By CHERIE DONNELLAN
IT TAKES two to tango but senior women are finding themselves frequently without dance partners at Geelong social ballroom classes.
Geelong Ballroom Dance Club president Ray Coles said up to six women were usually left without partners at Tuesday and Saturday classes.
“This past Tuesday we had four women without partners and it’s happening a lot,” Mr Coles said.
He blamed men, particularly single seniors, making excuses for failing to attend the club’s social classes.
“Perhaps men think they won’t be good at it once they’ve been out of dancing for a while,” Mr Coles said.
“They’re too self-conscious and think people might be looking at them.”
But Mr Coles encouraged men to understand the social and health benefits of dancing.
“It’s a very pleasant way to exercise,” he said.
“It’s also a good way to meet and make friends and there have been articles written about how it even helps with Alzheimer’s.”
Mr Coles said attendance had more than halved in the past decade, with overall participation falling from averages of about 120 dancers to 50.
Mick Strange, who co-ordinates several dances in central Geelong, said numbers had been declining at dancers statewide.
Up to four women often found themselves partnerless at his dances, he said, while the attending men “tend to spread themselves around”.
“The single women are good dancers, so we want to make sure they get to have a go.”
Both Mr Coles and Mr Strange encouraged men to “get off the couch” and participate in local dances.
The Independent’s Community Calendar, on page 16 this week, includes details of social dances in the Geelong region.
