February 1, 2025
Masquerade
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December 7, 2024
Christmas in Hawaii
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who joined us for our Christmas in Hawaii dance and helped make it such a wonderful success! 🌺
Pat Mannino and her talented design team transformed the venue into a slice of Maui, while the Hula Ohana team welcomed us with beautiful leis. 4 for the Road and Barbara Petrizzo kept the energy high, rocking us into the night.
The hula dancers captivated us with their graceful performances, and even Hawaiian Santa delighted the crowd with a fun hula dance, complete with a grass skirt!
And we presented a check to the Villages Honor Flight for $750!
Click the button below to view the fantastic photos captured by Tom Ciesla. 📸
November 22, 2024
Swingin’ with the Big Band
It was a spectacular night of music and unforgettable performances! The 18-piece Shades of Blue Big Band, kicked off the concert with Gordon Goodwin’s Sing, Sang, Sung.
Bobby "V"ignapiano brought back memories of Ole Blue Eyes, and Mr. and Mrs. (Tim and Donna Francis), performed two heartwarming duets: “Things” by Bobby Darin and “Something Stupid” as well as a few of the great Bobby Darin’s songs and several from the Great American Songbook.
We were blessed to meet a most amazing hero, WW II veteran Irving Locker. His courage helped preserve the freedoms we hold so dear.
We were honored to give the Villages Honor Flight $1352
October 20, 2024
A Night in Vegas
What a Spectacular Night of Vegas Glamour and Excitement! From the dazzling stage decor to the Photo Booth and those fabulous centerpieces, the entire room was transformed into the legendary Copa Room at the Sands Hotel, circa 1960! Not even a little hurricane could rain on our parade.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended—and for those who couldn’t make it, you might just have to wait another year for us to do it all over again!
The evening's performances brought the magic of classic Vegas to life:
Bobby "V" perfectly captured the spirit and style of Frank Sinatra.
John DiCarlo transported us with his spot-on portrayal of Bobby Darin.
Tim Francis, with bourbon in hand, embodied the smooth, laid-back charm of Dean Martin.
Richie Lanna dazzled with his Tom Jones swagger—and if that wasn’t enough, Elvis himself made an entrance, complete with fanfare and a thrilling performance.
And let’s not forget the breathtaking Music in Motion Vegas showgirls! Dressed in elegant black costumes and wielding hot pink feathered fans, their graceful, high-energy dance routine brought a burst of glamour and excitement to the room, leaving the audience wanting more.
All in all, it truly felt like a journey back to the Rat Pack era. What a night to remember!
August 3, 2024
Pirates of the Caribbean
Another great dance party with Billy Buchanan and his Rock 'n Soul Revue, was nothing short of spectacular. The event, held in a beautifully decorated pirate-themed theater room, transformed into a swashbuckling adventure that left every guest thoroughly entertained and exhilarated. The room was adorned with pirate flags, treasure chests, and nautical elements that transported everyone into a scene straight out of a pirate movie. Did you catch the drunken pirate lying on the beach!
You all embraced the theme wholeheartedly, arriving in an array of creative pirate costumes, complete with eye patches, tricorn hats, and even the occasional parrot on the shoulder.
A highlight of the evening was the treasure hunt. The ship’s crew "ships," embarked on a thrilling quest to find hidden treasures. Congratulations to the ship that finally opened the treasure chest.
We were thrilled to give another $500 to Hands of Mercey Everywhere. Thank you to all who support our dances. You are making a difference in the lives of those in our community that need our help.
June 1, 2024
Senior Prom: A night to Remember
What an incredible night it was! From cheering with the Village Cheerleaders to dancing to the electrifying beats of the Z-Street band, every moment was unforgettable!
Huge congratulations to Charles Barbosa and Marilyn Kurdziel, our King and Queen of the dance! And a big shoutout to everyone who snagged those wild superlatives—we can’t wait to see who rises to the challenge of “Best Athlete” or “Richer Than Elon Musk.”
It was fantastic to see so many of you getting into the spirit of the night, dressed in your finest Prom attire. For many of you, it was your first Senior Prom! Did you check out the picture board and recognize your table mates? You were all so adorable and handsome at 18!
And the cherry on top? We raised $815 for the Hands of Mercy Everywhere charity. Don’t miss the article in the Monday, June 3rd Daily Sun about the Learning Center opening in Belleview—a vocational school teaching girls skills for future careers.
