LEWISTON – Dance comes home to the Lewiston Public Library for three nights in July.

The library’s Marsden Hartley Cultural Arts Center will host three nights of folk, ballroom and polka dancing.

The city opened the cultural center above the newly renovated library entrance last fall. Part of the renovation was to reclaim the old Grand Army of the Republic Hall on the third floor of the building. That space has been made into a multi-purpose room for speeches, dances and lectures.

This is the first time the space will be used for dance.

“People may not remember, but at one time Lewiston was considered the dance Mecca,” said Cindy Larock, event coordinator for the center. “Dance halls lined the streets. We’re trying to get back to this, with the idea that we don’t want people to watch. We want them up on the floor, participating.”

It kicks off Thursday with New England folk dancing, featuring fiddler Frank Ferrel and guitarist David Surrette. Larock will teach traditional square and contra dances. She’ll also be the caller for the dances. The event is free of charge and open to anyone pre-teen or older.

The dances continue July 21 with ballroom dancing and July 27 with a polka party.

“We’re working on bringing something in for August,” Larock said.

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