Club Keeps in Step With the Western Dancing Boom : The nonprofit organization’s aims are to promote fun, help people to meet and to be family-oriented.
Judging by the growing popularity of country music and dancing, the opening of Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks tomorrow night could well resemble the Oklahoma Land Rush. Boasting a 1,200 square-foot maple dance floor, the new club is the latest of over a dozen local country establishments.
Now, just like bingo junkies, local country dance fans can find a fix seven nights a week in the area. They can take a dance lesson at several clubs and restaurants that cater to the country crowd. Or they can sign up for extended line dance or couples dance courses offered through park and recreation departments, adult education or private institutions.
And once folks learn their basic footwork, they are invited to join the 230-member Country Lovers Country Western Dance Club.
“It is the only nonprofit organization in the county devoted to promoting country-western music and dancing,” said founding president, Rick Henderson. “It’s the place to go for anybody who learns the basics and would like to get more involved socially and learn more line and couples dances than they’ll ever imagine,” he added.
But it wasn’t always that way.
“When Country Lovers started in 1989 the Ban-Dar in Ventura and the Frontier Club in Santa Paula were about the only places around to dance country western. And there weren’t many lessons in those days,” said Carl Wade, the group’s current president.
People would show up at various venues in large groups, Wade said. Next, they began to attend Henderson’s Sunday dance classes at Maxie’s Lounge in Oakview. And a group used to meet at the Frontier Club on Friday nights to discuss starting a dance club.
Finally on January 1, 1990, about 40 people gathered at the home of founding and current club vice president, Patty Cantarini. “Everybody and their families got involved with laying down the name, colors and logo,” said Wade, who is writing the club history for an orientation pamphlet.
“The name was invented by Rick Henderson. And Rita Raddatz, a charter member, asked her son-in-law, Rick Gulden, to help with the art work on the logo,” said Wade. The logo shows the silhouetted back view of a guitar-playing guy and his gal sitting in the moonlight on a split rail fence, Wade said.
That familiar logo is now featured on the club’s T-shirts, belt buckles, turquoise satin jackets and six-page monthly newsletter. And you’ll find Country Lovers boosters at every country music or dance event in the county and beyond.
Members often perform public “club demos” and exhibitions. Dancers may also audition for a spot on the eight-couple Country Lovers Gold Coast Dancers competition team, coached by Henderson.
“Carl has done a tremendous job of inspiring the club on its original lines: to have fun, meet people and be family-oriented,” said Henderson.
The club, which includes 39 children and teen-age members, is the backbone of country dance in the county. Members meet weekly to learn new moves and work on styling. And there are occasional hayrides and barbecues.
“We try to have an annual picnic for members and a holiday party every December. We try to be in three community parades a year. And we do over-nighters. For instance, about six couples recently went to the Western Connection, a huge country-western dance club in San Dimas,” Wade said.
“Right now we’re still trying to build the club,” he continued. “We have the facilities to teach children and would like to attract more of them. But we don’t try to compete with the clubs and restaurants. We are a private club of people who already know how to dance. Our niche is having the intermediate couples country dancing, although you’ll find line dancing too.”
And to further encourage public interest, the club hot line will soon include information about K-Hay country celebrations to be held around the county. According to Wade, “It’s friends helpin’ friends to enjoy country-western dance.”
Robyn Loewenthal, an avid two-stepper, welcomes all news of country doin’s around the county. All submissions should arrive at least two weeks before the event. Write to her at 5200 Valentine Road, Suite 140, Ventura, 93003 or send faxes to 658-5576.
Details
* WHAT: Country Lovers Western Dance Club
* WHEN & WHERE: General meetings and dance lessons, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, the fellowship hall of College United Methodist Church, 16 Baylor Drive, Ventura; bimonthly public dances with lessons, 7 p.m., American Legion Post 339, 83 South Palm St., Ventura.
* COST: Annual membership: $25 singles, $35 couples (or single parent and child), $45 families
* HOT LINE: 647-1893.