Instructor gives new dancers confidence

While the fifth season of "Dancing with the Stars" is winding down, a couple of Lombard Park District dance classes are just starting up this Monday.

Instructor Marilyn Fredericks will once again be guiding participants through a Social Dance class, followed by an Introduction to Latin Dance.

The first class begins at 8 p.m., with the second one following at 8:45 p.m. Classes will be at the Lombard Community Building, 433 E. St. Charles Road.

Fredericks, who has been teaching dance classes for the Lombard Park District for several years, appreciates what the popular TV show has done for ballroom dancing. She stops short of saying it has spurred a comeback, and insists it has just rekindled an ever-present interest.

"It never went away," she said. "Always someone will be ballrooming. The popular dances will change from time to time -- like disco or rock and roll. With rock and roll, nobody ever touched each other then. Now people are coming back together again. I think the influence of 'Dancing with the Stars' definitely has brought that about."

While she is a dance instructor herself, Fredericks admits there is only so much she can do.

"You can teach people dance steps, but you cannot teach them to dance," she said. "Only God can do that."

Obviously she's talking about the natural feel for the rhythm that some people seem to be blessed with. Those of us with two left feet, however, might even be hard-pressed to learn the steps, so Fredericks aims for enjoyment.

"Many guys just haven't had the opportunity to learn how to dance," she said.

"To do a simple fox trot, a simple swing dance or a basic waltz. This gives them the opportunity without threat in the park district. Everybody comes in apprehensive, and everybody leaves smiling."

Fredericks has taught dance to all ages, but takes great pride in a social dance/social etiquette program she has been running at Hadley Junior High School through the PTA for the past 10 years.

Do the kids participating actually learn the social graces?

"Oh, they do, indeed," Fredericks said. "And they dress beautifully. The girls wear skirts and the boys wear ties. You have to learn how to hold the social dance position. We call it a frame. They do very well.

"The girls are always more advanced than the boys, and the boys are always very shy and shorter. It's beautiful to see them. I'm very pleased with it."

She takes a no-nonsense approach, especially in the beginning, but eventually wins over the middle-schoolers.

"First they throw rocks at me, and then they throw rose petals," she likes to say.

"Because I give them the confidence that they need for social relationships with the other sex. When they walk into that room they're very apprehensive. They're just nervous and they don't know the first thing about it. By the time they leave that class they're having a good time."

She is often amazed at how much her students have matured when she sees one of them years later out in public, and is happy that she has had a small part in that development.

"The best thing you can do for a young man or woman is give them a little self-confidence so that they know what to do and exactly how to do it," she said.

"When they walk out on a dance floor it's not insecurity. They know what to do and how to do it."

Fredericks speaks from experience -- she has a long resume of dance instruction. She grew up in Maywood, where she began dancing as a toddler and has not stopped since. She is a long-time Elmhurst resident and has taught almost any step you can think of, from waltz to country line.

"(Teaching) social dance is very rewarding because you like to see a couple dance together," Fredericks said.

"Because, if you dance together, you'll have something in common and you can go out in the evening. It's a very special thing to see men and women dance together."

For details or to register for one of the classes call (630) 620-7322 or visit www.lombardparks.com.