April 6, 2024
The Bunny Hop
What a lively evening filled with dancing bunnies! We had an absolute blast grooving to the tunes of the 60s. Kicking off the dance floor with a spirited rendition of the "senior" Bunny Hop, you set the perfect tone. Forever Young truly wowed us with their fantastic music, and John DiCarlo's performance was exceptional. Without a doubt, we'll be inviting them back next year. And wasn’t the photo booth and decorations delightful, frolicking bunnies in the garden? Congratulations to the winners of the 60s dance contests—you've still got the moves of a 20-something! Dive into some fabulous snapshots by clicking the button below. Additionally, the Wildwood Soup Kitchen was thrilled to receive a much-needed $1000 check. To lend a hand, simply fill out a volunteer form on their website, and let's all pitch in to support their kitchen together.
February 3, 2024
A night at the Oscars
The inaugural Villages Academy Awards night brought the Rohan Rec Center to life, courtesy of the electrifying beats delivered by Swing Theory. The event skillfully fused the enchantment of Hollywood with the infectious, toe-tapping rhythms of swing, creating a night that left attendees with enduring smiles and unforgettable memories. It was a delight to witness the glamorous procession of actresses and actors strolling down the red carpet, making their way into the VIP room, and effortlessly facing the camera. Heartfelt congratulations are extended to all the deserving winners who claimed the prestigious Oscars, with each nominee playing a significant role in contributing to the evening's jubilant celebration of cinematic excellence.
We were so happy to give Joyce Gilette a check for $1000 for Dollars for Scholars. Visit their website to see all the wonderful things they are doing to help students.
December 2, 2023
A Starry Night
What an enchanting evening it was, dancing beneath the starry night sky to the captivating tunes of the Savoy’s Show Band. The stage adorned with a banner featuring van Gogh’s masterpiece, and the tables dressed in elegant blue, illuminated by sparkling fairy lights, created a magical ambiance. Tim and I felt exhilarated to join forces with this exceptional band, comprised of seasoned musicians who are undoubtedly the finest in the Villages.
Our guest singer, Connie Latzer, added to the excitement, enticing everyone to hit the dance floor with the infectious rhythm of the "Electric Boogie." The atmosphere was truly electrifying! As the night unfolded, five fortunate individuals left with incredible gift bags and beautiful wreaths, adding an extra layer of joy to the festivities.
Moreover, the generosity of the attendees shone through, resulting in a substantial donation of $1150, along with 93 toys and 3 bicycles, to Buddy West for Toys for Tots. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who participated, making this memorable evening not only about music and dance but also a meaningful contribution to a worthy cause. Thank you for your presence and your generosity
October 7, 2023
Wildhorse Saloon Dance
An Amazing Evening with Cowboys and Cowgirls on the Dance Floor!
Howdy y'all! What an incredible night it was watching all you cowboys and cowgirls tearing up the dance floor to the tunes of classics like "Boot Scootin' Boogie" and "Rocky Top." Your enthusiasm and energy were contagious, especially during the line dance classes. Now, it's time to spread the joy – teach your friends those fantastic moves!
In the spirit of giving, we're thrilled to share that Angel Wigs of Hope has been blessed with a generous $1140 donation. This contribution will go a long way in making the cancer challenge for women a bit easier to bear. Thank you for your unwavering support and making a positive impact through the power of dance.
Yeehaw and heartfelt thanks,
August 5, 2023
Remembering Woodstock
What a wonderful night of dancing at our Remembering Woodstock Dance. The 3-For-The-Road+1 band kept everyone on the dance floor all night playing those great Rock and Roll tunes from the late 60's and early 70's. Bobby “V” started the show with "Aquarius" to get us in the mood. Barbara Petrizzo made a great "Janis Joplin". And the whole room was so brightly decorated with Woodstock memories. We actually had 5 guests that actually attended the festival over 50 years ago! And we had some wild looking hippies there last night. Just take a look at the pictures!
We sent a check to Find, Feed and Restore for $1000. Please take a look at this organization and see the wonderful things they are doing to help the homeless and in need.
June 3, 2023
Happy Days
What a great night of fun we had with Al Brady. He brought us all back to the fabulous 50's and had everyone on the dance floor! I especially loved the games we all played, like "Hokie Pokie", "Limbo" and "Musical Chairs". Now that was hilarious. I hope you all liked the popcorn and M&Ms on the tables. It was so great to see many of you dressed for the occasion. A big thank you to all who helped make the night great, especially all those helpers who came early to decorate the hall. Thank you to Pat Mannino who made all those decorations look spectacular! And the videos on the stage were wonderful - thanks to John Grasso. A lot of work goes into making the evening memorable. I am grateful to have such dedicated team!
We were able to give Gloria Boone $1000 check to help those in need at the Lake County Community Action Agency, Leesburg Center.
