ROCKPORT — Swing and Sway Dance Studio, at 143 Maverick Street in Rockland, will present Dancing Through the Decades, a Holiday Dance Performance, Sunday, Dec. 1, at 2 p.m. in the Strom Auditorium in Rockport. Jessica Libby, manager and instructor at Swing and Sway, said the show will start in the 1800s and go all the way though the current styles of dance: Viennese Waltz, Cha Cha, Mambo, and Belly Dancing are all likely to be seen by the audience during the show. There will only be one show.

Libby said dancers begin rehearsals about eight weeks out to be ready for the show. Others have worked on dances for six months because the choreography is so complicated.

Christian Clayton, owner and head instructor of Swing and Sway, said the show is something he always wanted to do, to give the audience a way to relate to the music. The show is punctuated with radio and television sound bites to accentuate the period being portrayed.

Libby said the music will provide the audience flashbacks to events that happened during those years. She is from St George, and has worked for Swing and Sway for two and a half years.

“From five to 85 is the typical age range of our students at Swing and Sway,” said Libby. “Quick Step and Salsa seem to be the most popular dance styles we teach. Swing and Sway is a great way to come into a new community of people. It’s important to note that ballroom dancing is not limited to Waltz, Fox Trot and Tango, but ballroom encompasses multiple styles. Ballroom is also Cha Cha, Rumba, Salsa, Swing, and then there are different categories of those.”

You wouldn’t think that a lot of men would eagerly want to take dance lessons; but once they begin they find it’s a wonderful way to overcome some of the fears they have of interaction, let alone dancing.

“It’s a lot easier for women to come in and take dance lessons than it is for men,” she said. “What I found with a majority of the male students is that once they start, they find that they enjoy it way more then they ever thought they would. The ratio right now is about two women for one man in lessons. Socially, this is a good way to meet people. We host dance parties twice a month that are open to the public and you don’t need a partner to come. It’s a great way to socialize with the dance community and to meet new people.”

Nathifa Shakti, Rockport Dance Conservatory and Kinetic Energy Alive all have featured performances in the show.

Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and can be purchased by calling (207) 594-0940.