We have a weekly program that includes both Modern Sequence and New Vogue dancing. We meet on Wednesdays (09.30) at the Whitfords Seniors centre which is on the East side of the Whitfords Shopping Centre next to the Library.

New Vogue Dancing is the Australian version (ca. 1930) of the Modern Sequence Dancing which originated in the UK. We also include some popular old time favourites. To view our monthly program visit next 5 week dances at the top of this page.

We have had significant success introducing the Stardust Foxtrot , the Carisbrooke Cha Cha. and more recently, the New Vogue Foxtrot. Most people who tried these dances were enthusiastic and welcomed their inclusion to our program.

 Our next new dance is the Winter Rose Waltz, commencing Wednesday 2nd September. We have already demonstrated the dance briefly, and now intend to have regular walk throughs for the next 4 weeks.

Our Host, Des Young, has left a message that this dance has an excellent demonstration by two professional dancers from Ballroomoves on the internet, which is currently posted via instagram. However Ballroom moves state on their site that a more comprehensive video will be posted soon.

ARTICLE ON BALLROOM DANCE From Dez Young

Many keen ballroom dancers find themselves asking this simple question.
Why are the numbers of people doing Ballroom Dance decreasing?
We dancers find that the older dancers who reduce their participation or even
drop out through ill health or other causes are not being completely replaced by
younger cohorts.
We look for possible causes of the long term decline since the nineteen sixties.
There are some obvious explanations, but also some that are puzzling.
To start with; ballroom dance needs a lot more room than some other activities
and needs a wooden floor. There are now very few dedicated dance halls.
We happily compromise on this by using sporting venues which also provide
for other sports such as basket ball, so this is certainly not a major problem.
There is no shortage of good, enthusiastic dance teachers willing to train
dancers right from the nervous, stumbling stage to much higher levels of
proficiency.
Women of all ages are much keener to learn to dance and to make it part of
their weekly routine than men. They are aware it helps them keep their figures
and they have a preference for men who are willing to engage in the discipline
required to learn to dance.
Well then, how much discipline is required?
It depends how far you want to go. If you have never done any ballroom
dancing before and just want to do easy social dancing in order to have a
pleasant social activity to develop your social skills and to meet people and
maybe find a partner you don’t need to do a great deal.
The best way is to go to one of the several dance studios in your city and sign
up for a course of basic training. At first you will be nervous and awkward and
think you are hopeless. That is quite normal and the feeling will soon pass.
After a few weeks you will start to feel that you can become a social dancer
and start going to the many venues that offer ballroom dance throughout the
week.
If you are looking for a partner dancing avoids the awkward, limited and
expensive situations commonly on offer. If you just want to dance to improve

your health and enjoy meeting people you will be under no pressure to do
otherwise.
Earlier I said the decline in numbers of dancers can be puzzling. I am referring
to the problem men have when asked to consider ballroom dance.
As the women often point out, men have it easy.
There are usually more women than men at most of the dance venues.
It doesn’t seem to matter if you are not big, well built and handsome. They just
want a man who can dance. Once you have mastered the basics you will be
surprised to find how popular you can be.
Well if that is the case; what is the problem?
From early childhood on men are trained to think of what are considered to be
the tough manly sports: football, rugby etc. Dancing is sometimes regarded
with scorn; not manly. While there is copious amounts of time and materials set
aside for team sports in schools there is very little provided for individual
sports and for dance. This carries on into adult life.
What else has changed?
It became socially acceptable to avoid learning any form of dance which
involved even a minimum level of difficulty and in its place to engage in
shuffling and wriggling whilst not actually holding a partner, simply standing
in proximity to them or even solo.
Therefor the nightclubs can pack a lot more people into a given space.
At the same time the volume of the music has increased exponentially. The
venues can make a lot more money from their facilities this way.
For anyone who has learned even a basic level of genuine dance it is not a
pretty sight nor a pleasant sound.
Ballroom dance has much more to offer than this. You can talk to people
normally at a ballroom dance; you wont have to shout in each others ear. It is a
much more civilised setting. It helps your mind as well as your body. It is a
very healthy activity with no downside and as sports go it is relatively
inexpensive. Try it.

We would appreciate feedback from you regarding our dance program and any other dances you would like included.