Dance

katec@herald-mail.com Nikki Gouker, Miss Monocacy 2003, started dancing when she was 3 - about the same time she first heard "There She Is ... Miss America," the national pageant's trademark theme song. As a little girl, she watched the annually televised pageants with her family and decided she would one day be Miss America. "I wanted the glamour, I wanted to dance, I wanted that crown," Gouker says. As she makes her fifth bid for the Miss Maryland title, Gouker's perspective has changed.

Hagerstown's Women for Obama and friends gathered around a life-size cutout of President Barack Obama at Memorial Recreation Center's annual fundraiser dance at the Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center on West North Avenue in Hagerstown. This year's theme for the dance was "Living the Dream," which combined a celebration for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Inauguration of President Obama. Proceeds from the dance will go to support the youth programs at Memorial Recreation Center.

HAGERSTOWN -- Shannon Giles is sitting in an upstairs conference room of the Barbara Ingram School for the Arts, dreaming about his future in dance. The 16-year-old Falling Waters, W.Va., youth said he does not want to teach dance or run a studio. He talks about some other possibilities, then he focuses. "I want to be a star. Yeah, a star," Shannon said. Things are looking up for Shannon, who recently learned that he received a full scholarship to attend a summer dance program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City's Greenwich Village.

Country, rock, bluegrass ... There are plenty of options in the Tri-State area for music enthusiasts to dance the night away or just sit back and take in the tunes. Here's a recent sampling of the local live music scene.

FUNKSTOWN - A Valentine's dance and money bonanza at the Funkstown Moose Family Center will be Saturday at 4 p.m. The cost per couple for members and qualified guests is $30 for a prime rib dinner.

Learn to skate Antietam Skating Club is looking for people interested in learning how to roller skate. Learn to do jumps, spins, dance, skate backward or how to skate. The club meets at Family Skating Center, 17333 Virginia Ave. in Hagerstown. The club has skate floor time to practice. Call 301-432-2110 for information.

Robert and Janice Gray celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary, Feb. 27, 2010. A party was held at the Williamsport American Legion. Family and many friends enjoyed a wonderful meal and a band, which played for the dance that followed.

Miss Washington County 2010 Mary King appeared at the March meeting of the Kiwanis Club of Hagerstown, where she spoke about her platform, "AKA - Active Kids Achieve. " She said her program started close to her heart from her love for dance. As a dance teacher for the last six years, she realized there were children in the community who could not afford classes. She started saving money so she could give at least one child the chance to take dance and "Active Kids Achieve" was born.

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. - Berkeley Springs is celebrating its cultural roots with a yearlong event including music, dance and arts. The Back to the Roots event officially kicks off at 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 18, at the Ice House with a traditional dance party, according to Morgan Arts Council Executive Director Mary Hott. But those who want to learn how to dance before Sunday can learn traditional dances at 8 p.m. Friday at the Ice House. John Devine and Leslie Milbourne are teaching the free course.

1. Musical mouse "Angelina Ballerina" will be shown at 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 3, at The Capitol Theatre, 159 S. Main St., Chambersburg, Pa. The production is based on the children's book character. Tickets cost $3 to $13, plus service charge. Call 717-263-0202, email boxoffice@thecapitoltheatre.org or go to www.thecapitoltheatre.org . 2. Art in the movement of dance Neshema Dance Company will present contemporary dance as part of Hagerstown Community College's Dance Appreciation Week at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5, at Hagerstown Community College's Kepler Theater, Robinwood Drive, east of Hagerstown.