Line dancers learn from top choreographer
Christine Stewart, one of New Zealand’s top line dancing choreographers, came to Dannevirke November 3, after a request to have a workshop in Dannevirke.
Christine, from Wellington, has her own dance company Silver Lining Line Dance, where she teaches 10 to 15 classes a week from beginner to advanced.
Friday night was a meet Christine night for the Dannevirke Services and Citizen’s Line Dancers Club members before Saturday’s workshop. Christine brought a few of her dancers with her to help with the workshop.
Christine had written some dances recently and was going to teach them in Dannevirke before teaching others — an honour for the Dannevirke Dancers. The word soon got around and before Dannevirke knew it 60 dancers from the lower North Island indicated they would like to join in. A few from Hamilton also came along with Phoenix Adamson, who teaches in Hamilton.
More than 80 dancers congregated on Saturday for a rare treat.
It was a busy day. They were taught three dances before lunch at Dannevirke Services and Citizens Club and then returned to the Sports Centre for another three dances in the afternoon as well as a refresher of the ones learnt in the morning. The workshop finished with afternoon tea.
Saturday night was a social night at the Dannevirke Services and Citizens Club — each group had dances to share and about 40 enjoyed a good night’s dancing after a full day.
On Sunday afternoon the club dancers put on a display for the Club’s women’s afternoon.
They did four dances showing the 60 women who attended that it is not all “traditional” country, with dances done to Pretty Belinda and Breaking Up is Hard To Do. They taught a couple of dances to more than half the women so they can join in the fun when bands play at the Club.