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Stardust Dance Center brings couples together

Photo from Emilie Plants

Curt and Tammy Worlock have danced throughout the world, while owning the Stardust Dance Center since 1997.

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By EMILIE PLANTS

Tribune correspondent

Published: November 4, 2009

PLANT CITY - Edward Carrington, 85, and his wife, Ellen, 83, have spent the past 27 of their 60-plus years of marriage hand in hand on the dance floor.

In the latter years, they have planted their dancing feet at Stardust Dance Center.

When Edward suffered a subdural hematoma in October 2007, the Carringtons thought their dancing days together were over. But a year and a half after they thought they had retired their dancing shoes for good, their song started again and Edward was moving to the beat.

"It's been therapy for Ed. Through all of this, he is still young," she said.

Dancers such as the Carringtons have helped keep the floor at the Stardust busy for the 13 years since Curt and Tammy Worlock opened the establishment in Plant City Plaza.

It's a popular venue for wedding receptions, parties, singles dances - any event where people want to move to the beat. The center is smoke- and alcohol-free.

Terri Lynn Barrow, president of USA Dance's Lakeland chapter, said she can't think of a better place for her organization's monthly dances.

"I think it's their flexibility, their generosity and their willingness to open this building to anybody that makes our experience here nice. No snobs here. There's singles that meet here, Christian groups, square dance groups, round dance groups and wedding receptions. This is a multipurpose building, and they take such good care of it," she said.

The Worlocks say dancing offers a social activity that both sexes can enjoy together.

"So much in today's world, the women do this, the men do that. This is something you can come together and do, which I think is unique," Tammy Worlock said.

Ballroom dancing is particularly big during a season that goes from November through April. And students say there's probably no better instructors than the Worlocks, who have trotted the globe more than 25 years teaching dance.

"I mean, they travel a distance to come dance multiple times a week. You get into this, and you get hooked. It's extremely popular," Curt Worlock said.

Dick Hardy, 73, and his wife, Ethel, 71, moved from Ocala to Plant City 10 years ago to be close to the dance center.

"We come to have fun. That's really what we do. It's social, and it's just a lot of fun. Plus, it's great exercise mentally and physically," Dick Hardy said.

Dianna True, 50, and Jim Drake, 34, say ballroom dancing is a new kind of cool. She likes the fact that the dances are reasonably priced.

"You have the opportunity to have a night out for $12 to $14 per couple that includes food, beverage, good DJs and music. You've got variety. Everything, really," said True, whose dancing aspirations spawned from the hit television show "Dancing with the Stars."

The Worlocks believe their success has been in part due to the beauty and size of their 5,500-square-foot floating red oak dance floor.

Dance instructors Mark and Shelly Hilburn of Sebring have danced with the Worlocks and have been instructing for seven years. The pair said they have danced on a number of floors, but they say none compared to Stardust.

"It's hard to build a good dance program without a good dance floor. It's like apple pie without sugar. Something's missing. It's that nice wood floor that just enables people to dance. Also, without a good dance floor, you'll get hurt," said Shelly Hilburn.

Jack and Beryle Wolff of Plant City, both 81, are members of Barrow's Lakeland Chapter of Dance USA, an organization that holds its dances at the Stardust the first Sunday monthly.

"It's an opportunity. We would never dance because we would not go out. Most of them are in the evening, and we would not travel too far," said Jack Wolff, who has been dancing with Beryle for 21/2 years.

Barrow's organization has held its dances at the Stardust for seven years.

"It ain't your grandma's ballroom anymore. We hustle, country two-step, night club two-step, and we samba. It isn't the stiff, stuffy dancing people used to envision with ballroom. They're regular John and Jane Does, and every level is welcome here. It's a lot of fun. There's big people, tall people, short people, and we all do our foxtrots the same way," she said.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Stardust Dance Center

ADDRESS: 1405 S. Collins St., in Plant City Plaza

FEATURES: Regular dances and instruction on 5,500-square-foot dance floor

RENTALS: The center is available for rent for birthday parties, wedding receptions and other events; the 7,000-square-foot building includes tables and seating for 220 people and kitchen.

INFORMATION: Call owners Curt and Tammy Worlock at (813) 759-8313 or go to www.stardustdancecenter.com.

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