SWING dance is the latest thing for fun, friends and keeping fit, and SAVOY DANCE is Canberra’s newest Swing dance school with the best teachers in town!  With classes right in the city; beginners need no dance experience or fancy footwear, or even a partner—just turn up to the classes and start dancing. And, they can show you great moves for that special occasion—the Wedding Dance. 

Cathie Gough is founder, owner, and teacher at Savoy Dance, and has a background in gymnastics and jazz dance and began Swing dancing in 2003. She has taught all types of Swing and Blues dance around Australia, New Zealand, and London, and most recently in Melbourne from 2004 – 2009 when she moved to Canberra.

Cathie has won quite a few Swing titles along the way including: The Australian Hellzapoppin’ Prize (2012 and 2007), Fast Foot, Strictly Lindy, and Jack and Jill. She was also in Australia’s top 100 in the first series of So You Think You Can Dance, and has appeared on TV shows Dancing with the Stars, and Underbelly Razor. LFW caught up with Cathie to find out why Swing, and what makes it so much fun!

“I first discovered Swing dancing as an amateur competitor in a rock-and-roll competition,” says Cathie. “I watched the dancers glide across the floor and thought ‘I want to do that!’. I was about to move to Melbourne for work and Swing dancing was the perfect way to meet new people in a new city, and get fit. Swing dance is a creative process whereby it’s an expression of the music it’s danced to; the leads and follow interpret the movements and add their own flair and style. It’s like a non-verbal conversation through gestures, counter balance, dance frame, and fun!”

The original Savoy Ballroom in New York

Savoy Dance is named after The Savoy Ballroom in New York where Swing dancing became popular in the 1930s, and was the only ballroom of its time to welcome all dancers regardless of colour, creed, and socio-economic status.  Cathie hopes to recreate some of that hospitality by providing a welcoming and fun place for people to gather and learn partner dancing, gain confidence and fitness, and learn at their own pace.

Savoy Dance founder and teacher Cathie Gough with dancer Josh McKiterick

The principal teachers at Savoy Dance have been teaching Swing for over 10 years and have studied their craft from some of the best in the world, and have won many competitions and awards. This year alone Cathie has taught classes in Lismore, Hobart, Sydney, and Melbourne, and her next step is teaching under her own brand.

Savoy Dance classes are drop-in so you can start anytime and pay as you go or you can purchase a 6-class card which offers a discount, and there is also a discount for students and concessions. You can also book a wedding dance package so you can surprise your guests with a Swing dance to favourite song.

“I still get a massive buzz from Swing dancing,” says Cathie, “and I’d love to share it with as many Canberrans as possible—it’s a really happy form of dance and you don’t need any experience to give it a go. My passion is to encourage creativity and unique style so everyone can embrace their own individuality and celebrate with Swing. So, if you want to have fun, meet some new people, get fit, and maybe even learn to dance—in the words of the late Frankie Manning—‘a-one, a-two, a-you know what to do’!”

Savoy Dance is holding their Launch Party on 1 May and you can register here—dancers and non-dancers welcome! Savoy Dance is also on Facebook.