After an action-packed May, June felt relatively quiet… unless you count six hours a week of competition practice, alongside events and teaching, as quiet!
Preparations for The Lineup NZ Competition in August have well and truly ramped up, with our team and duo routines taking shape. Think the costume decision making has taken the most time! And we're making good progress on the dancing too... while there’s still plenty of work to do before the big day.
Our first Friday theme party for the month was Mardi Gras, and what a colourful, vibrant night it turned out to be. Any excuse to dress up, in fact I might need to extend the spare bedroom into a second wardrobe for myself.
I had the chance to introduce a little line dancing to my Business Belles networking group at Black Betty BBQ / The Old Saloon in Hastings. It was such a blast sharing something I love with people from a completely different part of my life, and watching everyone give it a go with smiles on their faces.
Another highlight was dancing at the Relay For Life fundraiser. It was so cool to see so many people get up and give line dancing a whirl. There’s something special about watching people put aside any worries about getting the steps right and simply have fun together, all with a good cause behind it.
Speaking of fun, the Clive Bootscootin crew was invited to be part of a commercial for a wind farm - all about energy. Well, if we didn't dance Church Clap once, we must have danced it forty times over two and a half hours! Somewhere in there I managed a hamstring pull, who would have thought... Seeing everyone giving it their all and laughing our way through take after take made for the most memorable experience of the month.
Another June highlight was the road trip to Tauranga to celebrate High Tide Hoedown's first birthday. I got to spend a few extra days there with my sister which was amazing. It was a fabulous weekend of dancing and catching up with friends, but what stood out most wasn't the music or the steps.
It was the kindness.
I brought my big sister Ness along for the dancing adventure. While she's done a little line dancing before, this was something different, and we were together.
I was really moved by how welcoming everyone was. Our Clive Bootscootin friends, and dancers from around the room, called out steps, offered encouragement, and simply made her feel like she belonged.
Watching her confidence grow over the weekend was really special. She picked things up much faster than I ever did when I first started, and seeing her experience the warmth and support that makes this community so special reminded me why I fell in love with line dancing in the first place.
It's never been about getting all the steps right.
It's about the people beside you who help you find your feet.
And I can't wait to see where line dancing takes her next.
Reflection
June reminded me that progress isn't always measured by how many dances you learn or how many events you attend. Sometimes it's found in the quieter moments - the hours spent practising, the friendships being strengthened, and the simple joy of sharing something you love with the people you love.
Because at the end of the day, line dancing isn't just about dancing.
It's about belonging.
🎶 Songs of the Month
Blue Jean Queen
Hotel California
