NORWICH – The week of Sept. 21-28 marks the National Ballroom Dance celebration and the Norwich Dance Club has expanded its community initiative to celebrate and open the doors to the community. The celebration begins with a Big Band Dance on Friday. A 12-piece professional band will play big band favorites such as swing, cha-cha, waltz and Latin swings. A free Waltz lesson will be offered from 6 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 21 prior to the dance at their ballroom located in downtown Norwich.

The Norwich Dance Club was established in 2008 as a community group with the goal of learning, enjoying and sharing the joy of ballroom dance in the region. This social dance group has over 100 members and has delivered multiple public performances, historical exhibits, and dances to local nursing homes. Over 50 students learn Latin and ballroom dance at the Norwich Dance Club each month.

Founder Martha Ryan commented about this year’s celebration, “This month is also our anniversary. Our milestones as a community group are recorded with laughter. Our largest accomplishments are the memories of performances we have done for nursing homes.”