Are you ready to waltz your way into the record books?
The world’s biggest tea dance is coming back to Glasgow!
As part of our Glas-goals campaign, the Evening Times, in conjunction with Glasgow Life and Glasgow Housing Association, is hoping to beat a world record - but we need YOUR help to do it.
Glasgow held the record for the world’s biggest tea dance, with 209 couples, until last week when London’s Royal Opera House took it from us with a new total of 254 couples.
We are hoping to smash that total and win back the record by staging a spectacular open-air event in George Square on Sunday, September 12, from noon-3pm.
It does not matter if you would rather zumba than rhumba, or if you have never waltzed your way round a dance floor – we will have instructors on hand to help you with the steps.
So get on your dancing shoes and let’s bag a world record for Glasgow!
Liz Cameron, spokeswoman for Glasgow Life, said: “The tea dance is part of Glasgow’s history, and has always been a great source of physical activity.
“Combine this with an ageing population and you have the perfect activity that helps achieve one of our key objectives – to enhance the health and wellbeing of people who live, work and visit the city.
“I hope his world record attempt, as part of the Glas-goals campaign, will spark a revival in dancing across the city and encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to be part of a historic event.”
Sandra Forsythe Glasgow Housing Association tenants’ chairwoman, said: “Dancing is such a great way to keep fit and tea dancing – where you get a cup of tea and a chance to have a blether with friends – is even more fun.
“GHA is delighted to be a partner in this event because we know our tenants who take part in exercise classes at our sheltered housing complexes enjoy keeping fit in this way.
“I hope people young and old, experienced dancers and the not so experienced will get behind this event and help us put Glasgow back on the map as a world record breaker for tea dancing.”
If you need some motivation to get started, take it from Jimmy Coleman - he is 85, and has been running tea dance classes and events in Glasgow for more than 20 years ...
Join the Evening Times couples as they step up to make a world title bid
To the strains of Frank Sinatra, a young couple glides effortlessly around the shiny wooden floor of the Kelvin Hall’s function suite.
Around the edges of the grand room, other men and women, of all ages, sip tea and chat, before taking their place on the dance floor.
In the middle of it all, changing the CDs, chatting to everyone and making sure they have their tea and biscuits, is class organiser and dance instructor Jimmy Coleman.
Jimmy is 85, and has been running events like this for more than 20 years.
“I used to hate dancing,” he says. “Our local church football team was always holding dances to raise money and I never liked it.
“All my pals would be up there dancing, but I would sit at the side.
“All the girls would try to coax me into it, but I just wanted to watch. Then I got to 15 and, suddenly, I wanted to give it a go. I was quite good too – all that time sitting watching, you see ...”
Former warehouse manager Jimmy, who lives in the West End with wife Hilda, reckons he has taught thousands of people to dance over the years, firstly in a converted flat next door to his home, and latterly through the Glasgow Life classes he runs at the Kelvin Hall.
“There are lots of classes around the city - and it’s not just the older generation who take part,” he adds.
Jennifer McMillan and Craig Bell have been dancing together for around two years and recently won the City of Manchester intermediate competition.
They also picked up the Open Pre-Champ title at Dancesport Scotland’s contest in Falkirk Town Hall in April.
“I loved watching dancing on television so I decided to join a class, and start competing,” says Jennifer, who is from Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire.
“It’s hard work - Craig and I come here to practise, and we also train at least four nights a week. But it’s just so much fun and great exercise.”
Jennifer is training to be a dispensing optician, having just graduated from Glasgow Caledonian University, while Craig works in maintenance for Falkirk Council.
Both are 21, and are by far the youngest class members.
Bill Halliday is 81 and has had a prestigious dancing career. “I was the first Scot to appear on Come Dancing when it appeared on Scottish TV screens in 1953,” he says proudly.
“I’ve loved dancing, ever since I was a 12-year-old boy growing up in Anderston, Glasgow.”
Bill and partner Jessie Gorman say their favourite dance is the romantic rhumba.
“It’s the easiest one, at my age!” grins Bill.
TO REGISTER TO TAKE PART IN OUR WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT:
BY PHONE: Call 0141 287 4350
BY EMAIL: tony.mckay@glasgowlife.org.uk
BY POST: With your name, address, date of birth, telephone number, mobile number, email address (if applicable) and send it to World’s Biggest Tea Dance, c/o Tony McKay, Glasgow Life, 20 Trongate, Glasgow, G1 5ES.
Usual Evening Times terms and conditions apply.
- Our Evening Times Glas-goals campaign is aimed at tackling the city’s appalling health record and it is for everyone, regardless of age or where you live.
The Evening Times has teamed up with a number of partners, including NHS Greater Glasgow And Clyde, Glasgow Life, Glasgow City Council and Glasgow Housing Association.
So why not sign up today and be part of the Glas-goals health revolution?
For more information about the campaign, see ouir website at: www.eveningtimes.co.uk
