These are pictures of our favorite place to dance, The Ranch.

See below for the Review of “The Ranch”.

BOOT SCOOTIN’ REVIEW

The Ranch

1025 E. Ball Rd #101A

Anaheim, CA 92805

RATING: ***** Five stars (out of 5)

 

INSIDE:

This is one classy place! When you enter and exit, you will be greeted by their very courteous and friendly staff.  The dance floor is a very good size and well maintained with the added bonus of an excellent sound system.  Mr. Andrew Edwards, owner, has paid attention to every detail of his patron’s entertainment experience. And, don’t be camera shy, just smile and your picture may be taken and seen on The Ranch website.  It’s a great way to remember your special night.  It is hard not to be impressed.  This venue is definitely a treat, especially if you have never been here. The teaching staff, Dev, Shelley, Kerri and Kimberly are excellent in their instruction and encouragement for all level of dancers to participate and learn new dances which includes couple dancing, two stepping and line dancing with occasional contra-dance lessons. Leo is their DJ who plays the most danceable music around with Mark heading up the great sound production.  If you are looking for some dancing duds, look no further this link,  Country Western Apparel.

Cover Charge: $15.00 ages 18-20, $5.00 ages 21 & up

Age range:  Usually, 40 and up at opening, 5:30- 7:00pm, and then the 21 and up start arriving

Dress Code: Yes, see “Etiquette and Dress Code” listed on the website.

Dance Floor:  Beautifully maintained, large dance area with rules enforced for the safety and enjoyment of the dancers

Dance Mix:   Mostly Country Western music that’s very danceable music with occasional pop/rock for free dance

Dance Music:  DJ music is all danceable and Leo will take requests, LIVE BANDS begin at 8pm

Live Music:  We like Rob Staley, Kelly Huff, Chris Lozano, Brad Johnson, and Arnie Neuman

Dancing:  Friday or Saturday night 40% Two-Stepping, 40% line-dancing, 20% couple, swing and other types of couple dancing like the waltz or contra dancing (dancing in opposing lines facing a partner) & free dance

Dance Lessons:  There is always a couple lesson (usually 2-step) followed by a line-dance lesson. We are particularly enthusiastic when we learn a new one, especially when we really like the song or the dance steps or both!  For us it is all about fun, getting those synapses and neurons moving, keeping those brain cells sharp. In addition to the healthy exercise that we get from our dancing😊

Food:  EXCELLENT!  The Ranch has a separate full-service five-star restaurant right next door to the Saloon and that food can be ordered as well.  In the saloon, there are booths and tables overlooking the dance floor, that can be reserved for meals and drinks as well.  The food is amazing high-end gourmet on the high end and a treat to eat while dancing there.  There are appetizers, entrees and desserts available also in the Saloon.  We’ve attended many celebrations and what a perfect place to celebrate a special occasion!

Beverages:  Iced Tea (our favorite), beer, wine and liquor

Restrooms:  Unbelievably impeccable!

Security:  At the door and in the venue

 

ATMOSPHERE:  Definitely new/modern Country Western look with lots of beginners to experienced dancers who dance with lots of energy and enthusiasm.  Everyone we have met here is nice and willing to help out newbies on the dance floor.  That’s how Carol and I learned to dance!  There is a variety of terraced seating areas, 2 bars, all with great views of the dance floor. This is in addition to lots of experienced dancers you can watch and/or get next to on the dance floor.

NEWBIES:  There’s a slow dancing zone in the center of the dance floor to practice in and you can also take the basic two-step lesson to help you get started or just polish up your 2-step.  If you would like to learn a beginners line dance before you go to The Ranch, you can click this link to MY Maria line dance video lesson

Specifics:  As you may have guessed, this venue is our home base for country western dancing. It has easy access, being just off the 5 freeway in Anaheim.  Y’all will find a Country Western home base too, if you really get into dancing, like we are.  Wherever that may be, we wish you a lot of happy times and memorable dancing!

 

FINAL THOUGHTS:  What we love about the ranch…  We usually arrive at The Ranch about 5:30PM as the door opens. We say hello to Anthony and Frank (security staff) as we walk in and greet the girls at the check-in.  We look down at the dance floor and check to see if our regular seats are open and head down to the rail seats.  On the way, we bump into Heather (the entertainment director) and Vince (the operations manager) and chat with them for a few minutes, they are so nice.  The waitress stops by and soon after Vincente’ arrives with some iced tea. He is always smiling, and usually gives us the scoop on what’s happening (last week it was a party of 60 people due to arrive).

We also chat with our friends for a few minutes, but we’re always itching to dance.  Leo, the DJ, puts on a nice slow two step and that is perfect tempo for us to use as a warm up.  We step out on the dance floor and we’re off.  The place begins to fill and we see Carol and Richard come in and, oh there’s Theresa And Ray.  We give them a wave and they smile and wave back.  We’re already having fun and getting warmed up too.  Leo puts on a slow line dance now, Rock Me, that is perfect line-dance to get us started.

As we line dance, we see Sandy, Dean, Larry, Marsha, Art, Jeff & Mary and Mark smiling and waving as they come in.  The Ranch has become one big family to us.  We dance for another hour and it’s time for the first lesson.  Tonight, it is intermediate two-step.  We know its going to be fun because Dev and Shelly (who both taught us how to dance) are in the house and that means all dancers in the lesson will get lots of help.  We dance for another hour and it’s 8pm and time for live music from an OC local band.  Heather comes out on stage and announces the band (Rob Staley) and gives us a treat as she announces the owner of The Ranch,  Andrew Edwards is going to sing in the first set.  He does a rousing set, finishing with Electric Slide singing Achy Breaky Heart. There is a loud cheer for the beloved owner. We dance our last dance about 9pm and say goodnight to our friends and the staff at The Ranch.  You can see why we love the ranch so much and why we love to dance…