A HANDFUL of creative Limestone Coast residents have proven they are movers and shakers, mastering tricky dance moves as part of the Stand Like Stone Foundation’s Streaming with the Stars.
The innovative virtual event was launched last month to engage the community and create a positive outlet for people during the COVID19 pandemic, which caused the cancellation of the 2020 Swinging With The Stars fundraiser.
Participants were guided through a virtual dance lesson by Hype Dance Studio director Kim Cella, offering anyone the opportunity to learn the swivels and turns of the jive.
Seven imaginative entries were created following two weeks of practice with the unique routines now live on the foundation’s website and in the running to receive prizes.
Foundation chief executive Anne Kerr has urged the public to start voting ahead of Sunday’s cut-off, with a People’s Choice winner to be selected.
Ms Kerr said the event had been well-received by the public with the virtual dancing lesson attracting over 1000 views.
“The feedback seems to be very positive and Kim is a brilliant teacher who made it simple enough so we could all learn the dance from home,” she said.
“We had the ability to keep watching the video time after time and for me personally, that is what helped my husband and I learn.”
Blown away with the innovative strategies participants adopted, Ms Kerr said she could not help but laugh and smile when watching each entry.
“People were super creative, with couples dancing in the pines, at the Robe pier and with their baby or cat,” she said.
“I feel like now, maybe Pete and I did quite a boring job because all we did was put on a hat and dance in the garden.”
Ms Kerr hoped anybody who entered or watched the videos or dance lesson had fun and a smile on their face.
“That was what we were after at the end of the day and we wanted to give something fun back to our community,” she said.
“For us, it was not about raising funds this year as we know many people are going through a tough time at the moment.
“If nothing else we hope people had a good time with their family.”
Foundation director and Swinging with the Stars committee member Donna
Edwards – a Mount Gambier lawyer – said she had fun learning the jive with her sister and Tenison Woods College Year 4 teacher Ashlea Edwards.
Performing the fast dance routine in a pine plantation, Ms Edwards said she thought the unique backdrop would showcase an iconic resource which belonged to the Limestone Coast.
“For us it is also a place we go for family outings to collect pine cones together and we just thought it was a beautiful place,” she said.
“For Ashlea, it was her first introduction into any dancing so it was a lot of fun and it was fantastic to have the opportunity to learn from somebody talented who knows what they are doing.
“It was great just to do something outside of our comfort zones.”
Ms Edwards said the jive was overwhelming to learn at first, but once they had tried the moves a few times they found it manageable.
With voting already open, Ms Kerr said Robe District Mayor Alison Nunan’s video was leading votes so far with her routine performed with a novelty lobster mascot on the Robe pier.
“It has generated a lot of interest online and I think she might be somebody to look out for,” she said.
Visit the Stand Like Stone Foundation website to vote.
Voting is open until this Sunday, with winners announced online on June 13
