Rhythm n’ Lines Club Q&A
There’s always something to look forward to at Rhythm n’ Lines—but 2025 has us dancing on a whole new level!
We’re loving the momentum across our growing network of sister clubs—from Rotorua to Clive, with Whakatāne and Matawai in between. Together, we’re lifting the standard of our dancing with a bold focus: more workshops, more collabs, more fun. After four great years, the energy just keeps building.
This year, our club launched The RnL Top Picks—a curated selection of five trending and much-loved dances that reflect our community’s unique style. Over ten weeks, dancers learn, practice, and perfect each routine, with the chance to demo their progress if that’s their vibe. We’re also rolling out a fun and interactive social media campaign, diving into the music behind the picks, spotlighting the choreographers, and sharing what inspired our choices.
Our community has leaned into some performance goals this year—whether it’s sharing dances at local events, taking part in in-house challenges, or joining our Pop-Up Parties and performance crew. We believe everyone can perform with heart, no matter their level.
And the big one? We’re counting down to our five-year anniversary with an line dancing competition in autumn 2026. Affiliated clubs from across the motu will come together to celebrate style, skill, and sisterhood—with a few surprises up our fringed sleeves.
Q&A: Tell a bit about yourselves...
We’re a crew of passionate dancers who love a good beat, a bold pair of boots, and a whole lot of laughs. Rhythm n’ Lines started as a small lockdown project in Tairāwhiti and has grown into a buzzing community, with affiliated clubs dotted across the North Island: Boots N’ All Rotorua, Clive Bootscootin, Boots n’ Beats Whakatāne, and the Matawai Boot Sisters. Together, we’re all about keeping it fresh, fun, and a little bit fierce—celebrating every dancer, every vibe, and every step along the way.
What’s the name of your club, and how did you come up with it?
Rhythm n’ Lines reflects our love of music and movement—rhythm in the tunes, lines in the dancing. It’s also a nod to our region, home of the Rhythm and Vines festival, which draws music and party lovers from all over the world to celebrate in the first city to see the sun. We love that energy and took inspiration from it to create a club that’s always looking forward, always trying something new.
Where are you based, and how long have you been running?
We were founded in Tairāwhiti in 2021, during lockdown, as a way to stay active and connected. Since then, we’ve grown into a thriving, region-spanning community of five sister clubs across the North Island.
Tell us about your instructor...
Janine Kells, our founder and instructor, created RnL after binge-watching the TV series Yellowstone. She blended that western vibe with her passion for movement and community to create a dance space that’s fun, inclusive, and just a little bit wild.
Tell us a story or share some fun facts about your club...
We celebrate our club birthday in style every year! We may be babies in the line dancing world, but with more than ten sessions a week, we’ve got a lot of collective dance love to share. Our birthday themes have included Double Denim, Rockabilly, and a Badtastemas Bogan Bash. We also come together annually to film a club Christmas video—always a chaotic, hilarious highlight of the year.
Does your club have a preferred style of music (country or pop), or do you just love any good dance song?
We’re country at heart, but we love a great beat, no matter the genre. We’re currently developing some awesome mash-ups for performances and love showcasing a mix of modern country, remixes, and powerful female vocalists. If it moves us, we’ll move to it.
Cowboy boots, dance shoes, or a comfortable pair of trainers—what’s your go-to?
Boots are life. We even have a thriving Birthday Boot Club—each member gets $200 towards new boots on their birthday. Boots are a continual dance floor distraction and the ultimate conversation starter with new dancers.
What are your current favourite dances?
Right now, we’re all about our RnL Top Picks—five carefully chosen dances that are trending, challenging, and completely addictive. We’re also big fans of the Catalan style and stay tuned into fresh choreography through our RnL Choreographer Series. While we’ll occasionally waltz, our real passion lies in supporting modern country artists—especially powerhouse female vocalists—and curating a mix of styles that reflect who we are.
