GETTING IN STEP WITH COUNTRY LINE DANCING

Mary Pensel and Duane Floydt are the club's dance instructors.

Lloyd and Dixie Hidd of Advance, in the foreground, dance.

Whether to country boogey, cha cha or waltz, people everywhere are standing in line to try out a new dance sensation. Called line dancing, this form of dance combines the benefits of low impact aerobics with the fun of moving to your favorite beat with your favorite friends.

In Jackson, the Country Club Western Dancers begin kickin' each Monday night at 7 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall on Highway 61 north of Jackson.

The group started in 1991 to continue classic country western dancing. Through various activities including dances, travel and meetings, they encourage the growth of quality country dancing in a family atmosphere.

Bob Crader, president of the club, says "camaraderie and friendships with good people" first brought him to the organization and this seems to be true for the club's other members.

Crader said that many members of the club felt that the only place that line dancing was being taught was in smoke-filled barrooms. The Country Club Western Dancers provides members with a more family-oriented atmosphere in which to learn to dance.

"If you can walk, you can dance," said Crader, pointing out the most devoted dancer, a woman with a brace on her leg and crutches leaning against a nearby table. All are welcome from 13 years of age and up.

"It's something my wife and I can both do together and it's a cheap date, too," laughed Jim Bollinger of his interest in line dancing.

One club member, Mary Pensel, acts as a choreographer. One of her dances, called "Waltzing Hearts," is taught to other dancers nationwide.

"I just like it," she said of dancing. "I guess I'm crazy but it's the most fun I've ever had."

Club members B.J. Crader and Darlene Margarbe say that they enjoy the dancing because it is good exercise.

Dr. Ollie Mae Ray, a health educator at Eastern Illinois University and author of "The Encyclopedia of Line Dances," agrees.

According to Ray, almost any kind of dance can be considered aerobic exercise if it increases the pulse and heart rate for at least 20 minutes.

In addition to increasing heart and lung fitness, line dancing can also help make you more flexible and coordinated. As you train your muscles to move to the beat, you gain more control of your movements. You are also shaping and toning your body. Some even lose a few pounds without changing their diets.

Line dancing at club meetings is even conducted like an exercise class. It starts with a warm up with beginning dances or a basic two-step around the room. Then the pace picks up. An intermediate dance is taught or a beginner's dance is reviewed. All levels of dance are touched upon throughout the evening.

Then if you're up to it the evening kicks up it's heels for one of the advanced dances.

There are several distinct advantages to line dancing as exercise and as a social event. Maybe one of the best things about line dancing is that you don't have to be in a gym to do it.

Line dancing has advantages over square dancing because there doesn't have to be a caller and you can dance wherever your friends gather. Also, there is no need for a partner in line dancing; you can do your own thing and be creative as long as you stay in beat and you can dress up or down -- cowboy boots or tennis shoes -- it's not expensive.

The Country Club Dancers are closely associated with two other Jackson dance clubs. Stroder Country on Highway 72 near Jackson has dancing on Tuesday nights from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and "Hi Cotn" Dancers meet at Stroder Country on Thursday nights.

The dancers in these three groups join together and attend workshops where they learn new dances and participate in demonstration teams.

These demonstration teams have danced in nursing homes, at the annual Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon and before a crowd of about 4,000 during the Center Square square-dance convention.

When asked if line dancing had any disadvantages, club members could think of only one -- it's addictive.