[MNDancers] Jim Belzer

[Lois Donnay]

I thought I would forward a little information about Jim Belzer, since it is possible that some of you may not have been around to remember the impact that he has had on the Twin Cities dance scene.

I met Jim back in 1995, when we were all dancing Country 2-step, but West Coast Swing was the next best thing. Jim was one of the premiere teachers of these two dances, but was really quite capable of a wide variety of dances. He was always anxious to provide new dance opportunities, and was really looking for a new West Coast Swing dance place in the western suburbs, since the other two clubs were in east St. Paul and east Minneapolis.  I remember meeting with him in '96 to develop a plan for a club. That plan didn't materialize, but about three years later he had assembled the right people and the right venue to get the East Meets West club off the ground, with dances held in Plymouth. That meant that there was a West Coast Swing dance every Friday.

Jim later went on to see the need for another ballroom dance night, and that's what was behind Cafe Bailar. Again he assembled a great team of volunteers and a nice venue, and that club is still going great. 

It is people like Jim who keep the dance community strong, not only by providing places to dance (which I happen to know is a tremendous amount of work) but by putting a lot of great dancers on the floor for us to dance with. I don't think there is a West Coast Swing or Country dancer in town who hasn't been in a lesson or danced with someone who took a lesson with Jim. He was patient and innovative, as well as a talented dancer.  He is already missed.

I have attached a picture of Jim, taken for the newsletter of East Meets West back when I was editor.

Lois





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