Dance

The Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday supported spending $2,500 to hold a swing dance event in downtown. Councilman N. Linn Hendershot, who is credited with proposing the event, asked the council for its support. "The idea was to come up with something that draws people downtown," he said. The event will be held at the Masonic Temple on the first block of South Potomac Street, possibly on April 28, he said. The event could be held at a later date if more time is needed to advertise it, city Public Information Manager Karen Giffin said.

CASCADE - There was something in the air at Pen Mar Park on Sunday. It was a sunny afternoon and despite the 1,400-foot altitude, the air was warm enough for the dancers in the pavilion to work up a good sweat as they kicked and swirled to big-band tunes. Still, each time the Music Makers Orchestra lowered its instruments, there it was, unmistakably: autumn. And with autumn comes the end of the Pen Mar Park summer Sunday concert series. What's a Lindy Hopper to do? "We go into this kind of hibernation mode," said Steve Springer of Hagers-town, a local swing-dance enthusiast and instructor.

FREDERICK, Md. -Chopteeth's debut album will reflect the band's love for Afrobeat and the loathing of "intellectual malaise" that members together three years ago, said frontman Michael Shereikis. Chopteeth, a 14-piece Afrobeat ensemble, will perform at 7 p.m. on Sunday in Frederick, as part of a free summer concert series at Baker Park. Chopteeth will release its first album, "Chopteeth AfroFunk Big Band," in September. In the tradition of Afrobeat, they hope to present music with a message.

GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Katie Colbert believes her classmates at Greencastle-Antrim High School think ballet is boring and easy. "I don't think they know how difficult it is," the sophomore said. The misconception arises, she said, because people who took weekly classes as a child only remember repetitive exercises at the barre. But now, at 16, Katie and ballerinas like her are taking classes five times a week. "Some of my friends at school don't realize how much I put into it," Katie said.

The Tri-State Civitan Club hosted a picnic and dance for 60 people at Pen Mar Park on July 26. Club members had new club shirts to wear for the occasion. A first time event for the club, members hope to continue doing this annually in the future. Clients from Star Community, Arc and other groups enjoyed the food and dancing. Music was supplied by DJ Mark Slate.

Magnum Force All Stars' open hip-hop dance team Velocity captured the grand championship title at the Cheer Tech Titan Championship in Baltimore on April 24. Velocity, representing Magnum Force in the category of competitive dance, won its division taking first place in the open hip-hop category. Additionally, its overall score was the highest of all dance teams landing them the grand championship title. Generally, teams are scored using criteria established by the U.S. All-Star Federation, which has helped standardize the cheer/dance industry.

Stand on the scenic overlook on a sunny, summer Sunday afternoon in Pen Mar Park and gaze at one of the most beautiful views in Maryland. You'll be in the mountains of Washington County on the border of Pennsylvania, northeast of Hagerstown. The altitude is 1,400 feet and the temperature is always 10 degrees cooler than on the floor of the Cumberland Valley below. Close your eyes and feel the summer breeze and listen to the sounds. Imagine the year is 1880. Listen to the orchestra music coming from the dance pavilion close by, and picture in your mind young ladies in long, flowing skirts dancing with young men in dark suits with long jackets and bowties.

Washington County was recognized as one of the 100 best communities for young people by America's Promise Alliance and ING U.S. during a ceremony Friday evening at Valley Mall in Halfway. Shalom Black Lane, executive director of Teens Have Choices of Washington County, said the honor was announced Sept. 12. She said Friday's event, which included a dance off for teens and a number of educational booths, was the formal acceptance ceremony. “It's a really huge honor for us to be named one of the 100 best communities for youths in America,” Black Lane said.

If you found yourself scratching your head Wednesday afternoon wondering why dozens of people were flailing about in Public Square, don't feel so bad. Hagerstown resident Brandon Shirley, who was responsible for the act, said he had only found out about the Harlem Shake dance craze 48 hours earlier. Harlem Shake, a dance that is performed to a song by the same name, is characterized by one person who starts dancing while others remain still. Then everyone begins to dance, thrusting their hips, doing backward flips, wiggling around on top of furniture - seemingly doing what ever comes natural.

Several freshmen received a ride to the Smithsburg High School Homecoming Dance in an appropriate car for the time period. The dance theme was "The Roaring '20s. " Ninth-grade twins Demi and Tara Jacques and friends were escorted to the dance by their father, Brian Jacques, driving his 1930 Model A Ford.