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Cookham's Friday Night Dance Club

With Strictly waltzing back on to our screens, we can't stop ourselves toe-tapping... Great news, then, that Penny Bysshe is bringing Friday Night Dance Club to Cookham... 

Tell me about you/your family

I have lived in Cookham all my married life, and our children were born and brought up here. I taught at Cookham Rise Primary School after university and in the early 1990s set up Cookham Twinning with Liz Kwantes. Our daughter, Julia, dances Salsa and Brazilian Samba. She has danced in Samba festivals all round the world including in the Notting Hill Festival for several years. Our son, Simon, works in films and is a Sound Recordist.

Why Cookham?

Cookham is just the best place to live. It has a great village atmosphere, it is full of interesting people and there is always something going on. You can't get bored in Cookham!

Tell me about your Friday night dance classes...  

From 15th September, Friday night is going to be dance night at the Pinder Hall in Cookham! There will be a Beginners' Ballroom and Latin Class 7–8pm, where I will teach the basics of the dances including the Waltz, Quickstep, Cha-Cha and Jive. It is open to couples and singles. The cost is £7.50 per person. 

   The Friday Night Dance Club will run from 8–9.30pm. It is for people who know the basics of dancing, would like to learn some new steps and enjoy a sociable evening at the same time. There will be a short break in the middle for refreshments and nibbles. The cost is £7.50 per person. 

 

Have you always been interested in doing this? What's your background in dance? 

I did ballet as a child, but it was only about 15 years ago that I caught the ballroom dance bug. Since then, I have passed all my Ballroom and Latin medal tests and competed successfully at Blackpool and abroad. I did my last competition at the beginning of this year, ending on a high note by winning three Ballroom and Latin first prizes at the Blackpool Pro-Am Competition. I am now concentrating on teaching. I teach at the
Vibez Dance Studios in Woodley and run Tea Dances there with the help of my husband twice a month, one on a Sunday 3–5.15pm, and the other on the first Tuesday of the month, 2–4pm. 

What's your favourite dance?

I love all the dances but I am particularly fond of the Foxtrot. It is a beautiful, smooth and elegant dance.

Who is your idol? 

I greatly admire Joanna Leunis, who won the World Latin Championships many years running and can turn on a sixpence.

What do you think about the Strictly contestants this year?  

Each year, the contestants in Strictly get better and start at a higher level. I am really looking forward to seeing how this year's contestants do. Shirley Ballas has enormous competitive experience so should be a great Head Judge. 

Email Penny at pcbysshe@gmail.com

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