For more than a decade, Toni Grovier has had a love for line dancing. Since 2007 she has been sharing that love through the Footloose in Tellico Line Dance Club.
“I feel line dancing is an important form of exercise that many can enjoy,” she said. “It allows you to exercise your mind and your body while having fun with friends. Mentally, you are challenged to remember patterns and make your mind and feet work together. Physically — especially with the fast songs — you can get aerobic exercise. In our hour class we usually take over 5,000 steps.”
What sets line dancing apart from many other forms of dancing is that you don’t have to have a parter to participate.
“Many of us love to dance, but our partners don’t,” she said. “Our partners can come watch us at the club, enjoy a drink and visit while we dance. Everyone’s happy.”
It was a love for dancing and lack of a partner that got Grovier started in line dancing. She began taking lessons in St. Louis, Mo., when her husband, Bill, would travel for work and her daughters were attending college.
“After our home in Tennessee was built, I met Jane Erickson and we went to Cotton Eyed Joes for line dancing lessons,” Grovier said. “After a year or so, we decided to start line dancing in the Village. We started with eight ladies. Today, with the help of many people, we have a club called Footloose in Tellico (and) we have around 100 members.”
Three times a year, Grovier teaches introduction to line dancing, with classes ranging from 20-40 people.
She also teaches a combined class of intermediate and advance dancers twice a week, with 28-44 dancers.
Susan Margoshes began serving as president of the Footloose in Tellico Line Dance Club in January 2016.
Responsibilities include calling board meetings with the vice president, secretary, treasurer, social directors and social events directors every two to three months to plan monthly dances at the Yacht Club.
“They’re Thursday evenings once a month,” she said. “Three months out of the year, we have special events. We have a spring fling which is in April, we have a fall picnic dance — the last three years, we had that at the Toqua pavilion next to the golf course. It’s a potluck, and it’s a lot of fun. We have a Christmas dance. Those special events are just for dance (club) members. The other dances are for anyone.”
Margoshes joined the club more than three years ago after some friends in Tellico Village invited her.
“I love dancing,” Margoshes said. “It’s social. ... It’s good exercise too.”
When Grovier’s traveling, Margoshes helps teach the advanced classes with a couple other women.
“As a kid and as an adult, I took some ballet and jazz and modern, but I was never like a professional dancer,” Margoshes said. “But I do love dancing.”
The most rewarding aspect of serving as club president is planning dances for members to enjoy, she said.
“I also really enjoy helping to teach and helping people out if they’re having trouble with the dances,” Margoshes said.
Grovier recommends starting from the beginning and learning the terminology and basic steps before joining the class for experienced dancers on Monday and Wednesday.
“A lot of people will stay with the beginning classes for a year or whatever,” Margoshes said. “I don’t know how it’s going to be now. There’s some of us who want to learn a new dance every week. ... It’s just learning to compromise like anything. I’d say in general, people will take one or two beginner sessions if they love it.”
An introduction class will be held 1 p.m. March 28 at the Wellness Center, with classes every Tuesday and Thursday. Intermediate and advanced classes are now combined at 1-2 p.m. every Monday and Wednesday.
“Bring water, comfortable shoes and a smile,” Grovier said. “(The) only requirement is you love to dance.”
