Meet the team who will help you develop and grow in dance
The Birth of Bill’s Ballroom
Bill and Sue Donald created Bill’s Ballroom in 2005. After much discussion of names, they settled on “Bill’s Ballroom” at Sue’s insistence.
Opening firstly at Rathmines Hall at Easter, the Studio soon expanded to include Morisset Hall later in the year, and in 2006 moved their base to Teralba Community Hall, whilst still teaching classes at Morisset until the hall closed temporarily. When Morisset re-opens, we will return classes to that area.
The Studio was founded on several basic principles that Sue and Bill both believed in. They wanted to offer ballroom dancing in all its standard forms to people from a variety of backgrounds and areas, and of all ages. They wanted to provide a platform where anyone could learn socially and then develop their skills to the best of their ability. They wanted to provide an atmosphere where all levels of dancers of all ages could mix freely. They were determined to base their teaching on quality. All this seems to have worked as there are some students who have been dancing at the Studio for the entire 17 years of its existence.
Over the years there have been many successes. A large percentage of their students have undertaken the medal assessments programs, overwhelmingly gaining Honours results over the four styles of dancing. This includes students as young as five years and right up into their 80’s. Some students have reached Gold Star status and continue to advance.
Many students, again, of all ages, have tried out the competition floor, varying from social competitions through to A Grade National Titles. Success has come regularly. It is not uncommon for Bill’s Ballroom couples and teams to fill all three placings in some events. At the highest levels, the Studio has produced Australasian and South Pacific Champions in all four styles and over various age divisions from Junior through to Adults and Masters categories. This, of course, takes a lot of time, effort, and practice, but is so satisfying and rewarding.
Through all this, family and friendship have been the focus of the Studio. These tenets have bound the Studio together with so much genuine support at medal days and competitions for all participants. What has especially pleased Sue and Bill over the years is the involvement of multiple generations of families over time. It is so good to see children dancing with their parents, grandparents, and even great grandparents with such an easy blending of all ages on the dance floor.
This is really what Ballroom Dancing is all about - a fun activity that can be enjoyed throughout life by everyone.