Great Escape: Channel Your Inner Ginger Rogers

Fox trot or waltz — don’t mind if you do? Then ballroom dance may be just for you. Poetry aside, ballroom dance has struck the fancy of many with a slew of celebs regularly demonstrating their lightness of foot on the hit show Dancing with the Stars in recent years. Thankfully, there are plenty of places in Southeast Michigan for those interested in dabbling in dance.

Farmington Hills’ Costick Center offers ample opportunity to don dancing shoes

Farmington’s Costick Activities Center hosts First Friday Ballroom and Buffet for adults age 50 and over and includes live entertainment and a buffet dinner. The Costick Center also hosts periodic evenings of ballroom dancing for adults of any age. Singles and couples of any experience level are both welcome. Check the Costick website for updates on these events.

Summer ballroom courses in Birmingham

Birmingham’s regularly offers an array of dance classes for adults ranging from ballet to belly to ballroom. In the latter category, the Community House is offering three summer ballroom courses: fox trot and waltz, Latin dance, and swing. All will take your moves to a new level on the dance floor, especially with all those summer weddings on the docket.

Bloomfield home to Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray

Fred Astaire and Arthur Murray are among the two most notable names in ballroom dance. Bloomfield Township is home to a studio bearing the moniker of both. The Fred Astaire Dance Studio offers lessons for novices and seasoned dancers alike. Engaged couples looking to polish their moves for the big day can learn any number of dances ranging from tango to swing to Latin. Private and group lessons and classes are also available.

Samba, meringue, Argentine tango, rumba, two-step and waltz are among the dances you can learn at the Arthur Murray Dance Studio in Bloomfield. This studio also offers private and group lessons and wedding dance preparation. Practice parties allow you to put your skills to work in a relaxed setting among other students and instructors.

West Bloomfield dance studio offers instruction in 24 dance styles

West Bloomfield’s Dance Elite Ballroom Studio offers instruction in American Rhythm, American Smooth, International Latin and International Standard — 24 dance styles in all. The studio offers private and group lessons and also the option to hold a private group class for family members and friends. Every Saturday night the studio hosts “The Most Popular Ballroom Dance Party” from 9-11 p.m.