Bozeman is a city rich with cultural opportunities, one of which might come as a surprise to many. Long before Bozeman Symphony…and even longer before Intermountain Opera Association…there began a ballroom dance club in Bozeman that is still thriving today.
When Ballroom Dance Bozeman began over 80 years ago, they originally called themselves Formal Dance Club and hosted monthly dinner-dances in the once-elegant ballroom at the Elks Club. The dances were very well attended by many of Bozeman’s prominent citizens, always formal, and always couples only. Singles weren’t welcomed until the 1990s. As new folks joined and a “younger” board of directors emerged (in their 40s versus their 70s and 80s), things continued to evolve with the dance group. In the early years, the attendees only danced two styles of dance, unlike the wide variety offered today. And music providers expanded from the same band at every dance to an assortment of live music providers and an occasional DJ.
Despite inevitable changes that came over multiple decades, the organization stayed true to the tradition of hosting formal ballroom dances using the Gallatin Gateway Inn and the Emerson Ballroom as their venues after the Elks Club was no longer available. In 2008, the organization incorporated as a nonprofit under the name Bozeman Formal Dance Club, and then later changed their name to Ballroom Dance Bozeman. Although the annual Gala is now the only dance where formal attire is expected, most attendees love the opportunity to “dress up” and go dancing. For venues, the group now uses the Bozeman Senior Center and the Bozeman Event Center in the Masonic Lodge.
Ballroom Dance Bozeman did have to pause their regularly scheduled dances during 2020 and part of 2021 due to Covid, but resumed the dances with their 2021-22 season that began last September. Dancers were jubilant to return.
Christopher Borton, co-founder and director of Sage Mountain Center in Whitehall, said, “It is so nice to be able to social dance again after Covid. I'm thankful that Ballroom Dance Bozeman continues to offer a space for socialization, education, exercise, and practicing the universal language of dance!”
Obviously, Ballroom Dance Bozeman doesn’t just benefit those living in Bozeman. People come from Billings, Livingston, Clyde Park, Big Sky, Belgrade, Butte, Whitehall, Missoula, Helena, Great Falls, and many other locations in Montana.
Ray, who just turned 90 in March, regularly drives over from Norris because “the social opportunity keeps me mentally sharp. Plus, the Senior Center is the biggest place around and has the best dance floor.”
The now famous Albert Einstein College of Medicine study showed that frequent dancing is the only activity that reduced dementia by 76%. Stanford University researchers deduced that the subjects in that study likely danced in retirement the dances they had danced in their youth: foxtrot, waltz, swing, rumba, and cha cha cha—ballroom dances. (https://socialdance.stanford.edu/syllabi/smarter.htm).
Ballroom dancing is a partnership dance done by two people, often in closed dance embrace, and is a tremendous way to increase the cognitive benefits of dancing. The Einstein study showed that dynamic and rapid-fire decision-making creates new neural paths in our brains, which are essential to maintaining brain health. The Stanford report says it best:
“In social dancing, the Follow role automatically gains a benefit, by making hundreds of split-second decisions as to what to do next, sometimes unconsciously so…this role doesn't ‘follow’; they interpret the signals their partners are giving them, and this requires intelligence and decision-making, which is active, not passive.”
That benefit is less “automatic” for the Lead role, but the Stanford author encourages the Lead to match that degree of decision-making in two ways. “Really pay attention to your partner and what works for them, and constantly adapt your dancing to these observations—that’s rapid-fire split-second decision-making. Also challenge yourself to try new things, make more decisions more often.”
Dorothy Bradley, former Montana Legislator, added
“We really love a big dance floor. We love the music, the movement, the beat, the human touch, and the socializing and camaraderie which crisscrosses all ages, cultures, and politics. The Ballroom Dance Bozeman group is a particularly wonderful set of humans—generous, encouraging, always sharing dances, always joyous and hospitable. Dan and I are happy in their midst.”
Clearly, ballroom dancing has much to recommend it and, in Bozeman, we have the treasured legacy, Ballroom Dance Bozeman, to provide us opportunities to do it frequently.
“We really love a big dance floor. We love the music, the movement, the beat, the human touch, and the socializing and camaraderie which crisscrosses all ages, cultures, and politics. The Ballroom Dance Bozeman group is a particularly wonderful set of humans—generous, encouraging, always sharing dances, always joyous and hospitable.”
A multitude of studies document a plethora of health benefits facilitated by dancing—more than by any other physical activity. Reversing aging in the brain, making us smarter, reducing stress and depression, increasing strength, flexibility, and balance, increasing serotonin, improving bone and cardiovascular health—who doesn’t want those benefits!
Ballroom Dance Bozeman invites you to their Season Opener Dance on Saturday, September 17, 2022, at the Bozeman Senior Center, from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Attire is dressy-casual with clean dance shoes to protect the dance floor. Price is $20 per person (included in the Season Pass). Singles & couples welcome. You don’t have to be an expert dancer to enjoy their dances. More information is available at https://ballroomdancebozeman.org/
Ballroom Dance Bozeman is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting ballroom dancing. Their volunteer Board of Directors serves to organize events for the benefit of the dance community, hosting at least 7 dance events each year.
Rebecca Ballotta is an award-winning writer, editor, and publishing coach who lives in Bozeman. Dancing is her passion and her therapy. She can be reached via her website: http://www.rebeccaballotta.com/
