Line Dance History Australia
Australia's Line Dance Origins
A Historical Journey
Unveiling Australia's Line Dancing Heritage
It is through Country Goss' Magazine that we begin our 1986 historical journey, and it is why Line Dance History Australia is able to share the many fascinating stories that have evolved over the years, including Australia's Line Dance Origins.
We would love to have your input
This article is by no means the entirety of those early days, it is just the beginning. We expect this page to constantly grow, as readers, instructors and dancers share their memories of line dancing's evolution Australia wide.
Already, our history is being lost and forgotten, especially the old photos of the original Paddington & Terminus pioneers.
Trevor Smith's Highlights
Including the Historic BOOTSCOOT Manual Recollections
In the July/August 1996 edition of Country Goss', Trevor Smith from WA recalled in detail, Australia's early line dance origins.
We are pleased to share the highlights of that article with you below. Trevor also donated to Country Goss' at the time, a fabulous piece of line dance history, Australia’s first ever Line Dance Manual titled BOOTSCOOT by Maxcy Moon which you can now view. In developing this website into the future, we will select lots of news, articles, events, letters, pictures, stories with commentary from each month of every year. We hope you enjoy it.
Those very early years... So, where did it all begin?
The Paddington Green Hotel Sydney
In August 1986 Line Dancing or “Bootscooting” as it was commonly referred, was introduced to Australia by Mr Geoff Perkins of Lilyfield in Sydney. As a regular visitor to the USA, Geoff had come across Line Dancing and saw a fun form of dance and exercise with great music that could be enjoyed by everyone. It was relatively unknown in Australia, and best of all, it didn’t require a dance partner.
Following one of those visits to the USA, Geoff returned to Australia with a booklet of invaluable dance routines. Titled “BOOTSCOOT” and along with friends Ian Wilby, Trevor Smith and Ken Wheatley, set up Australia’s very first line dance class at the Paddington Green Hotel in Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, Sydney.
“Bootscoot” or the Bootscooter’s Bible, as Geoff’s dance book later became known amongst the Paddington Green Hotel dancers, was written by Maxcy Moon of the USA and consisted of seventeen (17) dance routines along with a glossary of around twenty-two (22) Terms & Steps. We have now re-published this fabulous piece of line dance history for your enjoyment.
The Imperial Hotel Sydney
Just as the line dance classes were beginning to take off, the Paddington Green was sold. The classes relocated to the Imperial Hotel in Erskineville (in Sydney’s inner west). However, due to Geoff's work commitments, he decided to hand the Erskineville classes over to Ian (Wilby).
The Terminus Night Club Brisbane
In 1988 Trevor Smith and his partner Mark moved to Queensland, starting classes at the Terminus Night Club in Brisbane with the help and support of Neil McLucas and Steven Claffey. Terry Hogan, line dance teacher and choreographer, was one of their original students.
Terry Hogan
The Mars Bar Adelaide
With a connection to the late 80's line dance scene in Brisbane, Alan Hibberd and his partner commenced "Bootscoot" classes at a bar, believed to be the Mars Bar, in central Adelaide. The Mars Bar was also widely referred to as the Cactus Patch because of its décor, which featured potted cacti against glam orange walls. Unfortunately, Allan passed away in the latter part of the 90's and thereafter his partner moved to Queensland. Described as flamboyant and wonderful hosts, little else is known of the couple.
1993 Broadview Scout Hall
By 1993, line dancing had moved into Adelaide's mainstream with the first public beginner class at the Broadview Scout Hall with instructor Peter Heath. An accomplished square dancer, Peter came upon line dancing from a Tamworth video. With his interest sparked and an uncanny offer to demonstrate line dancing at a local nightclub, Peter quickly pulled together a group of square dance friends, learnt a few routines and undertook his first paid gig. Outgrowing the Broadview Scout Hall, the classes relocated to the Walkerville YMCA before expanding across South Australia. In Tamworth 2020, Peter Heath's Line Dancers of South Australia were awarded the “Opal Boot Award” from the Line Dance Association of Australia for contributions to line dancing.
Melbourne - COMING SOON
Coming soon: Melbourne's true beginnings by John Bishop.
What were the dances and songs like back in the late 80's?
According to Country Goss' and Australia's Original Bootscoot Manual there were 17 line dances to choose from back in the late 80's at the Paddington Green Hotel. However, with no reference to the music that the dance was choreographed to, Geoff Perkins and his dancers would have had to choose their own songs (of which little was known). Using the vague notes scribbled across various pages and along with some archival digging by Line Dance History Australia, we now know at least 10 of their 17 music selections (see the Bootscoot Manual page). Here are just three of those original dances along with the music we believe was being used at the time:
(1) San Antonio Stroll danced to the song of the same name by Tanya Tucker, this was a circle dance that could be done in groups of two, three or four making it a whole lot of fun on the floor. (2) Cowboy Hustle danced to "Heartaches by the Number" by Dwight Yoakam, and (3) Ten Step danced to Mule Skinner Blues by Mary Schneider. All three of these dances would have been very popular at the above venues.
