The Social Dance Group
Started in 2024, the Social Ballroom Dancing Group (SDG) caters to beginner and intermediate level ballroom and street latin dancers. We have two concurrent weekly dance programs; one for beginners and the other for intermediate dancers respectively.
SDG is focused on getting its dancers on the dance floor in the quickest possible time… and enjoying the learning experience.
Recognising that dancing is a social activity, SDG is focused on members getting to know and dance with each other at regular in-house SDG social functions, practice nights, and in public social events, preparing our dancers to dance in either a club or cruise dance floor.
Partners are preferred but not required.
Latest Updates
Dance Workshop – Salsa (14 Aug)
Want to learn Salsa? Our guest instructor is David Smiles who runs several dance groups in...
Our lessons are taught by two professional dance teachers, Craig Monley and Jennifer Blum.
2024 Class Schedule
Weekly classes begin on the 3rd Wednesday of the year (eg Wednesday, 17th Jan 2024, 15 Jan 2025 etc.) with approximately 48 weeks of lessons planned for the year.
There are two groups within each class: one for beginners, and one for those with some dance experience. During the class, each teacher will instruct one group before swapping to the other, so you’ll have the opportunity to learn from both teachers.
Here is the schedule for each class:
Teacher #1: 7:30 pm – 8:15 pm
Social: 8:15 pm – 8:45 pm
Teacher #2: 8:45 pm – 9:30 pm
Fees and sign-ups:
CAV membership (required) is $88 a year for all members with a $11 one-time admin fee for new members. The fee to be an SDG member is as follows (works out to be just over $10 for 1.5 hr of lesson and 0.5 hr of social):
$500 per person for the year.
$300 per person for six months.
Casual rates are $60 for 4 consecutive classes) with a maximum of 12 classes.
Not sure if our program is right for you?
Register with us to try out the first class at no cost and with no commitment to continue. Send your queries or register
your interest by emailing us at sdg@cavinc.com.au.
A beginner level Bachata class did this after about 45mins at our Bachata Christmas in July social.
Dancers of all levels giving it a go!
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?
Nicholas Lee
Chairperson, Social Dance Group
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:
- 5x Australian DanceSport Champion (twice as Amateur and 3x as Professional). Of these, 4x were in New Vogue and once in
Modern. - 2x Runner up 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.
- Jennifer 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.
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.
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, and English championship.
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
Useful Youtube Videos
2024 SDG Executive Committee
Committe Members :
Irene Yong/Simon Yong
Keneddy Ambrose
Soon Heng Teh
Our Favourite Dance Playlists
Just dance – everyone doing their own thing. Its all good fun!