Foolin’ Around
April 1, 2023
Now this was a fun dance! We started off with the Villages Clown Alley and they were fantastic. Loved the clown on the unicycle, and the upside down clown…! We were able to give “Samaritan Inn” a check for $1000. The need for homeless shelters is so great and resources so few. We are making a difference in people’s lives.
Forever Young and Uncle Pepe had everyone dancing. The crazy nose glasses and whoopee cushions were a big hit! Catch some of the great pictures here!
DISCO FEVER
Feb 4, 2023
Another great dance! We gave Dollars for Scholars a check for $1000! The Z-Street Throwback band had everyone on the jumping, and many people came dressed in their disco attire. John and Sherry Linderman started off the night showing us how to disco dance, to the BeeGees “You should be dancing”. And dancing they did all night. Thank you all who attended to make this night so special.
December 3, 2022
“Tis the Season”
What a great time we had at our “Tis the Season” dance. We were able to give Major Marie Harris of the Salvation Army $1000 to purchase toys for children in need. Our singers, Bobby “V”, Jeri Lynn Fraser, and Jim McGreevey had everyone on the dance floor all night. And what a surprise to see Santa (Rich Gato) and Mrs. Claus (Barbara Petrizzo) crash the party with candy canes. So many of you looked great in your crazy sweaters. Our singers choose three that were their favorites. “Rudolph” was the winner. My favorite were the two sweaters in one several couples wore. And if you didn’t stay to the end, you missed us all singing “The Chipmunk Song”.
Take a look at the picture!
October 1, 2022
Dance for Hope
Thank you to all who attended our Dance for Hope. The Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation were not able to attend because they are dealing with the aftermath of hurricane IAN. A special collection was taken for the foundation, assisted by our warrior girls who have been through the battle with breast cancer and together with Ms. Delicious (Terry Rutledge), collected $1200! DWOP and Friends club donated another $1000. We were able to sent them a check for $2200! Thank you so much for your generosity.
The Fabulous Forever Younghad everyone dancing all night along with our special singer Doug Skinner. And two lucky women won some fabulous baskets donated by Pat Mannino.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Women, get your mammograms, do your self exams, and by the way men can get breast cancer too! Please consider sending in a personal donation to Florida Cancer Specialists Foundation . I’ve known several women who benefited from financial assistance from them.
Check out the pictures below:
August 6, 2022
Dancing in the Sand
A big thank you to all who attended. Between both dances, you gave $1500 to Habitat for Humanity. Hope some of you consider joining the Habitat for Humanity club. I am so grateful for the talented singers who helped make the night such a success, in spite of the band having to cancel due to COVID. We will have 3-For-The-Road back next year. What a great night of entertainment by Pinky, Bobby V, Richie Lanna, Barbara Petrizzo, Doug Skinner, and our sound team Gloria and Steve Muratore!
June 4, 2022
z-Street Speakeasy Dance
What a roaring good time we had at the Speakeasy. It was so great to see everyone dressed up as gangsters and flappers. Each person was assigned a name of a real criminal. In attendance was Al Capone, Lucky Luciano, Whitey Bulger, and John Gotti to name a few.
We were privileged to give Habitat for Humanity a check for $500. If you are handy with a hammer, the Village Habitat for Humanity club would welcome you has a member. We will be sponsoring them again at the August 6th dance so be sure to get your tickets to that dance.
Barbara Petrizzo, AKA Velma Kelly, started the night off with “All that Jazz” complete with murdering her lover on the stage! We danced all night to the z-Street Speakeasy band fresh off their last engagement at Al Capone’s winter home in Miami FL. Congratulations to the winners of the Charleston dance-off, and the best dressed gangsters and flappers. It was so hard to pick winners because so many of you looked fabulous. As the siren sounded, we were raided by Elliot Ness (Tim Francis) and his officer (Wally Becker), arresting the notorious Whitey Bulger (Doug Skinner)! The Speakeasy was closed in violation of Amendment 18!
Thank you all who participated, and a big thank you to all our helpers to made the night so successful.
April 2, 2022
Welcome Home Dance
Wow, another great dance, honoring our Vietnam Veterans. Each veteran wore a yellow ribbon welcoming him home! Rich Gato gave us the history behind the yellow ribbon, which was taken from a poem about a confederate soldier returning home after 3 years in the most deplorable union prison. Barbara Petrizzo sang a heartfelt “Start Spangled Banner”, and the theme song “Tie a Yellow Ribbon”, the Tony Orlando hit. Forever Young had everyone on the dance floor, and Jeri Lynne Fraser had everyone rocking during her great performance. Thank you all for contributing to this great organization. You all are amazingly generous. Tim and I were able to give a check to the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 1036 for $1000 and then another for $500 from the raffle proceeds. Bless you all!
