Ballroom dance fever hits Tigard

Sunnie Page and Jim Gray open ‘the largest dance studio’ in the country in Tigard

By Barbara Sherman

The Times, Jul 19, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009 (1 Reader comment)

Jonathan House / The Times

SHALL WE DANCE? — Dancers perform at the Ballroom Dance Company as part of the grand opening festivities Friday in which the public got its first look at the spectacular dance studio that used to be a paintball game facility on Commercial Street.

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TIGARD – Let’s dance!

Even for those challenged by no rhythm or two left feet, help has now arrived in the form of the Ballroom Dance Company, which opened its doors to the public on Friday.

Two young dance partners – Sunnie Page and Jim Gray – with a slew of trophies between them and a goal of opening a dance studio have made their dream a reality by converting a former paintball game business on Commercial Street into what they’re calling the largest ballroom dance facility in the nation.

“It looked like the ‘hood,” said Page of the first time they laid eyes on the place after a two-year search for the perfect spot to open their business. “As we got into the remodeling, we found paintball globs everywhere. It was pretty much a disaster zone.”

All the commotion inside and out has led to interest from passersby and local business people. “A lot of people have stopped by to ask what’s going on,” Page said.

Leading a tour of the nearly finished 17,443-square-foot facility last week, Page pointed out the main ballroom that is 50 by 90 feet and has a capacity of 543 people. She noted that ballrooms only have to be 45 by 60 feet to be considered competition sized.

There are DJ booths both on the ballroom level and in the upstairs mezzanine, where people can look down on the dance floor. A screen descends from the ceiling to show scores during competitions or to provide entertainment during dance intermissions.

The gigantic room also boasts two huge chandeliers from an area hotel along with smaller ones to add a festive accent, and colored lights on the walls above the curtains will pulse to the rhythm of the music being played.

And a disco ball covered with 6,000 Swarowski rhinestones will be suspended from the ceiling.

“Everything is computerized, so we can come up with a million different looks,” Page said.

The second ballroom is 50 by 55 feet and decorated with a burgundy-and-gold fleur-de-lis pattern, and it has a capacity of 336.

The smallest ballroom, decorated in a soothing blue color, is 35 by 50 feet and has a capacity of 272. It also features a mezzanine up a flight of stairs where the studio’s offices are located.

“I can’t think of a ballroom I’ve seen with a balcony except in England,” Page said. “There will be 14,000 LED lights going into the ceiling of the smallest ballroom to give the room a magical feeling.”

Also upstairs is a break room for students to use between classes with a window that overlooks the TriMet Transit Center, and downstairs is a large kitchen where food can be catered or prepared. The facility also boasts a small studio apartment.

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