The Dancero Dance Club: From 1962 to Today
The club was founded in 1962, after dance lessons ended at St. Pius X Catholic Church. Six couples decided to form their own club, the Danceros. In a September 16, 1962 article in The Milwaukee Journal, Peggy Daum wrote, “The idea of the Danceros…is a club in which everyone dances” (a contrast to other clubs where only the most talented danced). We now offer 5 dances each season, including an appetizer dance, a dessert dance, and a dinner dance. Compared to today where we welcome all dancers, Danceros had formal rules. Only married couples could be members, and all had to be at least 21. Prospective members had to apply, have a sponsor on the Board, and be approved by a Board majority.
By 1964, Dorothy and Louie Calicchio, known to many of you, were the Vice President and Co-Vice President, and a few years later, they were President and Co-President. A photo of the board from years back shows them as the middle couple. One of the Calicchios’ first actions eliminated the rule that only married couples could join: Our members do, however, still join as couples. Louie Calicchio, dance teacher extraordinaire and friend of many of us (teaching from St. Francis to the North Shore, from East to West, and to Grafton, among many other places) died June 11th 2020. Because of his stellar work teaching ballroom with his wife, Dorothy, people all over the state and beyond heed his advice to “Just keep dancing—and have fun out there!” As his daughter said, “now he is in heaven, teaching the angels to dance.”