By day, it’s a daycare space. But almost every Friday night, it transforms into a ballroom dance floor. A dozen dancers, aged 20 to 80, gather, greeting each other as they take their places in dance lines. The instructor sets up the music and salsa starts to play, setting the rhythm.
At the front of the room stands Janine Mullowney, the dance instructor, encouraging the dancers to divide into groups: leader or follower. Traditional salsa and cha-cha music, intermingled with Lady Gaga, fills the room. Mullowney demonstrates each choreography move, counting out the steps. “Side-cross, and twist… and twist… and twist,” her voice clear and precise as she shows where hands and feet should land with every beat.