THE WESSEX BALLROOM DANCE CLUB at THE OCEAN VIEW HOTEL, BOURNEMOUTH

THE WESSEX DANCE CLUB at the OCEAN VIEW HOTEL

by

PAULA

The Ocean View Hotel, in a delightful position overlooking the Bay, and with its welcoming Ballroom Dance facilities, (this is a great floor, comments one gentleman) is a popular choice for all Holiday makers for short or long-term 'Breaks'. - and in particular for those who love to dance. But on this Monday night they also welcomed a happy group of some 60 Dancing enthusiasts from the celebrated Wessex Hotel, (a short distance into town), who had been sadly dispossessed of their usual floor due to ‘other unavoidable commitments’. Our collection of alien beings are Members of the Wessex Dance Club.

STEVE and GUY

This popular Social Dance Club, under the watchful eye of Promoter Mr. Steve Crawford, and the careful and clever ear of Guy (of the popular ‘Guy and his Music’), has flourished for some 18 years and is now well on the way to fully ‘coming of age’ – It has some hundreds of Members from across the entire country, regular visitors to Bournemouth, and of course numerous 'local' followers – a number of those are present here this evening. Probably all of them have belonged since its inception – and due to the experience and industry of our pair of Gurus, they have always found they were provided with a delightful evening’s dancing, to that invaluable ‘strict tempo’ music’ - and now and again with the pleasure of a lovely ‘Demonstration’ by top line Dance Champions and ‘Specials’, or a ‘Dinner and Dance’, such as Christmas, Easter. Etc.

MANY MEMBERS

This evening the floor is full, Keith is dancing with partner Hilary, both from Boscombe, which is just along the road. He has been dancing, he says, for 20 years - and Hilary claims 50 years – impossible! Well, she points out, she started as a toddler - Ah, yes, O.K. then!

Kathleen is with a gentleman who has been with the Wessex Club – ‘‘as long,'' she says, ''as anyone can remember!’’ Peter from Bournemouth is also a familiar and welcome ‘face’ – and a popular and experienced dancer, having achieved Gold Medal Standards in both Ballroom and Latin dancing.

ROMANCE HAPPENS!

Irene and Dennis from Oakdale, Poole, met at the Wessex Hotel and started to dance together some years ago, and have been married now for about 5 years – still happily dancing! Now there is a true- life Dancing Romance!

A COLLECTION TO CHARM THE EYE!

And Derek and June from Westbourne have been dancing for 12 years. June, a particularly accomplished dancer, has another but associated interest. She collects ‘Dance Gowns’. Not necessarily all of them specifically ‘Ballgowns’, but they are beautiful Vintage Models as worn not only at 'Dances' but also at fashionable ‘Salon-type' occasions, from the early twenties to late thirties. This was a wonderful period of innovation dresswise, and varied from ankle-length to just above a rouge -tinted knee, and later blossomed into elegant floaty 'Ginger Rogers' styles. All of June's gowns would seem to be ‘Models’ and certainly they are of the finest intricate workmanship and fabrics – beautiful silks of course, and exquisite lace. Zip fasteners? Sometimes - but the majority seem to be equipped with tiny 'Hooks and Eyes', delicately hand-sewn! Quite often husband Derek must find himself with an exacting duty on his hands! From Derek we learn that her 'Heirloom' collection of some 400+ models fills one entire room at home, and even stretches along the hall! These gowns are all for the ‘slim’ build - and June is definitely ‘slim’, and wears them beautifully! Their long-gone couteriers and seamstresses must be delighted!

AND ADDITIONS EVERY WEEK!

Her system is to add one ‘new’ model every week or so, wear it probably only once – and then it is added to the Collection! At present she is of course much too young to be called an 'Institution' but no doubt at all, time will tell! Husband Derek points out with pride that today's model is black Culottes! She dances by.... now that is smooth...elegant! Admiration from all!

BACK TO BASE NEXT WEEK!

Next Monday our dispossessed Dance Club will be back on their home ground -- but they are vastly enjoying the foray to this excellent venue overlooking the beautiful Bournemouth Bay – The Ocean View Hotel.

Thank you Steve and Guy, they are saying -- another lovely evening!