Lincoln Park District Hosts Adult Prom

[May 01, 2025]  Dancers from Lincoln and across central Illinois gathered at the Lincoln Park District (LPD) on Saturday, April 26, for a fun evening of dancing at Adult Prom. Jon Young of Young Dance, Inc. organized and deejayed the dance in the recently renovated ballroom of the LPD Recreation Center. Adult Prom was a fundraiser for the LPD Foundation. The mission of the LPD Foundation is to “enable future development and support of projects and events that help preserve, restore and manage our natural and recreational opportunities.” Part of the LPD Foundation donations also support the Youth Scholarship Fund which “assists children who demonstrate financial need to be able to participate in Lincoln Park District programs.”

Beginner lessons in Waltz, Foxtrot, and Nightclub were available during the afternoon and the dance began at 7:00 p.m. Young taught the lessons and curated a prom playlist featuring songs suitable for dancing East Coast Swing, Nightclub, Hustle, and West Coast Swing, as well as plenty of club songs and slow dances and some popular line dances just like a regular high school prom.

Ladies took advantage of the opportunity to to wear their formal gowns and flowy dresses, and many gentlemen distinguished themselves in tuxedos, suits, and ties. The ballroom was elegantly decorated in black and gold with festive lighting. Two backdrops for creating photos to make the memories last added a special touch. A generous refreshment table kept energy high with fruit and vegetable trays, cheese and crackers, a variety of cookies, and other tempting snack foods.

Couples and singles attended Adult Prom from Lincoln, Springfield, Bloomington-Normal, Peoria, and as far away as Galesburg. Young has taught lessons and hosted charity dances in the ballroom at the Rec previously, most recently in late December, which raised money for the Land of Lincoln Honor Flights, and on April 12 in which he hosted professional dancer and dance instructor, Laynee Day, for an afternoon of swing dance lessons followed by a social dance.

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Young will be providing additional opportunities for Lincoln to try out social dancing. Beginning May 1, Young will offer beginner Waltz lessons on Thursday nights for the month of May at the LPD. On May 31, he will host lessons with a professional dance team during the afternoon and sponsor a social dance in the evening, also in the ballroom at the LPD. Future charity dances in Lincoln include a Broadway-themed dance on September 28 as a fundraiser for Lincoln Community Theatre. For more information about dances and lessons in central Illinois, visit www.youngdanceinc.com. For more information about the Lincoln Park District Foundation and upcoming park district events, visit www.lincolnparkdistrict.com.

[Stephanie Hall]
 

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