NIH R&W Country Western Line Dance Club 

What: This club holds a free weekly 1-hour lunchtime line dance class for all-comers (staff, patients, visitors, neighbors, etc.) in the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. The dance level is beginner to intermediate. You do not need experience in any type of dancing to enjoy this activity. We specialize in "two-left feet," while making sure that even advanced dancers have a good time. Most of the dances and music are country western, but there is a smattering of other styles, e.g., ballroom, Latin, Irish,
disco, etc. We do no couples dancing. Attendance is usually in the range of 10-20 people. 

When: Every Wednesday or Thursday, 12pm-1pm.

Where: Building 10 Clinical Center, 1 SE Atrium (From Lobby, take East Corridor to end and turn right.)

Visitor Parking: P1 Level - entrance on east side of Building 10. $2 per hour. Take stairs to First Floor. Take East Corridor to end, turn right, and pass through two sets of door.

How Much: The classes are free, however, to attend you must be a current member of the NIH Recreation and Welfare (R&W) Association. Everyone is eligible to join the R&W as a "Preferred Member", which gives you recreational privileges like our Dance Club, even if you do not work at the NIH. If you have not already joined for the current year, you can bring $7.00 with you to class and enroll on the spot. You will receive a plastic Membership Card, a Membership Guide, and a Discount Guide. For more information on the R&W, visit its web site at http://www.recgov.org/r&w/r&w.html. Instructor: Dennis Askwith, a public health program analyst in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Telephone: 301-496-2606.

Our History: This class began in June 1995, has met over 700 times, and has covered about 100 dances. We cycle through all of the dances we have learned approximately once every 18 months and occasionally introduce new dances.

Why: The benefits of line dancing (per choreographer Jo Thompson):
  • Reduces stress while lowering blood pressure and cholesterol level
  • Increases energy
  • Improves strength and muscle tone
  • It's friendly and social
  • You don't need a partner
  • Age is not a factor
  • No special clothes are needed
  • You can do it, your kids can do it, even grandma & grandpa can do it. It's fun for the whole family. 


Step Sheets: Most step sheets can be found at http://www.apci.net/~drdeyne/steps.htm and all are available in hard copy at class. Also available in class are the step sheets for the dances we will be doing next week, for those who want to practice ahead of time.

Teach-It-Yourself: If you have a dance that you would like to teach, please let Dennis know and he will add it to our schedule. We are wide open to any type of dance -- country, folk, international, club, contra, hip hop, etc. If you are hesitant about teaching, Dennis will be happy to work with you on how best to present the lesson.

Dance Calendar: Want to line dance or couples dance in the evenings or on the weekends? Check out all the possibilities in the DC area at http://www.countrydancin.com.

Weekly E-Mail: To subscribe to our weekly e-mail newsletter, sent out on Thursday mornings, confirming class and announcing the dances for the day, please e-mail Dennis at askwithd@mail.nih.gov .