Fisher Paty, with Oakhurst Realty Partners, stands beneath the marquee at Towne Cinema. File photo by Dan Whisenhunt

The long-awaited opening of Towne Cinema in Avondale Estates is happening this week, and there will be dancing.

When the City Commission approved the permit application for the music venue a year ago, one of the stipulations was that there would be no dance floor. But that isn’t stopping the first event at the Towne Cinema building, which includes salsa dancing lessons.

The event will be held Saturday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Towne Cinema building, located at 106 N. Avondale Road. The event is called Noche Cubana

“Visitors can expect salsa dancing lessons, food from Chefs Rusty Bowers and Savannah Haseler and music from the 11-piece Cuban orchestra, Orquesta MaCuba,” the event announcement says. “Purchase your tickets online or at the Avondale Towne Cinema box office Tuesday through Thursday noon to 5 p.m. For more information call 404-228-3125.”

[adsanity id=27331 align=aligncenter /]

When the permit application was approved, Commissioner Terry Giager said, ““There cannot be a designated dance floor. I guess that includes poles, of course.” The idea was to prevent the Towne Cinema from turning into a rowdy “nightclub.” Tony Longval, the proprietor of the renovated Towne Cinema, promised he would only run a respectable establishment.

Decaturish followed up with the city to ask how a salsa dancing class managed to slip through the city’s “no dance floor” stipulation.

City Manager Clai Brown said, “The Towne Cinema performing arts venue by DeMedici Entertainment was approved through a Conditional Use Permit with a condition the facility will not be permitted as a nightclub with an established dance floor. The Towne Cinema has been inspected and there is no established dance floor.”

So how can there be dancing with no dance floor? Brown didn’t respond to a follow-up email.

Ticket-holders will just have to see for themselves.