Photos: Shaking a Leg With The Friday Nighters Dancing Club
“There are not too many places where you can listen to a live band and dance in a great atmosphere," Loren Kropat, the president of the Friday Nighters Dancing Club said.
By Elijah Walter Griffin, Sr.
Alexandria, VA – Loren Kropat has seen his fair share of dance floors over the years. He finds himself lucky to experience different cultures through the impact of dance. One of those encounters was at the Dulles Hilton a few years ago, where he met his future wife Kathy Kropat.
“We were drawn to each other because we wanted to do and learn a variety of dancing,” Kathy told The Zebra.
Their love for dance continued, and on the second Friday of every month, these leg-shakers come out to the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church to dance in the Friday Nighters Dancing Club. In fact, Loren is the president of the group, which has been around since 1945.
“There are not too many places where you can listen to a live band and dance in a great atmosphere,” Loren said. “You don’t get live music and dancing at this price. It is a great place with a good band and accessible dancers who are willing to teach and learn.”
The most recent event featured the smooth sounds of “The Family,” which is led on the keyboard by dance hall veteran Jasper Napoli.
“We play ball room dance music of all kinds,” Jasper said. “If we don’t know it we will try to find it.”
Afraid to dance in front of the pros? Don’t worry about that.
“There are no professional dancers that are going to intimidate anyone,” Kathy said. “It is a very friendly, social club where you can make friends and welcoming to all people.”
The first class of the Friday Nighters Dancing Club is free with online registration, and a 10-class membership is $150 per person for the year.
