Shall We Dance?

V G LEE takes the floor

It’s Thursday evening. I could be home watching re-runs of Grand Designs; instead I’m in a hall in Bexhill with eight couples being put through their ballroom dancing paces.

I have fond memories of early Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers’ films. Their dancing epitomised romance, drama, passion – a million miles away from aunties and uncles bumping hotly round a dance floor, (the aunt usually a head taller than the uncle) at family parties of my childhood. I’m pleasantly surprised.

Apparently my expectation of ballroom dancing as being a staid, old fashioned pastime is still quite prevalent in England, the tutor Alexandra Wingate tells me, in spite of the success of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’.
“In Europe,” Alex explains, “Ballroom dancing is considered more a popular sport. “

I’d met Alex for the first time some days earlier at the De La Warr Pavilion, coffee shop. She was smartly dressed in tones of grey; a grey scarf with Lurex thread looped round her neck in that fashionable way that I can never manage – my loop always looks more like a noose!

“In the 1980’s,” Alex says, “London was considered the centre, the place to be for Latin and ballroom.” Alex is from Amsterdam and has been dancing from the age of seven. From thirteen onwards she was entering adult competitions, moving quickly up through the classifications. In June 1986, still in her early twenties Alex and her then dance partner made the move to England. Then after a year, her partner became homesick and they returned to Holland.

Ten years passed, during which time Alex met and married an English man, Julian. He encouraged her to get teaching qualifications and in 2005 they came to live in Bexhill.

I give my full attention to the dancers. I’ve missed the beginners’ class. This is the intermediate; ages ranging from early twenties to late sixties. I’d expected there would be many more women than men but it’s pretty even, including one chap who happily dances with himself till he’s waltzed away by Alex’s fellow tutor; Amanda.

Dress is smart-casual. Alex is now a vision in pink; tonight’s scarf sequined. She is very encouraging and warm, entreating everyone to ‘roll their hips’. At one point she instructs the class in a dance move called ‘The Majorca’, which catches my attention as I’m off to Majorca for my holiday this summer – but no, it’s called ‘The New Yorker’. Couples stand face to face, clasp hands while staring admiringly into each others eyes. I muse that this could become a welcome alternative to air kissing or in my case the firm handshake!

To my untrained eye, the lesson seems incredibly difficult. Without music the couples go through the steps and then the music comes on at a spanking pace and everyone rushes about arriving in a feverish crowd in one corner of the hall. However, during the course of the two hour session they all begin to get it right. Bravo!

Alex runs classes on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, teaching both beginners and intermediate, with a Same Sex (lgbt) class on Fridays for all levels; also dancersize classes. She hopes to start a YMCA children’s class in Hastings on Tuesdays.
email: alexwingate@btinternet.com

Quite apart from these, there are dances held throughout the Hastings-St. Leonard’s-Bexhill area, which I’m assured are great fun. There’s also a monthly ‘practice night’ usually on a Saturday where dancers are able to practice their dance skills in a social setting.

And even if like me, you don’t see yourself as a dancer, it’s fantastic exercise. I couldn’t help noticing that the only buttocks in the room that weren’t toned and pert were my own!

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