlsbad at the Pine Avenue Gymnasium. Still, we survived and have been thriving as a club as our numbers have steadily increased since 2022.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Our club wants to provide a framework and opportunity for learning and growing Ballroom dance skills from beginning to skilled advanced moves. With opportunities to perform, as well as compete in Amateur competitions at various levels, PSD fosters an environment for growth. Also, being a social club, the members create and foster friendships and support with the background of dancing.
Since 1952 the National Organization has elected Queens for each chapter as an ambassador to the other clubs. Our Palomar Queens are selected to represent our club through a system where contributions to the club are weighed with a willingness to travel to the other clubs throughout the state.
Coronations are Black Tie formal events where each chapter crowns their new queen for the year. Other chapters’ queens travel to honor the new ambassador. Everyone is encouraged to travel to the events and enjoy the formal festivities as well as the opportunity to dance with others from around the state.
Palomar holds its Coronation in October for our new Queen. There will be a reception, formal dinner, multiple show dances, and an evening of ballroom dance. There are multiple opportunities to help the club host the festivities as people from across the state come to honor the new queen and enjoy the festivities.
Members of the club also get a small discount to attend the activities the club sponsors, whether the Monday night lessons in Vista, or free attendance at the monthly Social.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
We are not in competition with the various studios in the area as much as a compliment and opportunity for people to show and enhance their skills. By being a part of a Statewide organization, we have multiple opportunities to dance with the other clubs as well. San Diego is one club with which we share our activities.
We are always looking for places to host our more formal dances, especially our Coronations, and would welcome any help if finding large dance floors at reasonable prices for those activities.
Otherwise, folks can come to a lesson, or a social and see if the atmosphere of the club matches their expectations. You do not need a partner for our activities as we share partners during the evening and encourage rotating during the lesson or the dance. You dot have to be a member of the club to attend any of our functions and activities.
Pricing:
- Weekly Lessons $10 for 1, $15 for both
- Monthly Social dance $15
- Coronation $65
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.palomarsmoothdancers.com
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/palomar-smooth-dancers-vista?osq=Palomar+Smooth+Dancers
- Other: https://www.groupon.com/deals/palomar-smooth-dancers-1
