Life & Work with Drew Ziegler of Fayetteville, NC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Drew Ziegler.

Hi Drew, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
The Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers (CFBD) have been promoting, supporting, and enjoying ballroom dancing since 1993. We create safe, elegant, fun, dance parties where singles and couples enjoy dancing classic steps like the foxtrot and waltz, as well as more current favorites like salsa and bachata. We even like the shag and an occasional line dance.

The CFBD are an integral part of Fayetteville’s nonprofit Arts & Culture scene, being one of the Voting Member Groups of the Fayetteville and Cumberland County Arts Council.

People new to dancing are welcomed as each party includes a free dance lesson and seasoned members love to coach guests on the basics. This is fun, social dancing only, no competition, no score cards.

The club owns a high-quality sound system and a huge collection of dance music from Glen Miller’s 1940s, the rock ‘n roll 1960s, popular Latin standards, retro 1980s, beach music, jazz tunes, and much more. At times, disco and country western music might sneak in.

The club hosts a monthly dance party, usually on the third Saturday. For eight of those parties, we rent Roland’s Dance Studio, which has a beautiful dance floor and is conveniently located. Free refreshments are provided along with a “bring your own beverage” rule. Some of these are “dress up” theme dances, like our Sweetheart Dance in February, Patriotic Potluck in July, the 1950’s party with poodle skirts and saddle shoes, and of course our favorite Halloween Costume Party in October.

Quarterly, our parties are classy, formal dinner-dances at other venues, like the Highland Country Club and the Greek Hellenic Center where we often dance to rich, live music by a “big band.” The gentlemen look dashing in their tuxedos, and the ladies are stunning in their long gowns or short cocktail dresses. With all the martini glasses it has the look and feel of a James Bond movie. “Shaken, not stirred!”

Over the years we have participated in many community events, providing ballroom dance demos at occasions like the Arts Council’s Food, Wine, and Art evening at the Botanical Garden, nursing homes, and service club meetings. Sometimes, club members will organize a “Road Trip” to enjoy dancing in another town, like Myrtle Beach, Wilmington, or Benson.

All our dances provide an opportunity to meet new friends, get some exercise, enjoy wonderful music, and of course dance the night away, all for a very low admission fee, since the Club is strictly non-profit. This kind of entertainment is rare and special.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
– The COVID pandemic caused the club to cancel dances for several months.

– Finding affordable venues, with appropriate dance floors, for the quarterly dinner-dances is an ongoing issue, but we have always been successful.

– Keeping dues and fees low so we can attract all ages and income levels is an important goal for the club.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Personally, my first career was with the US Army, retiring from Fort Bragg, NC, as an Infantry Lieutenant Colonel. Following the military, I joined the faculty of Methodist University in Fayetteville in the Political Science Department, eventually becoming department chair.

My wife, Kalli, is a Real Estate professional, owning her own company, Kalli Ziegler Properties.

Together, we are active in Fayetteville’s Village Baptist Church where we head up the military ministry, which reaches out to young single soldiers and couples.

Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
Being with other people. Planning and executing fun events.

As the president for the Cape Fear Ballroom Dancers, I enjoy planning and organizing the club’s events throughout the year.

Please note, I included two photos of my wife, Kalli, and me. One is a close head shot where we are wearing new year’s hats and I am in a yellow tie. And the other photo of us shows me in a red tie and Kalli in a blue gown.

Pricing:

• The admission fee for CFBD monthly dances is $15 for club members and $20 for non-members. These dance parties are open to the pubic, and people pay at the door with cash or credit card.
• The CFBD quarterly dinner-dances are usually priced att $50 for club members and $75 for non-members. Advance pre-payment is required, which can be online or by check.
• Annual dues for the CFBD are $75 per person.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.capefearballroomdancers.org/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.capefearballroomdancers.org