Dancing for community wellness
A Riverland dance organisation is celebrating 30 years of keeping Rock ‘n’ Roll music alive, while giving back to its community.
The River Rock Dance Club gathers each Monday evening at the historic Monash Memorial Hall for a night of dancing that begins with a dance lesson.
President of the group, Roger Fielke, says moving to the music is a much-loved pastime for the 90 members of the group who are mostly over 50.
“We have people in their 70s and over the age of 80 dancing,” he says, adding that there are also several people in their early 20s and teens who come along to the weekly session.
He says having these younger people join is good for the group, which has members from across the Riverland and several from Adelaide.
Fielke says the Rock ‘n’ Roll dancing group, originally known as The Kool Kats, was formed in 1993 by dance teachers Barry and Wendy Stewart, who were running lessons in the Riverland.
The club then changed its name to the River Rock Dance Club in 1995.
The River Rock Dance Club performing at the 2024 Riverland Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival at Waikerie. Photo: Paul McCormick
Its members first started dancing at the former Berri Club before moving to the Renmark Hotel’s Galaxy Room, where they met regularly from 2012 until 2021, until the area was turned into accommodation.
You might like
Since 2021, the River Rock Dance Club has made the Monash Memorial Hall their home.
Fielke says their dancing is not limited to Rock ‘n’ Roll, but includes line dancing, country waltzes and swing.
After the Riverland Ballroom Dancing group folded in 2023, six of its couples then joined the ‘River Rockers’.
“The ballroom group’s numbers dwindled as their members became older,” Fielke says.
“We now incorporate a few of their ballroom dances into our repertoire as well.”
Fielke is one of five members also responsible for DJ duties, which they share on rotation.
“We have a really good sound system and we each have our own tilt on the program,” he says.
“There are some regular dances that we do each week, but each DJ may introduce different songs.”
David and Sherri Pocock of Loxton at the River Rock Dance Club’s 2024 Rocktober ‘Gangsters & Gals’ event. Photo: supplied
Once a month, the club has a theme for their Monday evenings and past occasions have included Melbourne Cup Day, footy team colours, and The Roaring 20’s with best dressed competitions.
Stay informed, daily
Fielke says the dancers enjoy the social aspect of being part of the group.
“People love to catch up and talk during our supper breaks,” he says.
The club also has four regular social outings each year, visiting and dancing at venues across the region and interstate.
Fielke says members appreciate the opportunity to engage in physical activity and share their love of music and dancing.
“It is also good to watch people dance sometimes, we have some really good dancers,” he says.
The River Rock Dance Club is involved in regular events each year, including its annual Rocktober.
The event at Berri attracts Rock ‘n’ Roll enthusiasts from across the region, Adelaide and interstate.
Riverland businesses generously help sponsor Rocktober, and last year $1000 raised from the event was donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service.
Other donations were given to St Joseph’s Primary School in Barmera, the Monash CFS and the Monash Memorial Hall Committee.
Membership and a $5 entrance fee for the weekly sessions have also enabled the group to raise funds to buy its sound equipment and run events.
Over the past three decades, the River Rock dancers have raised thousands of dollars for charity organisations and local community groups.
Spin-off events are also held in other Riverland towns throughout the year.
These include an annual New Year’s Eve dance at the Berri Hotel and a four-day Renmark Rocks on Festival, which last month attracted more than 1000 people.
The group also likes to entertain the community and encourages others to groove to the music.
“We dance at aged care homes across the Riverland, and we perform at the Loxton Mardi Gras and the Riverland Rock ‘n’ Roll Festival at Waikerie in May,” Fielke says.
“We also sometimes perform flash dances at the Renmark Square shopping centre,” he says.
“We wheel a jukebox out in a shopping trolley and the music starts, and people just come and join in from the crowd, it is really fun.”
