Rock 'n' Roll is:
- easy to learn. Most people can do it -
- extremely versatile. It suits a large range of modern and older popular music -
- a great social activity for meeting new friends and partners -
- inexpensive. Anywhere there is suitable music you can dance -
- suitable for young and old -
- well established. Its practised around the world -
- very suitable for amateurs as well as pro dancers. You don't need to be perfect for fear of being laughed at -
- a great fitness activity -
- a socially acceptable way for ladies to show their knickers in public (but gentlemen don't notice!) -
Gareth & June dance
for disabled children
Sandra trusts Trevor
to have a firm grip on things
James and Ann
dance with color and style
Sandy and Annette
strut their stuff!
No butterfingers here!
Hands up those who
love to dance!
George & Sue can step
with the best of them
Sandy & Annette have a
laid back approach
reported by Bob Couch
Coolangatta isn't 'Lonely Street' when the Rock 'n' Rollers are in town!
Gareth has asked me to write a few paras about the Wintersun Festival. This is a 50's and 60'S Rock and Roll Festival held in Coolangatta, Queensland every June.The peak of the Festival is the Queens Birthday long weekend, but there are events every day in the week leading up to that weekend. The festival events are many and varied, and include lots of opportunities to dance (inside the clubs and on the street), a major street parade (the Adelaide Rock 'n' Roll Club usually has an entry in this), lots of cars and motorcycles (there is always a major car cruise on the Friday night), dance competitions, markets, band performances, and social events (the Adelaide people usually get together at least once for a cocktail party).
The event is quite large scale. As an indication of this, last year there were 33 different rock and roll bands from Australia. As another indication, on the Saturday night there were about 17 different dance floors in operation. I am told that something like 300 New Zealanders come over for the event, and we usually have 40 - 50 people from Adelaide. Many thousands come to watch the street parade on the Saturday morning.
I love Wintersun. There are things to do all the time, and the costs of spending a week there are not exorbitant. In fact, you can dance every night for free if you want to, as many of the clubs put on bands to attract visitors. Also, accomodation is available for a reasonable price, and, if you book ahead, air fares are reasonable.
Look at www.wintersun.org.au if you want to know more, or call me on (08) 8377 1876. If you like 50's and 60's rock and roll, I recommend you visit Wintersun at least once.
Bob Couch
Editors note: Hotels in Coolangatta are very heavily booked in advance so if you're thinking of travelling to Wintersun one year, arrange accomodation well in advance. Coolangatta is located around fifty miles south of Brisbane. Considered the gateway to the Gold Coast it is one of Australia's premier tourist destinations.