By Renee Prola, Ordway Center for the Performing Arts

There was a mantra going around earlier today…Rain, Rain Go Away! Unfortunatley, for the first Ordway Summer Dance of the 2014 season the rain continued. The festivities were moved inside to the Marzitelli Foyer at the Ordway. The Foyer provided a lovely dry replacement on this soggy night. Kevin Johnson with the Twin Cities Steppers started the evening off with a one hour dance lesson from 6-7p. Around 80 dancers came out for the lesson and most continued to perfect their new moves while the band got ready. The crowd really grew when Maxx Band feat. Ray Covington took the stage (well not the stage really, but the blue carpet with a gorgeous view of Rice Park as the backdrop). Maxx Band feat. Ray Covington provided two fantastic sets of R&B favorites including the ever popular Electric Slide. The over 300 dancers had a blast dancing the night away to great music and did not want to leave. It was nice to see so many familiar faces from previous Ordway Summer Dance events…a wonderful mix of families, friends, teens, adults and the young at heart. Capri Big Band will take the stage next Thursday for Ordway Summer Dance at 7:15p. Arthur Murray St Paul Dance Studio will teach Swing lessons starting at 6p. Looking forward to another fun Ordway Summer Dance.