Crystal Ballroom opens

Maria Smith
Cumberland Times-News

April 13, 2008 11:10 am

— CUMBERLAND — Nancy Lepley’s mother recalls those days in the 1950s when the Elks would hold its Charity Ball on three floors of its building.
A different band and genre on each, her mother, Cleo Knippenberg, often found herself on the third floor.
There’s no doubt that Knippenberg, now 90, has passed on her love of dance to her daughter, who is preparing to open Lepley’s Crystal Ballroom on the same floor her mom once danced.
“I just think there’s a growing need for it in Cumberland,” Lepley said. “There are a lot of ballroom couples, and I think this will be really great.”
The first public dance at the former Elks B.P.O.E. Lodge 63 building in at least a decade will be held Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m. An admission fee will be charged and refreshments will be available. A second dance is scheduled for April 27 during the same hours.
Dances are open to anyone who enjoys music and you can expect to be able to dance to anything from a swing tune to “The Electric Slide.”
The well-known duo of Johnny Moore and Tom Skidmore are the headliners.
Moore spent 33 years performing in New Jersey and has worked with Frankie Avalon and Bobby Darin.
A native of the area, he met his wife, Ramona, at the Cadillac Lounge during his very first performance. When he retired, the couple returned to the area, where he began playing solo.
Four years ago, Moore joined Skidmore, known for his work with The Classics and The Odd Couple.
The harmonious duo plays a variety, with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, Billy Joel and Elton John some of the favorites. Swing, do-wop and big band are all part of the mix.
“We didn’t realize there was such a market for it,” Moore said.
The more the two played, whether it be at private engagements or downtown, the more they heard from people who wanted a place to go dance.
That’s where Lepley comes in to play, er dance.
Lepley, a former school teacher, said Larry Jackson told her two years ago she needed to look at the space at 114 S. Centre St. and open it as a ballroom. Already with hardwood floors, a stage and a high ceiling, it fits the bill.
“I came down and looked at it several times,” she said.
It wasn’t until this September that she finally took over the space.
Renovations to the third-floor, 5,000-square-foot space included removing particle board that exposed a balcony. Fresh paint, mirrors and of course, a disco ball, have been added. Two large wallpaper pictures of Cumberland were kept.
Lepley, who has operated Lepley Dance Studio for 40 years, said the ballroom dancing classes are too large to fit into her longtime studio on North Centre. Those Thursday evening classes, along with Tuesday’s belly dance and clogging classes, will be moved to the ballroom.
She hopes to hold Sunday dances at least twice a month and already sees much potential in the space, including Friday and Saturday night dances. Because space is available for a caterer, she also envisions wedding receptions and class reunions.
The space, however, is not yet handicapped-accessible.
For more information, call (301) 777-5315.
Contact Maria Smith at msmith@times-news.com.

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