ONLY a year after they stepped onto the dance floor at Glaxo Sports and Social Club in Barney, a Startforth couple are now leading the way in the twice-monthly sequence dance group.
Angela and Tim Baitman, who own and run the Olde Curiosity Shop, caught the dancing bug six years ago after attending lessons with friends at The Witham.
She said: “We started going to lessons before lockdown. The tutor worked on the cruise ships so he would be there and then off again, and we only had about six lessons before the lockdown.
“We only got so far with the lessons because the tutor was also popping off, so we did learn steps for dances, but we never really knew what the names were and we made them up ourselves such as washing the windows, or side to sidestep (chasse).
“Then after lockdown we did a bit of research to find what was in the region and we came across Sequence Dance Club at GSK and the Butterknowle Sequence Dance Club and all of us who did lessons went along.”
Sequence dancing is a ballroom dance genre for couples. But unlike ballroom dancing, in sequence dancing all couples perform the pre-determined routines at the same time, while rotating around the dance floor. There are hundreds of determined routines with unusual names such as the Emmerdale Waltz, but include foxtrot, rumba as well as the cha cha and quickstep.
After only 12 months the duo have been handed the baton to run the events at GSK following the retirement of stalwart MC and dancer Malcolm Hogg from Bishop Auckland.
Angela added: “We were a bit nervous when we first went, but it is more of a ‘get up and have a go’ style and we were made to feel very welcome. “
Tim, who is relishing his new role as MC as well as enjoying getting out onto the dance floor, said: “When we first started, I thought we would never be able to do it. The only way to learn I think is not to watch but to get up and follow someone who does it well.
“Malcolm asked me to MC when he was on holiday, and I thought why not. I basically had to do the run list of dances and announce them through the night.
“After he told me he was retiring and would Angela and I take over, we thought if we didn’t, it would die, and we didn’t want that to happen.”
The group has about 40 regular attendees with each session just £3 which also includes a break for bingo and a raffle and live music is provided by organist Andrew Aldbury
Angela said: “It’s brilliant fun and even if you just want to come and watch, have a game of bingo afterwards, there is no pressure or expectations, and it can be quite good watching everybody else going around.
“Our idea is to try and increase the numbers coming and we have our own social media page and hopefully more people will discover how much fun it is.”
Tim added: “Essentially it has been traditional dance music, but we have been introducing a bit of Abba, The Mavericks and picking it up a bit with more modern music. What we have to do now is ensure we have enough different dances to get people up on the floor.”
They are also hoping to tie into celebrity and dancing enthusiast, Angela Rippon’s new campaign, Let’s Dance, that aims to get more people dancing.
l Saturday Night Sequence Dance at Glaxo Sports and Social Club every second and fourth Saturday of the month from 7.30pm until 10.30pm.
