Dancing with the Stars ... North Bay style

The break-out television hit ‘Dancing with the Stars’ has taken the world by storm and reignited people’s interest in Ballroom Dancing and the North Bay area is no exception.

Luckily masters of the craft of ballroom dancing Mabel and Orlando Rosales, originally from Havana Cuba, are here to help the two left footed folks in the area channel their inner rhythm.

With the help of MP Anthony Rota on Saturday the couple realised their lifelong dream of teaching the art as they hosted the grand opening of their new dance-exercise studio ‘Dance Obsessed’ on Main Street East.

The grand opening celebration hosted demonstrations from the cha-cha, tango and rumba as well as a ribbon cutting.

Jacquie and Derek Brown, who started dancing competitively 40 years in England, are happy to have a studio at home.

“It has been tough to find a place to dance in North Bay and this (studio) is great,” says Jacquie.

“Whether it’s teaching or for ourselves we just enjoy it,” adds Derek.

For 12-year-old Fricker students and dance partners Devon Bisaillon and Sheridan Carr they are 39 years shy of the Browns but the Rosales say the young dancers show great potential.

Carr says she and Bisaillon started dancing in September when her mom saw an ad for classes and asked if she wanted to change from step to ballroom.

“I love it. It is some of the same footwork as in step so it makes it a bit easier for me,” she explains.

“And I like it because it's fun and always puts me in a good mood.”