Lady of the dance: Longtime Sterling teacher now selling instructional DVDs

STERLING – Learning to dance just got easier.

For more than 30 years, students have been asking Julie Dale of Dale School of Dance for the Performing Arts in Sterling whether she could recommend a good introductory dance video so that they could practice their newly learned steps at home.

For more than 30 years, Dale had been at a loss to name one that didn't feature professional exhibition dancers who flaunt advanced kicks, turns and swirls beyond the abilities of her beginners.

"Ballroom dancing was always a big part of my dance studio over the years," she said. "But now, with 'Dancing With the Stars' and other TV shows sweeping the nation, classes are more in demand than ever."

Couples or entire wedding parties come to her studio on Saturdays for private lessons. When they leave, they want to practice at home.

So Dale finally decided to put her decades of experience teaching all forms of dance to practical use. With the assistance of two of her students, Onnica and Ed Martinez of Rock Falls, Dale created her own introduction to dance videos being sold by Barnes & Noble.

"We couldn't keep up with the demand, and then Barnes and Noble contacted me," Dale said. "Of course I am happy to have my videos available to a wider audience."

The threesome recorded "The Dance Collection," a series featuring the waltz, foxtrot, swing and mambo. The videos allow dancers to see the male and female dance positions separately, then together.

More than 2,500 copies have been sold since they became available in July.
Barnes & Noble sells them as a set for $73.50.

A new Rumba I and II DVD and an intermediate-level Foxtrot II DVD hit the shelves this month, for dancers who want to add "flourishes" to their dance steps, Dale said.

Each comes with instructions describing the dance and how to follow the moves demonstrated on the DVD.

"Poise, confidence and physical fitness is what dancing is all about. That's always been the studio's motto," Dale said.

Her own background in dance began during World War II, when she was a child performer with the Paradettes USO troupe under Jack Kennough.

Dale is a former president of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts, and she teaches at Highland Community College in Freeport and at Lake Carroll Resort in Lanark. She is scheduled to begin teaching soon at River's Edge in Belvidere and at Newman Central Catholic High School in Sterling.

She also owns the Rockford Dance Club, which meets every other month at various locations.

New classes begin Nov. 16 at her Sterling studio, 6 E. 23rd St.

Call 815-718-1814 or e-mail julied12@hotmail.com for more information.