Ruahine Line Dancers - Club Q&A's
Welcome to our monthly club Q&A! This month, we had the chance to catch up with the fabulous team at Ruahine Line Dancers, and we couldn’t wait to dive into their world of rhythm, fun, and community. From their early days to their latest events, we got the full scoop on what makes this club one of the friendliest and most passionate line dance groups around.
In this edition of Linedance NZ Club Q&A's, we sat down with their talented instructors to chat about their favourite dances, club highlights, and what keeps them coming back to the dance floor. So, whether you’re a seasoned dancer or just curious about what Ruahine Line Dancers is all about, grab your dancing shoes and join us for an interview filled with energy, stories, and a whole lot of heart! ....
We are Ruahine Line Dancers, a collective of four clubs that have joined forces to promote line dancing, organize events, and support each other. Based in Dannevirke, Woodville, Feilding, and Palmerston North, we all enjoy a view of the Ruahine Ranges.
The idea of forming a local club began in Dannevirke in 2016 when some friends of Mia Brunton, who had recently taken up line dancing classes in Palmerston North, expressed an interest in learning as well. Mia enlisted the help of local legend Val Clarke, a well-known dancer with years of experience in line dancing. Val has successfully competed in both New Zealand and Australia, bringing home multiple prizes.
As the group grew, socials were held, which attracted interest from other areas. Eventually, Palmerston North dancers Glyn Powell and Carol Thurston formed their own group. Meeting at a hall on Ruahine Street, they asked to become a sister club under the same name and to create a joint website, www.ruahinelinedancers.com. This increased our exposure, and before long, Woodville (led by Lisa Galloway, who is also a Dannevirke member) and Feilding (led by Chrissy Taylor) joined as well. Chrissy had recently moved to the area from Levin, where she was an instructor.
The four branches now offer multiple classes across all skill levels. Due to increasing interest in country music and line dancing, we have also added beginner courses to help people of all ages join our regular classes. Covering both rural and urban areas, we meet people from many different backgrounds and are always fascinated by how this shared interest brings us together.
All of our instructors share the rewarding experience of seeing newcomers grow into skilled dancers, enjoying the activity and forming new friendships. Many of our members travel to socials together and plan trips to events in other parts of the country.
Although we love country music, we also enjoy a wide variety of genres. We’re huge fans of Maddison Glover, but we teach many dances from choreographers around the world, closely following the top dances on various websites. We’re also loyal to our local choreographers, who continue to produce some really clever routines.
Of course, we still enjoy some older dances and often include classics like Doctor Doctor, Patient Heart, and Twists & Turns in our programs, as they remain popular at socials in the lower North Island.
Our group tends to favour good-quality sneakers and dance shoes, though we’re seeing a shift towards boots, especially after Belts & Boots (Australia) visited some of our events last year. We were thrilled to have them at our first combined club workshop weekend in June this year. Josh Talbot (featured in last week's article) was our guest instructor, and we had an amazing time with an overwhelming number of dancers in attendance. Bruce Tau provided his expertise as DJ, and many boots were purchased that weekend, which we’re excited to show off soon!
Photos (View Gallery) and details of the dances taught can be viewed on our website. Every workshop dance was a hit, and all have been taught in our classes, with 3:16 becoming a favourite. Josh’s teaching was outstanding—he was friendly, patient, and took the time to chat and take photos with everyone. What a star!
We enjoyed the workshop so much that we’re considering organising another one for 2026. Maybe we’ll see you there!