REVIEW: All Shook Up- Decades of Dance

Published at: www.culturehunter.org, November 2012.

Event: Charity Fundraising Ball- ‘Decades of Dance’
Organisers: All Shook Up Dance Studio http://www.allshookup.com.au/
Location and Date: Maitland Town Hall, October the 6^th

IF YOU enjoy a bit of a dance and you were nearby, odds were you may have been at Maitland Town Hall on the 6^th of October.

As has often been done in years gone by, All Shook Up Dance Studio held a ball to raise money for charity. The targeted recipient on this night was the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Given the fact that, as Gary informed me, “they receive no government funding what-so-ever,” it made sense to try and combat this lack of support by hosting a fund-raising ball. Patrons of All Shook Up were not lacking at all, with close to two hundred people coming to stomp upon the floor…which meant that for the whole evening, the dance floor literally felt like a living thing, constantly heaving up and down!

The theme for the night was ‘Decades of Dance’. As you might expect then, the variety of costumes worn was wide and varied. For example, one chap wore checked trousers and a white jacket- rather 1950s, I thought. One of the ladies, a leggy brunette, was sporting a short, figure hugging red skirt. Her explanation said enough: “I’m Spanish,” she replied when asked. Another dancer had me do a double take, as I could have sworn at first that none other than Austin Powers had come to swing in our midst!

Musically, the night was a roaring success. DJ Vinnie got the mood started, playing various hits from the decades when dancing was popular at the Maitland Town Hall, particularly the Post-Depression era. Showcasing not long after were the Sydney Swing Catz, a talented dance troupe who moved about the dance circle with such admirable ease. As a rule, they replicate a whole host of dance styles from the 20s, 30s, and 40s, plus some Lindy Hop too- all done with such marvellous finesse. According to the Harden-Murrumburrah Express Newspaper, these guys “explode with colour, excitement and energy.” Having now seen them in action a few times, I don’t doubt the veracity of this statement!

Then came onto the stage the Jive Bombers. A nifty seven piece band, these guys are considered one of “Australia’s Premier Dance bands.” What with their excellent repertoire, which encompassed a whole host of genres such as Blues, Rock ‘n’Rroll, Swing and Latin, they had dancers on the floor for hours on end. Why, even Frankie Manning- the legend of Lindy Hop himself, no less!- has been quoted as saying, “these guys can really swing!”

This then was the night held at Maitland Town Hall, and I for one am quite pleased I went. Some keen performers came and exhibited some very clever talents, and the crowd that gathered was most receptive; ultimately too, the night was a success with close to $6,000 raised. Considering the remarkable resurgence of various social styles in recent decades and the turn-out on this night, one thing seems certain- it doesn’t look like dancing is going to drop off the radar any time soon!