Social dance workshops and dance parties are coming to Boothbay Harbor for Columbus weekend. Dancers from Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Florida will be coming to the harbor for the Fall Foliage Danz Camp. All levels of dancers are welcome from beginners to experienced dancers. Anyone can join the workshops and parties being held at the Boothbay Region YMCA.

The kickoff party and lesson is 7-10 p.m., Friday, Oct. 9; Saturday and Sunday workshops are 9 a.m. to noon. Saturday and Sunday dance parties are 7 to 10 p.m.

The mission of the event is to help people discover the joy of partnership dancing in a fun atmosphere. There will be three instructors in every class helping all the participants learn at their level and comfort. Angel Figueroa, Ioana Piscu and Cindy-Lee Overton are the instructors for the weekend. They will also be dancing with everyone at the parties.

Angel Figueroa is a swing dance champion — ranked in the top five nationally, he was also ranked third nationally for American rhythm and he is in the Dallas Swing Dance Hall of Fame. Angel is a national judge for dance events around the country and former owner of Stepping Out Dance Studio in NYC.

Ioana Piscu is from Romania. She is classically trained in all the ballroom dances as well as the social dances.

The event director and head instructor is Cindy-Lee Overton. She is the owner of 1st Danz Studio in Ft. Myers, Florida, and a national dance champion and judge. Cindy-Lee holds titles in West Coast swing, salsa, hustle and Argentine tango. Her ballroom training was with Stepping Out Dance Studio and Dance Manhattan in NYC, Arthur Murray in North Carolina and she trained with master coaches in Buenos Aires Argentina for the tango.

Boothbay Harbor holds a special place in her heart. Overton lived in Boothbay Harbor and ran several businesses with her former husband Bob Fairfield. For many years she was a performer here: singing and dancing at the Carousel Music Theater, The Chocolate Church, The Boothbay Harbor Inn, Rocktide and many other venues in the region.

Cindy-Lee and Bob renovated and reopened the Boothbay Playhouse in 1989, running it as an equity theatre with cabaret performances in the adjoining restaurant until 1991. She moved to New York City in 1991 and enjoyed a successful career in theatre and cabaret performance until 1999 when she left to teach ballroom in North Carolina. In 2000 she moved to Ft. Myers, splitting her time between professional theatre and ballroom dance opening her studio in 2007.

1st Danz was recently named top studio in Lee County, Florida. For the past 15 years, Overton and her staff have helped hundreds of dancers discover the fun and social aspect that partnership dancing leads to.

The two most difficult steps anyone makes are the ones walking in the door for the first lesson. If you have ever wanted to try partnership dancing this is a terrific opportunity. The dances being taught are considered great social dances that can be danced to bands or DJ music in a club or at a wedding: West Coast swing, hustle, Nite Club 2 Step and Country 2 Step.

Come for all 11 hours of workshops and three parties $350; three party lessons and social dance $120; or drop in for one lesson $25. Fliers with the full schedule are available at the YMCA. No partner is necessary. Everyone is welcome. Call 239-810-1738 for details.