Family fun under the stars

MILLERTON — After the success of last year’s “Movies Under the Stars,†the Handy Boys Enterprise group is back again this summer, offering a few more movies and this time dancing lessons too, starting this Saturday night.

Organizer Troy Ramcharran  is a Lakeville resident who owns Handy Boys, a jack-of-all-trades operation based in Connecticut. The Millerton connection was made simply because the village was the most open to Ramcharran’s ideas for free community-oriented events.

“I’ve found my home in Millerton because my ideas are well-received,†he said over the phone a few weeks before the event. “The mayor there, John Scutieri … his smile alone lets you know that it’s OK. He smiles and gives you the thumbs up and you’re outta there. I love it!â€

Anyone who knows Ramcharran knows he’s constantly bubbling over with new ideas. The latest to come to fruition, “Dancing Under the Stars,†found its inspiration from an older man Ramcharran watched dancing to classical music from his Walkman in the check-out line of the grocery store.

From there Ramcharran got in touch with some area dance troupes (not easy to come by, he said) as well as a local musical collective, the Berkshire Stompers. The end result will be held Saturday, July 24, at Eddie Collins Field in Millerton. From about 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. the Stompers will lead off the musical evening. Following them, the Esther and Ben Dance Academy, run by Esther Odescalchi and Brenden Murtha, will entertain and instruct willing audience members with lessons in everything from the waltz to the cha-cha, the merengue to the fox trot. The evening will conclude around 9:30 p.m., “depending on how much fun we’re having,†Ramcharran said.

The event is free to the public, thanks to the financial support of Handy Boys and “a couple of good samaritan businesses in the area that have been very helpful,†he said.

“We’re trying to use what Millerton has to offer. Eddie Collins is a beautiful park, so for a couple hours we want people to come out and dance. Have fun, bring a lawn chair and snacks. And bug repellent.â€

This is the first of three events this summer for the group. The second two will be “Movie Under the Stars†events on Aug.14 (the movie is “Planet 51â€) and Aug. 28 (“Astro Boyâ€). Both events are free and will start when it’s dark enough to see the huge projection screen.

For more information on Handy Boy events, you can find them on Facebook by searching for “Event Under the Stars†or by visiting handyboysent.com.

And in case you were wondering, Ramcharran is already planning for next summer.

“It’s gonna be crazy,†he promised, laughing.

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