Ballito’s JK Dance Studio celebrates 20 years of line dancing

Line dancing may be good for the body and mind, but it is even better at building community.

For a few of the longer serving members of the JK Dance Studio in Ballito, weekly line dancing lessons have been a social highlight for almost 20 years.

Mel Grant, who turned 89 in February, has been a regular participant in the upbeat and energetic lessons since 2007, initially finding the group after her husband passed away the year prior.

“A few friends recommended I try it and I have absolutely loved it,” said Grant.

“I have made many new friends in that time and have also since become a gold medalist.”

Medal testing is a part of the South African Dance Teachers’ Association line dancing syllabus, where the dancers are graded over time and can achieve various medal levels.

Gold is among the highest for amateur dancers.

“We also have a lovely tradition where we celebrate each other’s birthdays by going for a cup of coffee together,” she said.

Yvonne Hardstone is another longtime dancer at the studio, joining around the same time as Grant.

“It is such a great way to keep active, I would recommend it to anyone, young or old, male or female,” said Hardstone.

“There’s obviously the exercise aspect, but they say that dancing and remembering choreography is good for keeping the mind fit too.”

Hardstone heaped praise on dance teacher and co-founder of the studio (with Ken Mann), Jayne Wilson.

“All the dancers who enter competitions do so well and that’s because of Jayne’s hard work and skill,” said Hardstone.

Another member of the Wednesday morning troupe, Vanessa Frances, is proof thereof.

Frances started line dancing in 2015 and was competing in regional qualifiers within a year.

“I love doing it and it’s something I feel I have an aptitude for,” said Frances.

“It’s been positive growth since then and I won the SA Masters in the intermediate silver division for the past two years.”

She has since been promoted to the advanced section and will face the best dancers from across the country in the silver (45-60) category later this year.

But, of course, the longest serving member of all is Wilson, who started the studio in 1990.

It has been at its Balvista Centre home since 1995.

“Ken and I started with a box of records and a record player and here we are 34 years later!”

“We run four classes a day, two in the mornings and two in the evenings. The mornings are typically line dancing while the evenings are for ballroom and social.”

Visit acephotography.co.za/JK-Dance-Studio to find out more information on the studio.

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