Setting the standard: Teacher Gail Cook with partner Gordon Cross.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Every Wednesday Gail Cook travels from Benalla to the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre to get her groove on with people from all over the GV, teaching them how to sequence dance.
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Ms Cook said Shepparton Social Sequence Dancing was the only casual, non-professional sequence dancing class in the local area.
May I have this dance?: Robyn Farley and Kevin Mulcahy getting their wiggle on.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Ms Cook describes sequence dancing as a mix of old time and new vogue, and also said the group liked to mix in rock ’n’ roll and samba dances from time to time.
Some group members said they travelled over an hour into Shepparton just for the lessons.
Killing it: Meryl Fitzgerald and Ron Cooke sequence dancing.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
Ms Cook said she taught both a day and a night class, and held a social dance on the second Saturday of each month.
“It’s good exercise and cardio, without being overly strenuous. The brain is working, the body is working, and they don’t realise how much exercise they’re doing,” Ms Cook said.
Ms Cook said she found her love for ballroom dancing after fighting two battles of cancer.
“I couldn’t work, but I found a passion for dancing, and it was a bit of an outlet for me,” she said.
“I wanted to show people you can have cancer and still do things.”
Dancing duo: Robyn Farley and Ian Whitley swaying together.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
She said she just wanted to see more people come along and have a go, and see what they were missing.
“A lot of women don’t come because they are worried about not having a partner, but we alternate and switch partners all the time,” Ms Cook said.
“A lot of men don’t come because they’re afraid of being seen as a ‘wuss’, but then they come along and say they wish they did it 10 years ago.”
The group was getting ready for its Valentine’s Day dance this Saturday, February 11, at 7.30pm at the Shepparton Senior Citizens Centre.
The group members said they would love to get younger people involved.
“No matter who you are, if you think you want to have a try, we’d love for you to get involved,” Ms Cook said.
Anyone who wants to move their feet and dance to the beat can contact Gail Cook on 0412 858 019.
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