“Motion is lotion” – a refrain oft-repeated by orthopedists – is a great motto to live by. And if you think movement is the lubrication of life, why not do it with pizazz or even a little twang? Dance Ranch, an inclusive LGBTQ+ country-western dance organization, started out as a gym alternative and a potentially fun way to get exercise for Rob Ollander-Krane, its co-founder and director. Ollander-Krane told me he initially thought, “I hate country music,” but when a friend said, “I’m not taking no for an answer,” he checked out a similar place. Much to his surprise, he fell in love with it. This initial introduction was in the San Francisco Bay Area, and the community that Ollander-Krane found bolstered him. So, he wound up teaching and becoming deeply involved with the Sundance Saloon, an exuberant nightclub that offered country-western (CW) dance lessons.
Ollander-Krane and his husband – who is dealing with a Parkinson's diagnosis – relocated to the Coachella Valley in 2020. They currently live in Palm Desert. Ollander-Krane found a similar community in the Valley, but the bar that welcomed the dancers closed amid COVID lockdowns. “We needed a place to dance,“ he says, so he and a few others created the Palm Springs Country Dance Ranch. But, the name wasn’t right; it sounded too much like a country club. Then, Dance Ranch, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was born. Ollander-Krane is now its director and a DJ. He says the club offers more than just dance; it’s a safe and loving community. Dance Ranch is located at 933 Crossley Road in Palm Springs. Lessons are offered from 7 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday nights. Line dance lessons are offered the first Saturday of every month. DJs spin tracks while (often) more than 125 dancers show up. Partner dance lessons such as two-step, waltz, and shadow are offered all other Saturdays.
Dance Ranch has no paid employees. All positions are filled by volunteers, including the founders, DJs, and dance instructors; people who help set up and tear down the dance hall and staff the front door; and the social media content creator, webmaster, and designer who created the brand and marketing. “It takes a village, and we have one,” Ollander-Krane says.
If you want to become part of this inclusive, hip hoedown scene, dig out your boots and get applejackin’, ankle rockin’, swingin’, and steppin’. To find more information about classes or to donate, go to www.danceranchps.org.
