MANCHESTER – At Queen City Ballroom, this year’s Christmas Eve stands to make for something far less than a silent night.

Queen City Ballroom owner Karen Shackleford devised a plan three years ago, to bring together dance enthusiasts and those not so light on their feet for an evening of dancing, partying and good company. The plan resulted in Queen City Ballroom hosting a holiday open house where anyone is invited no matter how much or how little dance skill they may possess.

“I think sometimes the holidays can possibly be a lonely time for some people. And it occurred to me that ballroom dancing could be a nice way to spend some time with other people. Thought I’d give the idea a try and it worked out nicely,” Shackleford said. “We play ballroom dance music, which includes ballroom, Latin and swing. We serve refreshments and have a Christmas tree up. People like to take pictures by the tree and it’s just a way for people to have fun with their dance friends during the holidays.”

The open house, which runs from 6-9 p.m. Dec. 24 at Queen City Ballroom, on the second floor at 21 Dow St. in Manchester, is open to anyone who would like to attend, no matter their marital status or age. The idea is to bring together anyone who may be alone during the holiday season.

“We have couples, we have families and it’s an open house, so we have people who bring others who aren’t even ballroom dancers just to get a taste of what it’s like,” Shackleford said.

Ron Williams, who has been attending classes at the studio for years, recalls the Christmas Eve open houses of past years with a smile.

“Last year, there were a huge amount of people who don’t usually go to Queen City Ballroom,” he said. “There’s always someone new in the ballroom and there’s always someone ready to teach them. I was new to Queen City 12 or 15 years ago, and there were all kinds of people showing me things.”

Williams’ dance partner and girlfriend, Barbara DelloRusso, who also attended prior Christmas Eve parties at the studio, was quick to point out how inclusive an atmosphere the night exhibits.

“We dance with new people,” she said. “Karen does mixers, so we get to dance with people who are maybe more experienced and we just go up to people and talk to them if they’re new to make them more comfortable and ask if they would like to dance with us. It’s a comfortable place to go on Christmas Eve. That’s the best way to describe it. Karen always has a smile on her face and keeps it light for everybody.”

As evidence to their testimony, Williams explained that he and DelloRusso had met on the dance floor at Queen City Ballroom and became more than dance partners after Karen Shackleford paired them together for a dance showcase.

“It’s always light and friendly. You dress the way you want. Some people get dressed up and some don’t. And if you don’t know how to dance, someone’s going to show you how. I have a lot of friends that come that have never been dancing before, and they can’t wait to come again,” said Nancy Cyr, a longtime member of Queen City Ballroom

Cyr’s dance partner and friend, Bill Fortune, gave some insight into why people may choose to spend their time at a dance studio rather than at home on the eve of a major holiday.

“It’s a dance! And if you don’t have kids, it’s better than staying home alone,” he said.

“A lot of new people will show up at Queen City, and Karen will make it a real point to go out of her way and introduce them to other people. When she introduces them, I’ll take them out on the floor and we’ll do a few simple steps and we’ll have a good time.”

Queen City Ballroom also offers a New Year’s Day dance party from 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $15 in advance or $20 at the door.

William Wrobel can be reached at wwrobel@nash uatelegraph.com. Also, follow Wrobel on Twitter (@Telegraph_WillW).