Singles dances see revival in Western Mass.

Date: 9/5/2014

WESTFIELD – One man seeks to bring back the singles dances of yesteryear where people gathered to meet, speak and have a fun night out.

Domer Ringuette, a Chicopee resident, organized a Happy Singles Dance that will take place on Sept. 7 from 7 to 11 p.m. at the East Mountain Country Club, 1458 E. Mountain Road. Admission costs $15. Couples are welcome to attend. DJ Dennis Productions will provide the soundtrack for the evening. Hourly raffles and a door prize will be featured. Pizza will be served at 8 p.m. and there will be a cash bar.
   
“I used to attend them and enjoy them,” Ringuette said of the singles dances that used to take place in the Springfield area in the 1980s. “In my personal opinion, I wouldn’t touch dating on the Internet.”
   
He moved away in 1991 and returned to the area two years ago to find that the events were no more. Now, he travels to Boston or New Hampshire to attend singles dances.
   
“I shopped around and there honestly weren’t many options that had a decent dance floor, a decent room or decent parking,” Ringuette commented.
   
Ringuette stated his goal is for the dance to be “an enjoyable evening” where attendees get to “meet different people.” The purpose of the event is to provide “relaxation and enjoyment.”
   
He stressed that he’s “not into the dating game” and that “whatever happens is your business. Some turn into friendships, some turn into lovers, some turn into ‘I don’t know you.’”
   
According to Ringuette, the atmosphere of a singles dance is “different than a bar.” There are no expectations since most of the people are there to “have fun and socialize.”
   
He said, “I hope for it to be successful so that everybody attending will meet knew people.”   
   
The ideal crowd for the event would be age 40 and older, but Ringuette said, “We’re not checking IDs.” To learn more about the Singles Dance, visit http://happysinglesdances.com.