Sports

Soul Line Dancing Coming to Rec Centers

Classes Beginning Next Week




Mayor Cory A. Booker and Director of Neighborhood and Recreational Services Tharien Karim Arnold have announced hat the city is launching Soul Line Dancing classes, beginning Wednesday, April 18. The classes will be held Wednesdays from noon to 1:45 p.m. at Boylan Street Recreation Center, and on Wednesdays from 6  p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at John F. Kennedy Recreation Center.

Boylan Recreation Center is located at 916 South Orange Ave. in the West Ward and John F. Kennedy Recreation Center is located at 211 West Kinney St. (entrance on Howard Street).

The classes will teach dances such as the Wobble, Down South Shuffle, several “Slides,” and newer dances like the CC Rider, Wonderful, and Chillin’.
 
“Line Dancing is a great form of exercise. It is an easy and enjoyable way to lose weight and relieve stress,” Mayor Booker said. “It rejuvenates the mind and body. I urge all residents to get on their feet and dance to the beat. Let’s move towards a stronger and healthier Newark!”
 
All persons participating must be Newark residents and submit a completed registration form. Participants should bring water bottles. The instructor at Boylan Recreation Center will be Najah Riker, and Douglas “X-Man” Hawkins, Jr., will teach in the evenings at JFK Recreation Center. Both instructors have several years of teaching experience.
 
Line dancers move to choreographed steps to numerous music genres, i.e. pop, jazz, hip-hop, gospel or rhythm and blues music with synchronicity, rhythm, flow and balance. The movements include steps, turns, bends, cha-chas, twirls, hops, jumps and twists.
 
The dances may fluctuate in speed as the dance steps and music progresses.  Each dance usually has a rhythmic theme including a start, middle and finish.  Participants can burn as much as 300 calories in a single 1-hour session.
 
To find out more about the Soul Line Dancing program, contact Andréa Mason at the Division of Recreation and Cultural Affairs either at 94 William Street, 2nd Floor, or by telephone at 973 733-3620, or by e-mail at masonan@ci.newark.nj.us.


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