About Us

In January 1993 after the closure of the Arkansas Ballroom Center nightclub, dancer Don Wright surveyed 100 or so of the “evicted” dancers about what they wanted in a dance hall.  By March the “want” list was large, but the number of interested dancers had dwindled.  During an exercise class at the YWCA, Don thought “why not this space?”  The first lease with the YWCA was signed in March 1993.  Don’s consulting and marketing firm footed the bills for the lease and floor building materials until it could be repaid by the new club (Ballroom, Latin and Swing Social Dance Association (BLS)).  In summer of 1996, BLS had raised enough money to buy materials and install a proper dance floor, and later, a sound system.

The ballroom was affectionately called “the Y” for 25 years.  Three months after signing the 2018 lease for another year, the latest building owner, CareLink, presented its cancellation of the leases to BLS and the other two clubs that also danced there.  By April 20, 2018, a ten-year lease was signed for The Ballroom on Shackleford by BLS, Bop Club, and Country Dancers.  With monetary loans and donations from members of the dance clubs, and free labor from dancers, a new floating dance floor, sound system, air conditioning, and furniture were installed—ready for another twenty-five years.