Dancing Under the Stars back again for 3rd Season

Life is better when you dance...so get your dancing shoes on. Dancing Under the Stars is back and the season is now extended!

Starting Friday, June 24 at 7 p.m., Dancing Under The Stars will kick off its third season in Niwot. Located outside some of Cottonwood Squares independent stores, restaurants, pubs and coffee shops, this coveted event continues all summer long, with plenty of free parking in the shopping center and surrounding areas.

Dancing Under the Stars started in Boulder, offering free summer dancing nights, but in 2019, after 35 years, it sadly came to an end. That is when Niwot's own Catherine McHale, a member of the local dancing community herself, made the effort to bring the much-loved event to Niwot.

Many people enjoy this event, with dancers from Denver, Fort Collins, Boulder and other surrounding areas. In the past, there have been nearly 200 in attendance. You don't need to be a dancer to join in. The goal is to learn the love of dance and to have a place to enjoy the summer's evening, dance along, and meet other people.

"We aim for people to be able to come and enjoy the evening, whatever their experience of dance," McHale said. "At 7 there is always a free class which shows you all the basics for that evening, then from 7:45 onwards we have free social dancing with a DJ - all on our specially laid down dance floor."

Each event features a different dance style. Starting at 7:00 p.m., before the open community dancing, attendees will enjoy an official dance lesson on an actual dance floor. The season starts off with a Cuban or Salsa lesson.

Dancing Under The Stars is s sponsored by the Niwot Business Association, the Niwot Local Improvement District, and various local businesses, including Cottonwood Square, Raza Fresa, Left Hand Animal Hospital, DRF Real Estate, Julia March Skincare, Porchfront Homes and Niwot Tavern. Sponsors are not only mentioned during the event, they are also featured on the event social media pages. According to McHale, interest in the page, as well as inquiring messages, have increased.

"I am delighted with how the Niwot community has embraced and enjoyed this event, and I really appreciate that we get such a wide range of people attending - families with kids, groups of teens, singles, dating couples, all the way up to professional dancers," McHale said. "It's really a joy to have this event so close by and the atmosphere is just very special indeed."

For more information about Dancing Under the Stars, you can follow on Facebook and Instagram @dancingunderthestarsniwot.