This big weekend of the 12-hour dance is here, with couples to step onto the dance floor from 10am Sunday 22 June.
Organisers of the New Vogue and Social Dance Group’s extraordinary annual event are anticipating another wonderful weekend, with visitors expected to roll into town from Canberra, NSW and Victoria.
Live music, a beautiful dance floor and the good company of other dancers draw the visitors, says organiser Gail Davis.
Gail and her dance partner Graham Aylen run dance lessons on Tuesday afternoons and weekly Sunday afternoons, but this event is something special.
There will be dancing at the Canowindra Services Club from 10am to 10pm but it’s not a marathon: dancers are invited to come and go as they please and the community is invited to come and watch.
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Choreographers Andrea and John Barwick will be there all day, the renowned dancers taking the dance floor to give demonstrations.
There’ll be live music from Cowra’s Barry Whitty from 10am to 4pm, and from Parkes’ Phil Redenbach from 4pm to 10pm.
“A lot of people don’t have live music now – we’re lucky to have two musicians,” Gail said.
MC for the day is Doug Moorby and there’ll be spot prizes and raffles through the event. Entry is $15.
The 12-hour dance concept came from Canberra and was so successful the local club launched a country version here.
With the exception of a break during COVID, it’s grown in reputation since.
“It’s just magic,” Gail said of the atmosphere of the day.
Gail and Graham began New Vogue style of dancing in 2017 and Gail loves to share it with the community.
“It’s very active, it’s so good for your health and for your brain – because you’ve got to think about the steps,” Gail said.
It’s not just about the dancing, it’s also about social connection and country hospitality of gathering over afternoon tea.
“We have it every Sunday afternoon and people come from everywhere,” Gail said.
For anyone interested in learning, they offer lessons at the club from 1pm to 3pm each Tuesday and it’s just $5 a class.
There are those who just come to watch on Sundays and Gail would encourage more people to come down to the club to enjoy the music and dance.
“We’re a very friendly group,” she said.
