Apparently shoe style was optional at a country-waltz class recently at Catalina Foothills High School, because cowboy boots, hiking shoes and sandals were all represented.
A dance room in the back of the gym glowed with white light as several couples learned the country waltz from instructor Colleen Avender.
Students counted "one, two, three, four, five, six" in unison as partners performed outside turns, hand changes, single-hand turns to exit and four-part sequences, to name a few, during the two-hour class last Wednesday night.
"Anyone can take any one-night class. I do all one-night two-hour workshops, and it gives them enough to go out and do some dancing," said Avender, who has been teaching all types of dancing, from tango to ballroom dancing to the country waltz, for 36 years.
Avender, who is also the program coordinator for the Catalina Foothills School District, through which the class was offered, will teach more classes in the fall, starting with ballroom waltz in September.
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Since she's been teaching so long, the challenge is to offer classes that keep people coming back and bring in new folks, too.
Newlyweds Leslie Bouman and Michael Finkelstein figured taking a country waltz class with Avender would be a good idea, especially since she taught them their wedding dance.
"It keeps us having fun," said Bouman, between giggles. "We take a lot of dance with Colleen."
Upcoming classes
Colleen Avender will be teaching two-hour dance workshops in the fall. All are 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Catalina Foothills High School, 4300 E. Sunrise Drive. Cost is $20 per couple.
• Ballroom waltz: Sept. 7 and 14
• Foxtrot: Sept. 28 and Oct. 5
• Salsa: Oct. 7 and 14
Cost is $20 per couple. Go to www.cfsd16.org/schools/ communityschools to sign up.
Contact photographer David Sanders at 573-4155 or dsanders@azstarnet.com
