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Thursday Dances Benefit ORR Athletics
07/28/10
12:01:55 am 
Thursday Dances Benefit ORR Athletics
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It’s summertime. After a long nine months in school, summer is a much-needed break for teens in the area. Tri-Town teens are excited to spend their days lounging at the beach and hanging out with friends. There isn’t much to do in the Tri-Town, but there’s always one night that teens have to look forward to.
Every Thursday night, the Mattapoisett Track Club hosts teen dances. Teens make their way down to the Mattapoisett wharf around 7:30 pm. As the music starts and the DJ begins to play, the night begins. Local teenagers let loose as they socialize and dance to the music. Each teen is given a brightly colored wristband when they enter the dance. The fee is five dollars to get in, which isn’t much considering the amount of effort it takes to hold the dance each week.
All Tri-Town teens are allowed into the dance. The ages range from seventh grade to high school, although some teens stop attending the dances when they are in the beginning or middle of high school. Teens from other towns are not allowed to attend; therefore, police are always on duty checking for outsiders that come from surrounding towns. The police are also on duty to ensure that everything remains safe, although the dances usually run smoothly and the police rarely need to intervene. Many of the teens who attend can’t drive, so this is a great place for them to go one night a week. It is also becoming a place where teens can meet up and socialize with their friends who they don’t see as often during the summer months.
This year the dances started the first week of summer on June 24. They begin at 7:30 and last until 10:30 pm. The ice cream shack is always open during the dances, so teens can always buy food and drink throughout the duration of the dance.
The dances are sponsored by the Mattapoisett Track Club and they began in 1954 by the chief of police in Mattapoisett. The founder of the track club, “Mudgie” Tavares, took over and ran the dances until 1996. Paul and Mary Ann Amoruso now run the dances. All the proceeds of the dances go to athletic programs run by the Track Club at Old Rochester.
There has been controversy whether to keep the dances running. There have been complaints about noise and teens hanging out during and after the dances. Despite complaints, the dances have continued. It is something that teens look forward to during the summer months, and it is a beneficial fundraiser for athletic programs. If all remains the same, teens will keep dancing on the Mattapoisett wharf on Thursday nights.
By Jillian Koran
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