Dancing in the spring

ST. REGIS – Residents of St. Regis welcomed spring over the weekend with their annual Spring Equinox Dance at the St. Regis Community Center.

The dance took place on Saturday, March 22. According to Eileen Wolff, treasurer of the St. Regis Community Council, the event began as a dance for St. Patrick’s Day and is normally held closer to the holiday. This year, the night was moved so more people would be able to come with fewer conflicts.

“We are trying to avoid other people’s events, so we decided to have it after St. Patrick’s Day,” Wolff said.

The crowd at the dance was small and approximately 25 to 30 people made it out. People of all ages came and senior citizens mingled with children over the course of the evening.

Most people spent the time socializing and sat talking with friends for most of the evening. A few people got into the dancing aspect of the event and either moved to the music on their own or asked another person to dance with them.

Wolff said there have been better crowds in the past. Some of the other dances over the last year, around New Years and in the fall, have also drawn in more people. With clear skies and warm temperatures, she figured many people were likely too tired to come after being outside all day.

“I don’t know what brings them in and what doesn’t,” Wolff said. “We’ve had better crowds than this.”

While the event was scheduled to go for most of the evening, more people were not expected to arrive after approximately 8 p.m.

A potluck dinner was available for the guests to enjoy. People brought a whole range of dishes from a noodle casserole to chips. In a nod to the St. Patrick’s Day origins of the event, the community council also provided corned beef and cabbage for the evening.

“A couple of us on the council wanted corned beef and cabbage so we said ‘well let’s do it,’” Wolff said with a laugh.

Music for the event came courtesy of the Eagle’s Nest Band, a group from Superior who play a variety of different styles and genres of music. While they have sometimes called on different bands, the community council likes the Eagles Nest Band.

The dance has a history rooted into the community. Wolff was not sure when it began but said it had been a regular event for the seven years she had been in the area. She believed it had been going a long time before then as well.

Word of the community council’s events is spread through fliers put out from Superior to the west end of the county. Information is also usually sent home with kids at the school. Because of the distance, the council does not normally reach out to Alberton to promote their events.

There are no more dances currently scheduled until the fall dance. According to Wolff, the community council’s next event is the flea market at the end of May during Memorial Day weekend.