As Outdance celebrates its 7th birthday this April, OUTinPerth looks back at some of the highlights…
It all started in April 2001, when two dancers Tania McGuinness and Darryl Davenport decided to start dance classes for same-sex couples and put an advertisement in the local paper. Eighty people turned up to the first session, and OUTdance was born.
For Darryl, his decision to start a gay and lesbian dance club came from a desire to create a social network and ‘combine my dancing world and my gay friends together.’
Marsia Bergh and John Hutchinson were two students in that first class, and for both, OUTdance was their first step into competitive dance.
‘I was in the very first class that Tania and Darryl started. I had always wanted to learn to dance, but couldn’t see myself going to a straight studio. So, having a same sex dance studio in Perth was like having my dream come true,’ said Marsia Bergh
From that first class, the OUTdancers quickly picked up some fancy footwork and set their sights on competing at the 2002 Gay Games in Sydney. After some intensive classes, a group of dancers, including John and Marsia, headed over to Sydney for their first competition. It was to be one of the most memorable experiences of their dancing careers.
‘The first day at Sydney Town Hall, it was about a quarter capacity and people were very encouraging. By the end of the games, word had gotten out and the venue was jampacked. It was the event,’ John recalls.
The Sydney Gay Games marked the beginning of something special for Marsia as well.
‘We were full of excitement and bravado, entering in beginners and having the time of our lives. My partner and I were so happy when we managed to dance a waltz around the floor without falling on our faces. Most of us came back from that week in Sydney wanting to learn more and to compete more often.’
In the five years since the Gay Games, John and Marsia have become veteran competitors in both same-sex and mainstream competitions. However, they still think of OUTdance as their dance community. For John, who now competes mainly with a female partner, OUTdance is about more than just the steps.
‘The big thing is the social interaction, more than the dance itself because I’ve moved on from where the majority of the group are dancing, but the social aspect you can’t replace,’ he said.
Now living in Melbourne where there are more same-sex competition opportunities, Marsia says she was ‘so proud to be involved in OUTdance. It gave a lot of us a place to socialise where the love of dance was the focus. We performed whenever we could, at Fairdays, Pride opening nights, women’s nights at the Court – the list goes on… OUTdance gave me a safe, creative and healthy place to be and I will always be thankful for that.’
For those with a passion for dance and a desire to explore it, this month, as OUTdance turns 7, is the perfect opportunity. As founder and former OUTdance instructor Darryl explains, ‘OUTdance can be whatever you want it to be. Some people use it to socialize. Some people want to be technically correct dancers in the sport and some people even earn teaching qualifications. It’s different for everyone and can cater to lots of different people.’
Currently, OUTdance runs classes in Latin dances, such as the cha cha, rumba, jive and samba, and ballroom dances, such as the waltz, quickstep, foxtrot and tango. On Tuesday, April 29th, OUTdance will have its 7 year birthday celebration from 6.30-8.30pm at Mt Hawthorn Community Hall, 197 Scarborough Beach Road, Mt Hawthorn. It is free entry on the night and everyone is welcome to come and dance the night away. Light refreshments will be available.
As a gift to the community, OUTdance are offering a special deal 2 for the price of 1 on 7.30pm classes for beginners and intermediate for the month of April. For more information, contact 0417 911 214 or 0401 700 562 or email outdanceperth@aol.com
And if you’re still wondering who takes the lead in a same-sex dance couple – at OUTdance, it’s entirely up to you!
