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Danny and Lyndell Berends - Happy Day Rockers
Introduction:
I was introduced to rock 'n' roll dancing by Lyndell
with whom I was working at the time. We first attended classes weekly then twice
a week and most of us are familiar with the rest, once rock 'n' roll gets into
your blood there's no stopping you! Before you knew it dancing had consumed
our whole lives, from classes to dance demos, seven nights a week.
Background:
After a year of classes we were offered the chance
to train to become dance instructors.
Then,
working under licence, we taught rock ' n ' roll classes for many years for
a well known Brisbane studio and subsequently went on to establish our own classes
founded under the now well known name of Happy Day Rockers, which has become
a huge success. Our teaching career now spans some 25 years combined experience
and as a result we are two of the most proficient and highly regarded instructors
teaching in Queensland today.
Professional
Experience:
Our teaching career has seen us instructing classes
with capacities exceeding 300 people. After so many years we have developed
our own technique and format which allows us to ensure our students learn all
the basic steps they require as the building blocks towards more advanced moves.
Our unique teaching style has seen us approached by various venues to run classes
at their facilities, for example:
Awards
& Achievements:
Host and coordinators of the ‘Sunshine Coast Rock
‘n’ Roll Dance Titles’ at Caloundra Civic and Cultural Centre, Queensland. Host
and co-ordinators of the Brisbane City Rock 'n' Roll To Riches dance and car
extravaganza held at Southbank, Queensland.
Purpose
built rock ‘n’ roll dance studio in partnership with the Greenbank R.S.L. Club,
Browns Plains, Queensland.
Former International Australian Open silver medalist
Winners of the Kawana Waters Talent Quest
Winners of the Wynnum Lions' Dance Off competition.
Live stage performances with Mr. Terry Scott at the Bronchos Rugby League Club,
Bribie Island R.S.L. Club and Kedron-Wavell R.S.L. Club
Live performance dance at "The Badloves" Brisbane release of their
smash hit song "Green Limousine" held at Southbank Piazza to a sell
out audience of 3000.
Teaching
Range:
We pride ourselves in being able to offer a diverse
range of styles of rock n roll dance. We offer the three most popular styles
of rock n roll dancing, ensuring there is one for just about everyone. Our teaching
ability for all of these styles includes the beginner through to the intermediate
and advanced dancer.
Rock'a'Billy
Jive
A simple, two step basic style of dance, offering
its own flair and able to be danced in confined spaces. This popular style has
its own specific music with definite beats danced to some of the most popular
music made famous by Elvis. A style with no rules, definite beats and can be
danced to some of the faster rock n ' roll tunes.
Four
- Step
Based on a four count slow, slow, quick, quick
a more laid back slower style of rock n roll incorporating a back step for both
the male and female. This particular style slows down basic spins for the ladies,
therefore appealing to a wider age group and as seen in most of the 50's rock
n roll movies.
Slow
Swing
Based on an eight count triple step, this style
also includes a back step for both male and female partners and another simple
easy style, especially if you have learnt the basics of four step. This is a
very popular style of dance. Terminology for this style includes east coast
& west coast swing. It
is great for the more expressive dancer or just as a whole lot of fun.
Closing
Remarks:
Whilst rock 'n' roll dancing remains one of, if
not the most popular styles of dancing today it has it own culture. Dancing
has always been about having fun, forgetting about your worries and enjoying
the music from an era, which started it all. Having had the opportunity to teach
thousands of people to dance so often they remark just how much their life has
changed. Rock ‘n’ roll dancing is always something almost everyone wants to
do and when they finally take the plunge they realise just how easy it really
is. Learning to dance we have made as easy as 1,2,3 - our easy format ensures
you’re dancing in know time at all!
All
of the music for each style is different. We have formulated music for the beginner
right through to the advanced dancer for each of these styles. So often we here
the famous line I have two left feet, but it’s not too long before these very
people are dancing, laughing and having fun. We have taught dance to schools
and have also had the chance to teach blind, deaf and other disabled people
as well. With the want to learn and the right experience anything is possible.
We have spent the best part of our lives teaching people how to rock' n' roll, but in this time we haven't forgotten what it is all about; the music the people and just having FUN!