Meet The Board

Central Coast Dance Community (CDCC) focuses on fostering a love for live music and dance by offering a wide array of live music, as well as dance classes. CCDC aims to create an inclusive environment where dancers of all ages can express themselves and develop their abilities. The friendly atmosphere of our events encourages connection among participants, helping to strengthen both individual confidence and community ties. Central Coast Dance Community showcases the talent of different bands as well as different dance instructors to provide and celebrate the transformative power of dance in everyday life.

Chairman of the Board

Nancy Marie Ragsdale obtained a Master’s Degree in Science. 12 years as an officer in the US Navy and the US Air Force Auxiliary, gave her the opportunity to develop leadership skills. Leading a youth organization associated with the development of 20+ teenagers through their transformative years preparing for adulthood solidified her leadership skills and drive for fundraising to keep the unit going and growing.

After the death of her husband, she retired and moved to Morro Bay. Soon her passion for life led to dance and helping the club stay afloat and prosper following great losses during the Covid pandemic. 

Nancy started a non-profit corporation and enlisted dancing friends to assist in the management to allow live bands to perform for the dancers and listeners alike. After five years at the helm, she turned the presidency over to a friend who is doing a great job. That didn’t stop her though. She became the Chairman of the Board for The Central Coast California Community. She participates in fundraising and advertising to help the group and other dance groups in the community.

President of the Board

Shari Claudette Fortino has over 50 years of experience in dance performance, instruction and choreography. Among her many achievements, perhaps the most significant, has been carrying the torch left by her father, John Soiu, as she furthers his legacy of both the Debonaire School of Ballroom Dancing and the Debonaire Special Dancers, a social dance program for special needs students. Shari returned to college later in life to earn her Special Education teaching certificate. 

Shari co-narrated an Academy Award nominated documentary movie about the Debonaire Special Dancers with Jack Lemmon in 1987.  Shari and her husband Michael still perform music and dance on the Central Coast. Shari also owned a professional theatre for 17 years. 

Shari served on the Executive Advisory Council for the School of Arts & Humanities at Cal State University, Bakersfield. She was the president of Dancers De Classes and Bakersfield Laf-A-Lot Dance Club, and is very honored to be asked to serve on the Advisory Board for the Bakersfield Music Hall of Fame. Shari is currently President of the Central Coast Dance Community, a non profit that includes the Morro Bay 39 Plus Dance Club. Linda Shorb

Secretary of the Board

Charles is a United States Veteran. He is a graduate of the United States Coast Guard

Gunnery Mate Academy as well as the Federal Protective Service Academy. Charles

has been a small business owner in the fishing industry. He was a volunteer care giver

for Hospice and found that service very rewarding to himself as well as the people he

worked with.

Charles is currently retired and has been dancing for six years, taking lessons from

various teachers and attending dances around the Central Coast.

Treasurer of the Board

Richard is a graduate of The University of the State of New York State with Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics and Sociology.  Richard also holds a California Department of Real Estate Broker license # 00902238 and an inactive California Contractors License # 501313.

For Richard, partner dancing to live music is not just an occasional activity —dancing with its dual facets of the music enjoyment and personal connection, relieves stress, maintains a social life, and altogether, it is a celebration of life.

 

Board Member

Michael Smothers worked for 28 years at a power generation facility in the Central Valley. During that time he participated in development of many plant procedures, policies and operating instructions. As market and contract situations changes, Michael worked closely with the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) to install and test new generation metering systems for the facility. This work entailed following various rules and regulations established by CAISO for this type of change.

I started dancing when I met my wife Shari Fortino about 17 years ago. Prior to this, I was a professional musician in my twenty’s and thirty’s in the Central Valley. I was the dance band leader for the dance club Shari lead in Bakersfield and I still perform regularly here on the Central Coast.

Dance Committee Chairwoman

Beverly Arnold moved to Morro Bay from the Central Valley in 2019. She is an active musician, and plays harp, piano, organ, and sings for local events. She was classically educated through Eastman School of Music, where she earned a certificate in harp with honors in 2001. She went on to earn a double Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Harp Performance and Organ Performance from Fresno Pacific University, also graduating with honors in 2004.

She began ballroom dancing in high-school, took the first ballroom dance class ever offered at Fresno Pacific earning a prize for perfect attendance, and is currently a ballroom dance enthusiast. Beverly serves as Dance Committee Chair for the Morro Bay 39+ Dance Club.