WARWICK — Couples, parents with children and grandparents with grandchildren clapped to the rhythm of Little Richard’s “Tutti Frutti.” The gymnasium floor shook to the beat and poodle skirts of pink, blue, purple and black swung around the room.
Approximately 50 Warwick residents turned out to the first annual Warwick Sock Hop Friday night from 6 to 9 p.m. The event was organized by the Warwick Recreation Committee as a fundraiser and held in Warwick Community School’s gymnasium.
“Traditionally, the Recreation Committee hasn’t gotten a lot of funding,” said committee member Denyse Abruzzise Dar, who came up with the idea for the Sock Hop.
“We got a lot of donations.”
Though admission was free, the committee raised money through the sale of burgers, French fries, chicken tenders, root beer floats and old-fashioned sundaes. Abruzzise Dar said the money will be used to fund free events like yoga classes, art instruction and computer classes for seniors.
“It was a great way for people in town to take a walk down memory lane,” Abruzzise Dar added, and an appropriate, history-focused way to kick off the Warwick Old Home Days, to be held Saturday and Sunday.
Throughout the evening, Christine Rouleau, a lifelong dancer living in Athol, provided lessons in classic 1950s dances. At times, more than 20 people took to the gymnasium floor to dance in unison.
Abruzzise Dar said that in future years, the committee might offer a dance contest or prizes to encourage people to come in antique vehicles.