Maine Ballroom Dance is a full-spectrum ballroom dance studio that is located right in the heart of Portland on Congress Street.  Dances taught include foxtrot, waltz, swing, rumba, salsa, tango, merengue, chacha, night club, quickstep, salsa, line dancing, bolero and many others.

The new owners are Chris and Karen Chaleki.  Karen is a Maine native, born and brought up in  Falmouth.  When she's not dancing, she is a free-lance office manager.  Chris, originally from Massachusetts, also has his own business as an electrico-optical engineer who works in Maine by choice, although he has worked all over the world, including in a flying hospital ship!

Theirs is another one of those romantic stories where people meet their mates while dancing. Chris walked by the front windows of the studio on Congress Street one evening, looked in (as we all do when we go by there), and said to himself "I guess I can look as foolish as all those other guys!"  So he started taking lessons, and eventually he met Karen.  The first time they danced together was September 25, 1997, "a big day in our history" says Karen.  They have been married just one year.

Karen has been ballroom dancing for only 4 1/2 years (although she has a background in tap, ballet and jazz dancing), and Chris for 4 years, but already they have progressed beyond what teachers in Maine have to teach them.  They routinely go to Boston and Manhattan and even Washington DC for lessons, studying with Ed Simon, Michelle Officer, Esther Don, Christine Harvey and Chris Johnson.  They practice 4 or 5 hours EVERY DAY which is how they have gotten so far, so fast.  They have a goal: to compete and place among the top dancers in the Championship B category (for dancers aged 35-54.) "Usually it takes eight or ten years to get there", says Karen. One of the many skills they pride themselves on is "floorcraft".  (From what I gather, that is the art of not bumping into other couples and protecting yourself from others who might bump into you!  Surely a useful skill that more of us need, and now we have a name for it!)

The Chalekis have completely renovated the studio, and have a host of dance teachers working there: Mandy Ball, Debbie Cantara, Elizabeth Richards, Alex Taylor, Ann Smith, Ben Strick, Ben Taylor, Darrin Smith, Dennis Gosslin, Tonya Dalhaus, Wendy Edwards, and Tom Costello.   Because there is a rule that people who teach cannot compete at an amateur level, the Chalekis do not teach.  But, even though this rule may change in the future, they still may be too busy to teach, due to their other jobs and practicing for competitions.  Maine Ballroom Dance studio used to sponsor a ballroom competition in Maine, called "The Maine Event", but with the change in ownership, the event will be moving to Boston where it is dropping the "e" on Maine and will now be called "The Main Event" (some clever, eh?)

The philosophy that guides the Chalekis is that dancing should be fun.  They will continue to host regular social dances at the studio.  "We don't care where you take lessons or what style of dancing you do - just come and enjoy the dance!  You can forget the rest of the world exists!" says Karen.   A
Gala Event is scheduled for September 15, 2001 (see the calendar page for more info.)

Karen observes that ballroom dancing is nowhere near as prominent in Maine as in the rest of the country (although it could be.)  Perhaps that is because Mainers need to be shown that it's OK for us average mortals to dance.  They see high-level dancing on TV and think "I can't do THAT!"  Well, observes Karen, that's kinda like seeing the Red Sox on TV and then not playing on the local team, even though you might really love to play baseball.  We can all get in the dance game, whatever our experience or ability.

You can find out more about classes, dances etc. by checking the Maine Ballroom Dance website, www.maineballroom.com, by email mbdance@maine.rr.com, or by phone: 207/773-0002.