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Double Denim & First Releases

After a dry July, August swung the other way – and oh boy, was it full fun! We kicked off with a Double Denim Friday Night Party, followed the very next morning by a road trip for Country Brunch in Wellington. While there, Bex and I interviewed Christine Stewart from Silver Lining for the podcast – another chance to connect with incredible people in the line dance world.Back home, the month was a blur of music and milestones:Friday night at The Clive with Gone Country (Clive Bootscootin’s ...

Stars, Stripes & Stepping Up

July was another big one. First, Bex, Michaela and I raised over $625 for the Dry July Trust by staying sober all month – proof that you don’t need alcohol to have a great time. Our 4th of July party was our biggest yet, with everyone decked out in red, white, and blue. Seeing our boot sisters from Gisborne and Whakatāne join in made it even more special.On 12 July, I headed down to Wellington for the Dracula’s Cabaret Show with Maree, followed by some (squeezed-in!) line dancing at Dakot...

Goth Nights & Podcast Beginnings

June’s 1st Friday of the month theme was Goth.  Honestly, I’ve never dressed up so much in my life since I started this line dance journey. Hubby reckons I need to convert the spare room into a line dancing wardrobe – boots, hats, jeans, and all. (I mean, he’s not wrong – can you really have too many pairs of jeans?)Mid-month, Bex, Michaela and I travelled to Whakatāne for Boots n Beats first hoedown. From helping out Willie the guitarist with a cheeky karaoke session (sorry I to...

Rainbows, Flashmobs & First Times

May was colour, confidence, and community all rolled into one. Our Rainbow Party was a so much fun and a riot of brightness, followed closely by one of the most memorable experiences yet – the International Flashmob on 3 May.Picture this: line dancers up Marine Parade, then surprise routines in Clive Square at the Saturday markets. We danced to A Bar Song (Ben Murphy) and Do It All Again (Gary O’Reilly & Maggie Gallagher). The energy was unreal. And later, scrolling online to see clubs a...

Grease, Gisborne & Good Times

On 12 April, the Clive Bootscootin’ crew hit the road for Rotorua to celebrate Boots ’n’ All’s first birthday party – Grease theme and all.Two nights of line dancing, shenanigans, and plenty of laughs later, I was buzzing. It was such a treat catching up in person with familiar faces from Gisborne too – the kind of connections that make the line dance world feel like one big family.Reflection: Themed parties and road trips remind me that dancing is about more than just steps – it�...

Taking the Line Dance Lead

March started with our line dancing theme dress up gathering, this month's theme was 'wear something that starts with R' – I went as Richie McCaw NZ rugby player and ex All Blacks.It also saw my goal of instructing come to fruition, with Bex away on holiday overseas I nervously stepped up. My stomach was in knots – I didn’t want to let anyone down of course, and we all have to start somewhere. A shoutout to Yoka for her support with the classes during this time, and all the line dance...

Great Walks & Deco Boots

February was unforgettable. Bex and I completed the Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk – four days of hiking, swimming in the lake and waterfall, climbing trees, endless laughter, and, of course, line dancing in the bush. We busted out Merry Go Round, You Look Like You Love Me, Raised Like That, and Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off, turning the forest into our dance floor. Don’t recommend barefoot dancing in the dark as a routine activity!Earlier in the month in Hawke’s Bay, it was time for th...

Volcano Dancing, Festivals & Concerts

The year kicked off with pure adventure. On 2 January, I tackled the Tongariro Crossing with good friends Bonnie, Mitch, Maree, Rhys, and hubby. And of course, I couldn’t resist line dancing in the outdoors – up at the Emerald Lakes, Maree and I broke into 3 Tequilas. My mum just shook her head when she heard, saying, “Lucky you didn’t fall off!”Back home, training began with Bex for the four-day Lake Waikaremoana Great Walk we were to conquer in February, so January was a blur of hiki...

Road Trips, Parties, & Milestones

December was one for the books. On the 6th, I went on my first road trip with the Clive Boot Scootin’ crew to Rhythm n' Lines Christmas Party in Gisborne.I was nervous about being away from home and out of my comfort zone, but what a weekend! Meeting dancers from Gisborne, Rotorua, and beyond, sharing stories, and dancing until my feet literally ached – it was the start of some pretty special friendships.The next week, it was time for the Christmas Party. To my surprise (and delight), I won ...

Dancing Abroad & Declaring Big Dreams

November was wild! I flew to Sydney with hubby for the Ridin’ Hearts Country Music Festival, where the honky tonk sessions were packed shoulder to shoulder. Music blaring, no space to move, and me trying to learn dances after a couple of wines (note to self: not recommended!). The chaos made it even more fun – laughter, stumbles, and pure joy in the middle of a crowd that loved country just as much as I did.I did my first performance - at Toi Toi in Hastings for the International Festival - ...

Doubling Down on Dancing

By October, I was officially hooked on line dancing (though to be fair it probably happened after day one). One class a week wasn’t enough – I started going to two beginner classes plus popping into weekend sessions whenever I could.And... my very first Gingham Line Dancing Party. I’ll never forget the buzz in the room, the sea of checks and cowboy boots, and the joy of dancing with a group of (pretty much complete strangers... who would have thought).During the day walking into 'The Shed...

A Whirlwind of Music and Dancing

This month was a whirlwind of line dancing and country music. Mid-month I was off to Christchurch for the Kip Moore concert. What a night! I went with Maree from Wellington (who dances with Silver Lining Line Dance in Whitby), and she taught me 3 Tequilas – choreographed by her instructor Christine Stewart.  Hubby also came along, as well as good friends Johhnny, Vedette and Rhys Maree's partner.Dancing live in concert, surrounded by the energy of a crowd that love country as much as I do...

From country tunes to line dancing moves - where it all began

My passion for country music started in my childhood. I’ve always been an avid listener, growing up surrounded by the sounds of artists like The Warratahs, Dennis Marsh, Patsy Rigger, Willie Nelson, David Allan Coe, and 90s country legends like Reba McEntire, Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks, Clay Walker - just to name a few. I could go on for ages about the music that shaped me!I even had my own radio show, Spurs of Gold with Cowgirl Kat, on Radio Kidnappers in 2014. Nowadays, I make it a point to ...