February 5, 2022
Valentine’s Swing Dance
Thank you all for attending our Valentine’s Swing Dance. We were able to give Dollars for Scholars a check for $1450. What a great organization, helping students get funding for higher education and training. Joyce Gilette and her team work tirelessly raising funds each year. Please support them, Check out their website.
Bobby V was a wonderful emcee. I especially liked his dreaming version of “I’m in the mood for love”. Tim and I always love to do a few songs. Hope you enjoyed his version of “Lady Soul” and mine of “Fever”. Swing Theory had everyone dancing on the floor straight through to 9 PM! What a great band. They played everything from Cole Porter to Chicago! Beckie Sims vocals where outstanding. The last song of the evening had everyone on the dance floor jumping to Louie Prima’s “Jump, Jive, and Wail”. And thanks to all our volunteers, you made it all work so smoothly.
November 6, 2021
All American Sock Hop
A big thank you for all those who attended our last dance of 2021! Because of you, I was able to give Marie Bogdonoff and LCDR Kathryn Wilgus, from Villagers for Veterans , a check for $1300 and then another for $456 for a total of $1756!! The largest ever! I can't tell you how proud I was to see all you Veterans wearing the ribbons. We are eternally grateful for the sacrifices you have made defending our freedom.
A big thank you to The Fabulous Forever Young and Billie Thatcher for keeping everyone on the dance floor. And Barbara Petrizzo moved us all with her rendition of "God Bless America". Rich Gato was awesome as MC, getting the attention with his "buzzer". Sorry some of you guys missed that! And of course I can't do it alone, thank you for all you volunteers (angels!).
October 15, 2021
Spooky Boomerz Sock Hop
Shepherd’s Lighthouse receives a total of $1300.00
I’m sure you Doowop lovers had a great time listening and dancing to the Boomerz. Their harmonies were perfection! And they had everyone dancing all night. Tim and I celebrated our 52’nd anniversary with sweet mini-cupcakes for everyone. And with your generosity we were able to increase our donation to $1300! It’s so wonderful to have a great night out with friends, have a great time dancing, and know you are helping others who cannot lay their head down each night on a comfortable pillow and bed!
Check out Shepherd’s Lighthouse to see how you can help them.
Thank you all for supporting us.
Yolanda East, Executive Director Shepherd's LightHouse
“ Donna, What a blessing that your group has made to us. We are truly grateful and welcome your partnership. the money will be used to help fund our direct services to our families in crisis. Thank you again for your help to keep us on the front lines.”
August 7, 2021
Shag Dance
Forward Path Foundation receives $1500
With the success of the August 7th Shag Dance, we were able to present a check to Forward Path Foundation for $1500!
Thank you all for attending our Shag dance, we had over 200 in attendance and as you can see from the pictures below everyone had a great time. Some highlights of the event were meeting with Pat and Gerry Geistler, volunteers with the Forward Path Foundation who shared stories about helping teenagers coming out of foster care.
And of course Bobby V dazzled us with his beach beauties singing “Fun, Fun, Fun”. And a big thank you to Pat Atkinson who played great dance music. We also had some great dancers in the audience from the Villages Shag club. Check them out every Thursday evening at Bradenton Rec Center.
June 5, 2021
Hope you all had a great time at our dance. Take a look at some great pictures of all of you dancing and having fun!
Some comments:
“What an absolutely fun evening Saturday night was at Rohan. All of you were fabulous. It brought tears of joy to my eyes to see and hear LaLiPops. Voices were to perfection. Thank you for sharing your talents with all of us and for a good cause.” Bobbi M.
“What a great night. Everyone had a great time. Thank you and Tim and Bobby for all you do” Barbara R.
The HAVEN of Lake and Sumter County:
Thank you all for attending our dance on June 5. We were able to give “The Haven of Lake and Sumter Counties” $1000!! You made a difference!
They also need items for their thrift store. Questions for the thrift shop please call 352-326-8616.
April 3, 2021
We had a wonderful response to our first dance at Rohan Recreation Center. Forever Young started out the dancing with “At the Hop” and ended with “Smoke Get’s in your Eyes”. Then Bobby V was able to keep the dancing going with songs like “Pretty Woman”, “Shake Rattle and Roll”, and “Johnny B. Good”. The the fabulous guys from Back-in-Time finished the night with “Sea Cruise”, “Little Girl of Mine” and ended with “God Bless the USA”.
We collected over $500 for the “Come as you are” ministry to the homeless. We were so happy to give Dr. Joanne Knight a generous check!
When you get a chance, go down to Leesburg, and visit their thrift shop and take a walk through where they serve meals, and meet the needs of the homeless. It is very rewarding to have helped them out. They are located at 1305 Sunshine Ave, Leesburg, FL 34748
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