Ballroom Magic begins movie-night series

VERNON — Ballroom Magic, known for its great socials and dance preparation, has again begun its Saturday Movie Night on Feb. 22 with its honor of Black History Month. The movie, “The March,” a documentary narrated by Denzel Washington, focuses on the people who organized the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

It includes interviews with the key actors, including Dr. Martin Luther King, other members of the core organizational groups, including then President Walter Reuther of the UAW, other Civil Rights leaders, Hollywood supporters, Congressman John Lewis, a focus on John F. Kennedy, who feared violence, but was happy at the turn of events before his death, and, of course, the thousands of marchers, who came from all modes of transportation.

After the movie, the group of 20 participated in discussions on the movie, and gave views on segregation, or actually living in the South of the early 1960s. Tom Bias, a local and well-known historian, of the music of the era in question entertained with selections of music by Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, the Peter, Paul, and Mary Trio, and musical influences dating back before the Civil War on his guitar. Tom made the case that music was instrumental for the era of change that was the early 1960s of Freedom Riders, and Marchers for Social Justice.

If people are interested in other coming movies for movie night or to learn 20 different dances at a 1,800 square foot, ballroom and movie center; feel free to contact Russ and Katy Fischer on their web site ballroommagicnj.com, Facebook, or simply call 973-875-4300.