Linda Fritz
Special to The Lake Report

For centuries, the church has been the centre of the community. As religion released its hold on the population, the church needed to look for another role. St. Saviour, the Brock Memorial Church in Queenston has begun that search. 

While the congregation is small, it is very active. St. Saviour is becoming the village community centre. It offers teas, dinners, barbecues and music during the year. The church has many friends who participate in these activities. 

Last winter, something new arrived: line dancing. 

Anita and Gavin Menezes moved to Queenston from Mississauga in 2020, in time for the pandemic lockdown. While in Mississauga, Gavin became interested in ballroom dancing. Anita said she wasn’t the least bit interested, but went along anyway. She loved it. 

From there, it was an easy move to line dancing. The local Girl Guide group wanted to earn a dancing badge. With no one to teach them, Anita Menezes took on the role. 

She lists the advantages to line dancing: you don’t need for a partner, you can dance for yourself alone and no one expects anything from you. Menezes has taught classes where participants ranged in age from 6 to 82. 

And now for the music. Many think of line dancing as something performed to country music. Among Menezess musical choices are Irish, Greek, Filipino, French and South American (and, of course, Shania Twain). The steps can be waltzes, cha cha, the shuffle or even the fox trot. Footwear includes high heels, boots, sandals and running shoes.  

One new dance is learned in each class. Menezes makes sure everyone is thoroughly familiar with the music and the steps before the more formal session begins. She moves to each quadrant of the room so everyone can follow the moves. She calls out the steps as she goes. 

One of the questions that remains: why St. Saviour? Menezes said that as she became better acquainted with the village, she met two parishioners from the church, Vicki Lowenberger and Elaine Bartolini. Line dancing came up in the conversation. 

Menezes said that within two weeks of the conversation, there were posters in the village post office and the library as well as around the wider community. Dancers came from Jordan and Niagara Falls. In the fall 2025 session, well over 30 people participated. 

Sessions will continue this fall. The sessions begins at St. Saviour in Queenston on Oct. 1 and continues to Dec. 3.  The cost is $40 for the session.

Meanwhile, on Aug. 23, St. Saviour is planning a musical event called “Classic Hits on the Lawn.” A group of local musicians will be playing the hits of Elton John, Blue Rodeo, the Eagles, Van Morrison and many more.

You are invited to bring a lawn chair and a picnic. But keep in mind that line dancing will definitely be a part of the show. The festivities begin at 6 p.m.

Come September, the regular line dancing classes will resume.