Often associated with big cowboy hats, shiny belt buckles, noisy boots and country music, line dancing has seen a resurgence around Mackay and Deb Wookey is one person bringing it to the fore.
Teaching around 10 classes a week across Mackay, Sarina and Walkerston, Deb has had to expand her schedule to accommodate for the growing demand.
She’s been teaching line dancing in Mackay for just over a year, with Mackay Line Dancers celebrating their first birthday earlier in 2023.
Deb has been dancing for 15 years, her love of line dancing born through rock and roll dancing.
She started teaching line dancing on the Gold Coast five years ago and was dancing six days a week.
“I would teach but I’d also go to other people’s classes just so I could have a dance,” she said.
Moving to Mackay last year, Deb discovered small classes were already being held in Glenella by Sharon Fry, but she filled a niche of entry-level line dancing.
“When I came along, I opened up the market for the people who wanted to learn, the absolute beginners, so it worked out well,” she said.
Deb loves that she can line dance without a partner, but she also loves the music.
“I enjoy music and I love being able to put a dance to the music,” she said.
“It keeps your mind thinking all the time.
“All I ever do is think about what steps will go with what songs.
“It’s good for the brain and good for keeping everything moving.
“You’re moving parts that would be sitting doing nothing, otherwise.”
Deb hopes to grow interest for line dancing among young people and start teaching in schools.
“I want to try and get the young kids to taste it,” she said.
“I think they think it’s not cool or boring, not a lot of kids are into country music but it’s not all country music.
“It’s so much more choreographed these days, it’s not just fingers in your belt.”
Mackay Line Dancers hold their next social on Sunday, June 11 as part of a state-wide Queensland Line Dance Association Syncronised Social, raising funds for Care Kits for Kids Queensland.
To find out more, search Mackay Line Dancers on Facebook where you will find all classes listed, locations, times, and the appropriate level of ability for each class.
L-R Deb Wookey, Jo Stewart and Malda Shepparton. Photo supplied
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