The last 10 years have been filled with dance for one Warner Robins man.

For those who may not know it, Jerry Freeman, 56, is currently the United Country Western Dance Council's world champion, an honor he received after competing last month in Nashville.

"I walked into a nightclub in Macon - and they were line dancing," recalled Freeman on how he first got started. "I had no clue what they were doing, but it looked so cool. They were all out there in unison. They were very good dancers, I might add."

After learning the art for five years, Freeman decided to become a certified teacher. He has been teaching classes at the Warner Robins Conference Center, with instructor Holly Brewster.

Class sizes have ranged from s few as five students to as many as 75. He hopes for as many as 100 students, since starting this week classes will now be taught at the larger Galleria Conference Center in Centerville.

It was at the beginning of 2009 when Freeman decided to enter a UCWDC dance festival in Atlanta. He had already been attending dance events across the country.

"I began to meet some of the superstars and befriended some of them in our sport," explained Freeman. "A few of those people got the great idea that I should try out. I'd never competed in my life."

But that didn't stop Freeman.

"I had a little following that went up there to support me. If they hadn't been there, I would've chickened out."

The massive dance floor was surrounded by professional judges, world-class dancers and an audience that greeted Freeman as he danced his way to his first title; overall champion in the male classic Newcomer Line Dance.

Freeman won first place in every single dance in his division last year. It was something he humbly admitted he had never aspired to.

"Line dance has progressed so far over the years. Now we encompass everything from hip hop to country," he said. "Also the mechanics of line dance incorporates every form of dance. We use ballroom steps, cha-cha, rumba, salsa, everything."

Freeman plans to continue entering competitions. He said obtaining sponsorship will be important. But he said there's something more to why he does it.

"These competitions are not about beating somebody else. It's about what limit you can take yourself to. The biggest prize for me has been the friendships," he said.

Encouraging others to dance is his biggest message. For the last three years in a row he said Europeans have dominated UCWDC events. He said the U.S. needs to support its own dancers.

On his weekly classes, he sees people of all ages in attendance from 16 to 60 years of age.

"We do all forms of music," he said.

Since classes are structured and various types of dance rotate from week to week, first-timers can be paired with more experienced dancers nearby. There is always open floor time for dancing.

Freeman said there's definitely an outlet for creative dance in the International City. If not his classes, at least try them out somewhere.

But definitely expect a whole lot of fun when you come.

Fine Line Dance Class starts at 7 p.m. each Thursday at the Galleria Conference Center. Admission is $5 at the door. You can learn more by calling 918-5865 or 955-1016