A new line dancing class at Cortez’s Sunflower Theatre is promising more than just a few new steps — it’s aiming to help people feel comfortable moving their bodies, connecting with others, and finding a little joy along the way.
When the class is advertised as “line dancing,” instructor Hattie Miller knows it can bring a specific image to mind. “We will do some traditional line dancing,” she said. “I’m making some of these up myself, which is really fun. And I’m also going to be including kind of a surprise project that we’ll be working on.”
Miller says the class will mix structured group choreography with tools people can take onto any dance floor. “It will cover like how to count in and how to use your body and how to feel when the song is going to change,” she said. “So when you’re using freestyle dancing someday, you can use some of these techniques.”
The music, she adds, is part of what makes the experience inviting. The playlist leans heavily into the 1970s and 80s, an era she says still sparks a sense of play. “All that music is full of hope and life and joy for me, and kind of takes me back to my little inner child and makes me feel free to wiggle,” Miller said.
Participants can expect familiar songs mixed into the lessons, including Michael Jackson’s “Beat It” and tracks from artists like Kool & the Gang.
At the heart of the class, Miller says, is helping people move past self-consciousness. “You can picture yourself in a bigger light, so giving you confidence to feel like you can move your body without feeling self conscious,” she said. “Because dance has been here since the beginning of time. It’s something we all should be doing.”
She sees the class as a small step toward helping people trust their instincts and feel at ease in their own movement. “This is kind of a way to bump you over that little step so you feel like you can dance whenever you feel it,” Miller said.
Miller is also part of the Sunflower Theatre’s performance troupe, and says the space itself is a big part of why she wanted to teach there. “First response, community,” she said. “Everyone that I meet here and who’s involved has this same goal of connecting all of us together and giving people the opportunities to share their passions.”
Classes begin Monday, February 2, and will run through the end of the month. More information, including registration details, is available at sunflowertheatre.org.
