Dance fans are invited to take part in an afternoon of Ballroom, Popular Sequence and Latin at a Spring Gala Dance at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall next month.
The event, which will be held on Sunday 15th April from 1.30pm will use both of the Edwardian venue’s maple dance floors in the grand interior of the Town Hall’s Vesey Ballroom.
John Wallis, who organises regular dances at the Town Hall, has been dancing since the end of the Second World War. Originally trained as an engineer, he helped run the Erdington Youth Club at St Barnabas Church as a teenager, and built an amplifier for the dances at the Church House, Erdington.
“After running the youth club dances I taught myself to play the trumpet and formed a band called ‘The Maestros’” he remembers. “We used to play weddings and dances all around this area, and I’ve organised dances for most of my life.”
John regularly works with Arthur Barrett, known as ‘The Umbrella Man’ for his Gala Dances. “The Umbrella Man is a fabulous DJ, with a good range and tempo of music” added John. “These events are always popular and he always makes it a memorable occasion. Shows such as Strictly Come Dancing have really encouraged a resurgence in the popularity of ballroom and the NHS highly recommend dance as a way of keeping active too.”