Further handwritten notes on the inside jacket of the Bootscoot Manual suggest more dances from the USA were in the pipeline. They included - Touche (Tush) Push, Butt Stop, Elvira, Flying Aces, Reggae Cowboy, Circle Jerk, Roll Back The Rug and Tumbleweed. Several of these would go on to become all-time classics. Hopefully these old timers bring back some great memories for you or a newfound appreciation of those early laid-back years.
The Early Pioneers of Australia's Line Dancing
Out of those early years in Erskineville, Sydney, came the Australian Line Dancers (ALD), producing one of the first Australian dance magazines “Between the Lines”.
ALD along with Tony Burns, Tony Coggin, John Taverner and friends, were also the originators of the first Longest Line in Tamworth.
Tony Coggin & John Taverner
The Rise of Influential Teachers and Choreographers from ALD
Some of Australia’s best-known teachers and choreographers would emerge from ALD including Gordon Elliott, Lance Pritchard, Terry Kelly, David Dickson, Mark Simpkin, Tracie Lee, Lisa Harper, Mark & Trevor Smith.
Tracie, Mark and Lance, would later start classes and social dancing at the Ermington Hotel, after which Lance would move to the Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club (Sydney). David commenced classes at the Marrickville Community Centre and Wentworthville Leagues Club in Sydney whilst the Leichhardt Bowling Club (Sydney) would go on to be the venue of choice for Terry Kelly's very popular daytime sessions.
Lisa Harper, also a prominent clogging instructor, would soon move to Brisbane dancing with Terry Hogan, Mark & Trevor Smith before opening up her own classes on the Gold Coast Hinterland (Queensland) at the Jimboomba Tavern and Beaudesert Bowls Club.
One of David’s original students, Julie Talbot, would take over David's Sydney classes when he moved interstate in 1989.
Mark & Trevor relocate to Perth
It wasn't long before Mark & Trevor moved once again, this time setting up shop across the other side of the continent in Perth, Western Australia. They would also be joined by Lisa Harper. With the release of Brooks & Dunn’s Bootscootin’ Boogie and Billy Ray Cyrus’ smash hit Achy Breaky Heart, Line Dancing was about to become a worldwide phenomenon.
Line Dancing Hotspots of the 1990's
Embracing the phenomenon in early 1990, Sydney would soon see the rise of four very important dance venues, the Harold Park Hotel, the Ermington Hotel, the Arizona Cowboy Bar and the Wentworthville Leagues Club, all being strong supporters of line dancing and country music.
However, it was the Arizona Cowboy Bar, a hotspot for instructors, local dancers and American sailors that set the scene abuzz! Hosted every Wednesday evening by instructor, DJ and 2RRR radio presenter Robyn Skinner, the Arizona Cowboy Bar was the hottest place to be for all the latest dances and American country music. It wouldn't be unusual to see an American sailor rip off his cowboy boot, fill it with beer and down the hatch! What a wild night out!
Robyn Skinner
Rare Footage from Yesteryear
We have managed to locate some very early footage of three of these venues. The Arizona Bar footage features lots of familiar faces coming and going on the dance floor throughout the night including Tracie Lee, David Dickson, Julie Talbot, Mark Simpkin, David Jones and Robyn Skinner. See anyone you know? Recognise the music or dance routines?
Country Goss' - Newsletter to National Magazine
With American country music and "Bootscooting" sweeping Australia and the interest in line dance classes and activities surging, a small non-descript newsletter was circulated amongst industry stakeholders in 1994 seeking to provide a forum for business and dancers to come together. That newsletter was Country Goss' and over 6 years, would go on to capture line dancing's popularity worldwide. Check out that simple newsletter now and each subsequent issue as it is released bi-monthly. Some fun reading!
The Bootscooting Boom
Today there are hundreds of instructors, dance groups, line dance festivals, competitions, country music radio stations, DJ's and line dance websites Australia wide. Some of the early pioneers are no longer with us however it is through their legacy that Line Dancing now lives on bigger and stronger than ever.
What's Your Story?
What are your memories of line dancing in your suburb, town or state? Did you start up brand new classes as a teacher, or attend new classes in your area? Send us your line dance story and a photo for the historic Photo Wall. Be a part of Australia's Line Dance History.
Or email your photo and share your story at: linedancehistoryaustralia@gmail.com
NOW AVAILABLE: BOOTSCOOT
Australia's Original Bootscoot Manual
“BOOTSCOOT” written by Maxcy Moon and introduced into Australia in 1986. Consisting of seventeen (17) original dance routines along with a glossary of around twenty-two (22) terms & steps.
COMING SOON:
Australia's Country Music Radio
Join the ever-popular Kelvin Dale as he takes a historical look at country music radio and the huge impact local radio stations and presenters have had on line dancing throughout Australia. All coming soon. Subscribe for Updates. It's FREE!