Shippensburg residents were offered the opportunity to become a star like those seen on “So You Think You Can Dance,” “Dancing with the Stars” and “Dance Moms,” on Monday.
Dance instructor Frank Hancock taught this fall’s first set of dance classes at the Grove Theater in H. Ric Luhrs Performing Arts Center. This is Hancock’s seventh year teaching dance lessons at Shippensburg University. He has taught more than 19,000 people at 25 different locations, including Pennsylvania State University, Dickinson College and Carlisle Barracks.
Hancock first got involved in dancing as a child when his mother signed him up. Back then, dancing was more popular and his class consisted of 100 children. During his time at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, New York, Hancock was faced with the question of, “What do you do well?” That is when he realized he could use his dancing skill to teach others.
Dance classes are every Monday over the course of the next five weeks. Hancock teaches two types of classes — beginner, which starts at 5:30 p.m., and advanced, which starts at 6:30 p.m. During the beginner class, participants learn the swing, foxtrot, tango and cha cha.
The advanced class focuses on the waltz, mambo, two-step, rumba and advanced swing. These classes give dancers a chance to further their skills and build onto what they already know.
According to Hancock, there are three main reasons to dance. The first is because it is fun. Additionally, dancing is a great aerobic exercise that can burn up to 400 calories in one hour. Lastly, dance, specifically ballroom dance, can help ward off dementia with its cognitive workout.
Kevin Kinaid surprised his wife, Shannon Kinaid with lessons after she persistently bugged him. Shannon knew Hancock well since he was her son Greg’s junior ROTC instructor at Cedar Cliff High School. Greg is currently an ROTC student at SU.
Leslie Folmer Clinton, SU vice president and Luhrs Director, was eager to learn how to dance after witnessing coworkers dancing at a charity event. Soon after she reached out to Hancock, who several retirees said they took lessons from.
Hancock is a favored instructor since he teaches effectively at an inexpensive price. In addition, he puts the men at ease with his constant joking.
“For the next 59 minutes they get to be in charge,” Hancock said when referring to how men are the leaders of the couple in regards to dancing, as opposed to their role in society.
Hancock also explained that men have no rhythm since their rhythm rib was taken out of them and put into Eve. To compensate for their lack of pattern, he would say their steps aloud. Women then had to do what they normally do, do the opposite of what the man told them to do.
Hancock’s instructions started out simple, “Left and right down. Pick it up. Left and right down. Pick it up.”
Gradually he added more steps to the dance. Before teaching the participants the next move, he demonstrated with his volunteer helpers. After practicing a few times individually, they joined their partner and eventually joined the song.
Hancock explained how dancing is simple. If someone can walk, they can dance.
“I could teach a blade of grass to dance,” Hancock said.
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