CT Choreographer Approaching 365 Consecutive Days Of Dancing

WEST HARTFORD, CT — It's almost been a full year of daily dancing for Darlene Zoller.

Zoller is the co-founder and co-artistic director of Playhouse on Park in West Hartford. On March 17, 2020, she offered her first dance class on Facebook Live, a class now known as "We're Better When We're Dancing!"

The suggestion to stay at home order had just gone into effect amid the coronavirus pandemic, and she decided to offer a free virtual dance/exercise class for anyone who wanted to join.

Those who tuned in were seemed grateful a "much-needed distraction," so, Zoller offered a class again the next day.

And the day after that.

And for days after that.

On March 16 of this year, Zoller plans to celebrate her 365th consecutive day of dance classes on Facebook Live. She said, for some viewers, her daily classes have become a staple. Some participate along with her, or just have her on in the background.

Here she is on Wednesday:

In addition to more than 1,700 followers, Zoller was even spotlighted by Facebook itself for her 200th consecutive day back in October.

Folks can dance live on her page every day at noon here:

• https://www.facebook.com/darlene.zoller

At Playhouse on Park, Zoller has directed and choreographed productions like "Caberet," and "Chicago" (winner of Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World) and "Swinging on a Star" and "That Holiday Feeling." She is also the founder, director and choreographer of Stop/Time Dance Theater, the resident dance company of Playhouse on Park, which is now in its 18th year.

She was also voted Best Director of a Musical/Broadway World for a 2014 production of "I'd Rather Be Dancing."

Zoller is known as "Mama D" of Mama D's Outrageous Romp," a "grown-ups only" music, dance and comedy event exclusive to the Playhouse on Park.

Zoller is an adjunct professor at the University of Hartford's Hartt School, where she directed and choreographed "Chicago" and arranged the choreography for a production of "On The Twentieth Century" and "Thoroughly Modern Millie" and "Smile."