The Shoeleather Express
Upcoming Square Dances at The ED Center in Gloversville
Saturday, May 17, 6-8pm
Erie Canal Celebration!
HC Smith Benefit Club, St Johnsville, NY
See below for flier!
Thursday, May 22: 6:30 - 9:00
Saturday, May 24th
Denise Carbonell calling at The ED Center.
12-1 Mainstream warm up
1-2pm potluck
2-4:30pm MS/Plus w/Rounds Phase 2-4
Thursday, June 5 & 12: 6:30pm - 9:00
Gloversville Mayor Vincent DeSantis
visited our Valentine's Day dance.
Welcome to the ED Center!
A Home For
Square Dancers and Round Dancers
31 Spring St, Gloversville, NY
(518) 225-1405
mailing address
P.O. Box 321
Gloversville, NY 12078
February 2, 2025
We had a serious break in the radiator heating line.
The entire living area has been totaled floor to ceiling.
This has been hard on us losing all the work we've done.
Thankfully the dance hall and social area have not been affected...
...heat is being restored.
Quick Response was hired to cleanup, dry out, and mitigate.
Many other things will also have to be done.
Thank you Darryl & Kelly, Florence and Larry, Tom and Diane and friends for overseeing and keeping us advised. Thanks to EVERYONE who is helping out with the GoFundMe:
https://GoFund.Me/93663131
YOU are the ones who are keeping Square and Round dancing going! You are a blessing from God!
Elaine & Dennis
Last Updated
5 / 16 / 2025
National Square Dance Convention
June 26-29 in Milwaukee
It was a wonderful time.
click below to see
Next National Square Dance Convention
Shreveport, Louisiana
June 25-28, 2025
Come Dance With Us!
Feel free to wear western style clothes
But for a hardwood floor
you should consider having
good, soft sole, leather dance shoes.
Would you like to have a
Square Dance party?
We'd love to call a Square Dance for you.
Contact Dennis @ 518-225-1405
Also Learn Square Dancing at
Singles Outreach Services
Hanover Square Building
435 New Karner Road
Albany NY 12205
The entrance is on the right side of the building.
There is a banner with their name on it.
Contact:
Ron Schelhaas
Vice President
Latham Circle Squares
518-286-0755
February 7, 2025
Hello,
I'm Darryl White, a square and round dancer from the Albany, NY area. I danced along with my wife Kelly for about 15 years before jobs and kids caused us to drop out in the mid-90s. In 2019, we got back in with the help of Elaine Mikenas and her cuer partner Dennis Viscanti. Elaine is the owner of a church which she and Dennis worked on tirelessly to convert into a dance venue complete with social rooms, a beautiful dance floor, overnight accommodations for out-of-town dancers, and an attached apartment for her, Dennis, and dance friends and guests. It is a large and beautiful space, but it was a labor of love to make it a great dance venue, and Elaine and Dennis did almost all the work to bring it to this level.
The facility is called the ED Center (Elaine and Dennis) and goes by the name of the Shoeleather Express, which is on our dance badges. This was Elaine's dream for the benefit of all of us that enjoy square and round dancing.
While Elaine and Dennis were out of town, there was a failure in the heating system resulting in freezing and pipe breaks in a hot water heating line. I was first to check on the property after the break and found an inch of water in the apartment and basement below, along with hot steamy conditions and water condensation on all surfaces. The floor was already buckling and plaster dropping from the ceiling. All clothing and personal items were soaking wet from the humidity and the hot water spray. The water was secured, which shut off the heating until the portion of the system that failed could be isolated. A local recovery company was dispatched to dewater and dehumidify the apartment, but the damage is severe. As I write this, the equipment is still working to dry out the apartment, but I'm told much of the drywall needs to be removed to see if the moisture penetrated the walls. Already, much of the top layer of flooring has been removed, but much of the underfloor may be asbestos, which requires special remediation and removal.
Elaine has insurance, but as I'm sure you're aware, it does not by any stretch cover all the expenses she currently faces to restore the property. Luckily, the social rooms and dance floor were not affected, and the heating system is partially restored to ensure no cold weather damage occurs in the unaffected areas.
Square and round dancers are like family, and I know we care about each other and want to help out when and how we can. That is why I decided to start this GoFundMe for Elaine in support of the recovery of the ED Center Shoeleather Express dance venue.
You can see more of what goes on at the Shoeleather Express at their website, "theshoeleatherexpress.com". My sincerest hope is that with our gracious support, we can relieve some of the burden of this tragedy by our financial support to help Elaine rebuild.
GoFundMe
https://GoFund.Me/93663131
February 10, 2025
Because of the many snow storms, the roof to the guest rooms and hallway is in danger of collapsing. It is truly heartbreaking when combined with the damage to the living area.
Thank you Darryl for offering to setup a GoFundMe.
Update at the ED Center: The dance hall is fine (and the bathrooms are DONE!)
More to be done but at least we can start dancing again!
Did you know that Elaine was awarded her 25 year certificate from CALLERLAB at the CALLERLAB 50th Convention in Greenville, SC?
Congratulations on helping to keep the activity going for 25 years!
You're Invited!
Summer Session Square Dance
Thursdays, 6:30pm-9:00
May 22
June 5, 12
July 3, 10, 17
August 7, 28
$10 pp Each Lesson / Mainstream Level
Learn As You Dance / Have Some Fun!
WELCOME NEW DANCERS!
To Help Us Rebuild
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Pictures from Toni's 100th Birthday Party can be found on Facebook. Click the picture below:
Next Dance
Denise Carbonell from Maine
Saturday, May 24th
