The Social Dancing GROUP
Started in 2024, the Social Ballroom Dancing Group (SDG) is a spinoff of the original CAV Ballroom dance Group (BDG).
Catering to beginners and intermediate level dancers, the SDG is focused on ensuring that our dancers are able to get on the dance floor in the quickest possible time – and have lots of fun doing it.
Recognising that dancing is a social activity, the SDG is more focused on members getting to know and dance with each other, at SDG social functions and within confined spaces such as club dance floors and cruise dance floors. Beginners are welcome.
Partners are preferred but not required.
Jennifer Blum
Jennifer Blum is an examiner, judge and dance coach and has had many years of experience in teaching. She has also trained several Australian Dancesport Champions.
Her achievements include:
- 5 times Australian Dancesport Champion (twice as Amateur and 3 times as Professional). Of these, 4 times were in New Vogue and once in Modern.
- Runner up twice in Professional New Vogue
- Finalist in Latin Amateur
She has won many more championship titles in Modern and New Vogue.
Jennifer ran the Strictly Masters Championship for over-35 couples for 21 years and was the founder of this successful championship.
She also appeared on the TV production of ‘Carson’s Law’ as the “Sensational Debonairs”. Staring as a Professional Caberet Act with her then partner Wayne Douglas. Jennifer and Wayne did many floor shows for functions and on Cruise Ships.
Apart from dancing Jennifer follows the Brisbane Lions and is an avid fan. She also likes spending time with her family and their family get togethers.
Craig Monley
Craig is a professional dancer who has been a regular on the TV series “ Dancing with the Stars”, which he won in Season 7 with Australian actress Birdie Carter, and was runner up with Bec Hewitt in 2021. Craig joined us in 2022 as one of our teachers for the Wednesday classes.
His other credits together with his partner Sriani are:
- 2011 Australian amateur latin champions
- 8x Australian Finalist in both standard and latin
- Twice semi-finalists (top 12) at the world’s largest and most prestigious competition, the British championship, Blackpool, England
- 3x selected for Australia’s international team, the world teams match, World Cup, Shenzhen China.
- 3x Australia’s no. 1 representative to the World championships
- Australia’s 2019 representative to the World Show Dance Championship
- Winners of JDC Japan open, WDC Korean open, Lion City championship Singapore.
- Finalists Japan international, Singapore open, Donnie Burns cup Hong Kong, New Zealand open, English championship.
Its all about the fun
The aim of the SDG is for members to have fun dancing, and enjoying the company of like minded people.
Why not give it a try?
The Ballroom Dance Group
Lessons are taught by two professional dance teachers, Craig Monley and Jennifer Blum.
Our Wednesday classes run as follows:
7:30 pm – 8:15 pm – First Dance Teacher (Craig/Jennifer depending on group)
8:15 pm – 8:45 pm – Social dancing/revision/Announcements
8:45 pm – 9:30 pm – Second Dance Teacher (Jennifer/Craig depending on group)
The SDG runs monthly socials on the second Sunday of every month. Members are given the opportunity to be the DJ for the night. This helps members develop an understanding of appropriate music for the various dance styles.
BDG Covid Safe Guidelines
2024 SDG Lesson Fees and Contact
Fees:
CAV members – Beginners (Wednesday): 6 months $300; Yearly $500.
Contact:
Chairperson, Nicholas Lee
Secretary: Shirley Teh
email: sdg@cavinc.com.au
2024 SDG Executive Committee
Committe Members :
Irene Yong/Simon Yong
Keneddy Ambrose
Soon Heng Teh
Useful Youtube Videos
Our Favourite Dance Playlists
Nicholas Lee
Chairperson, Social Dance Group
Wednesday class doing the Bachata at an internal presentation
“Dancing improves your spatial awareness, increases your heart rate and aerobic fitness. It is even thought to be good for staving off dementia.
But more importantly, its just fun. Dance introduces you to new people and our regular dance socials help you to make new friends. Its fun to see everyone learning new steps and then dancing in formation together. It has such an uplifting effect on your psyche! “