- September 7, 2024
Loading
Dance instructor Magdalena Ivanov and Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin perform a disco routine. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ellen Stevenson (right) dances with Okasna Ivanov, the daughter of dance instructors Alexander and Magdalena. Photo by Paige Wilson
Dance instructor Magdalena Ivanov and Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin pose after performing a disco routine. Photo by Paige Wilson
Flagler County Commissioner Nate McLaughlin traded his suit and tie for a silver sequin shirt and groovy dance moves as he performed a disco routine with Magdalena Ivanov, Arthur Murray Dance Studio franchise owner and instructor. The duo danced as part of a "Dancing with the Stars"-themed evening May 27, at the Italian American Social Club, to celebrate the studio's one-year anniversary in Palm Coast.
"I've been in a band most of my life," McLaughlin said. "But I'm not a dancer. I'm way out of my comfort zone."
Stage fright wasn't a problem for McLaughlin, however, as he spends his free time being the guitarist in a band called Category 5.
"[The instructors] told me normally I wouldn't learn this much this quickly, but they called it the microwave version so that we could be ready to do this event tonight," McLaughlin said.
Dance instructor Jana McNally praised the county commissioner's dedication to the dance lessons over about 12 hours during the last four weeks.
"We got to watch him work really hard each week, and he put a lot of time and effort into it and had a lot of fun," McNally said.
The crowd applauded as he boogied through the routine with Magdalena under the disco ball. Event-goers, many of whom were students and members of the Arthur Murray Dance Studio, also stepped up to the wood dance floor to show off their own moves.