LAKE HAVASU CITY, Ariz. – The various line dancing classes in Lake Havasu are free and abundant around town. Tips are always welcomed and just five months ago, Havasu Nights made a comeback. Organized by local dance instructor Tyanna Renee, it was an auditioning opportunity for the residents of Lake Havasu.
Dancers competed to entertain with Whey Jennings’s appearance at the annual Wake the Lake performances. The dance teacher invented choreography just for Jennings music. Performances were taught before auditions and style was paired up with lyrics and rhythms of the songs. For those curious to start their line dancing journeys, or just beginning to dance into the style of the historical footwork, some may notice that specific songs have a special steps that go with them.
Filled with a variety of country dance coaches, Havasu’s Kat Verkamp shared secrets of boot scootin’ along to new and old country songs. In 2001, the former Bayfair, CA group fitness instructor still recalls the night when some of her students invited her out line dancing. Verkamp remembers it being more of a night filled with observing rather than two stepping along. “I remember sitting there in awe of all these people dancing and I remember thinking that I wanted to learn it and do it,” said Verkamp. Doing it is exactly what happened. Her Wednesday nights were soon filled with cha chas and line dancing. More than just a student, Verkamp used those nights to tweak her steps and learned all she could from instructors as well as other participants.
Originally born in Tucson, Verkamp grew up in Parker and 20 years later, the instructor found herself back in Mohave county and living in Lake Havasu to be closer to her family. Beginning local dance classes three years ago at Fraternal Order of Eagles, she currently teaches three classes each week. With two out of those three for mixed levels and one for all levels once a week. Tuesday, July 14, Verkamp launched Havasu Dance Kat’s Master Class. lasting for just six weeks, the classes are taught for accelerated country dancers.
With dance whisperers and all within the Havasu country dancing community, it’s difficult to miss a class as it seems you can catch one or maybe even two at least every night. You can join in at one of Renee’s instructions on Sundays at Hangar 24 at 5600 AZ-95 from 3 to 5 p.m. Her Monday classes begin at 6 p.m. at Flying X Saloon, 2030 McCulloch Blvd. Angie Horton who is best known around town as the ‘Dance Whisperer’ holds classes for all levels each Wednesday from 4:30p to 6:30p at Ironwood Golf and Country Club at 3275 n. Latrobe Dr.
She also teaches an ultra-beginning class each Thursday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Grapes N Grains, 218 McCulloch Blvd N. As for Verkamp, this is one instructor with weeks filled of boot dancing. Mondays are for mixed level folks at R Bar at 3185 Maricopa Ave from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays other mixed level classes are taught at Iron Wolf from 5 to 7 p.m. After hopping in the ferry boat to Havasu Landing Resort and Casino from another teaching another class, Verkamp comes right back to Havasu to instruct additional lessons.
Verkamp also explained that Ella Langley’s 2025’s tune ‘Choosin Texas’, also has a dance that’s nationwide. “I like to wait sometimes to see which dances rise to the top. When a new song comes out people start submitting dances to the website. So you wait to see which dance is chosen the most for that song, and that is usually the dance chosen to teach for that particular song. Choosin’ Texas, the one that we do, is a dance that is done nationwide. Any student that is taught that dance can travel to any bar in the country and when that song comes on, that’s the dance that everybody is gonna dance,” Verkamp added.
