It’s Swing Time!

September 14, 2013. Our very first, very magical event. This will always be one of my favourites, because it truly felt like a dream come true. I’d been so nervous, not sure if people would actually show up or not. After all, it was just a bit of a crazy, spontaneous idea that I’d run away with. So when guests began tumbling through the old town hall doors, dressed beautifullly in their 1940s inspired outfits, my eyes couldn’t help filling with happy, overwhelmed tears.

Freshly-picked flowers cheerfully adorned tables along with home-made goodies, the wooden floor glistened beneath fairy lights and old lamps, and nervous anticipation filled the air. Our wonderful dance instructors, John Saunders and Sharon Duncan, began the swing dance workshop.

Immediately any nervous tension began to melt into laughter and the sound of feet tapping and sliding across the floor. The whole room formed two circles, one inside the other, moving in opposite directions every few minutes as partners were swapped and new introductions were made.

Once everyone had some new moves under their belt, the band, (a jazz band put together and led by Marc Duncan), began playing their irresistibly toe-tapping tunes and the whole room was filled with an impossibly infectious, joyous energy. It really felt like we’d all stepped back in time.

The night raised over $5,000 for a school build in Uganda and confirmed that our little idea of, ‘bringing back the town hall dance’ could have a big impact. We left the night with happy hearts, fuelled by all the wonderful feedback we’d received from our guests, excited about all the possibilities for future events.

Below is a short film clip capturing the essence of the night, made by my brother Benjamin Dowie. Watch to be transported back to the joyous whimsy of it all.