Frightening foxtrots and quivering quicksteps

Posted on October 18, 2012

The approach of Halloween means terrifying tea dances and scary socials will be taking place across the country over the next week or two….

Starting early this weekend, Matico Dance Studio in Croydon opens its doors at 7pm on October 20 to Let’s Party, promising Zumba, “Dance Attack”, cocktails, laughter dance and fun, fun, fun! Tickets cost £5 in advance or £7 on the night.

At Karen Hardy Studios, on London’s Imperial Wharf, Halloween Hooters, on Saturday, October 27, includes live band Avenue Sound and a cabaret show, with a champagne bar, table service and limited front-row seating available. Tickets range from £37 to £52. Dress to impress.

Gloster Jive and Swing Dance requests that everyone wears black to its gothic-themed Black Night Halloween Special on Sunday, October 28 at Duke’s Place – Jazz Café, at the Tythe Barn, Bishop’s Cleeve, Cheltenham. The music will be “spooky, dark and gothic”. Doors open at 6.30pm and the night ends at 10pm. Entry is £6 on the door.

Street dance specialist Dance Nuvo, based in Stafford and Birmingham, is running a two-day special workshop on October 29–30 for children ages five to 12 to create the “scariest dance” to show at the party on Wednesday, October 31, from 6pm till 9pm.

Activities include games, dance battles, the “Scary Walk of Doom”, gruesome eating challenges and the best fancy-dressed girl and boy competitions. Tickets cost £30 for the two days and party, or £7 just for the party. Fancy dress is compulsory. For more information, contact details are here.

Nicola Rayner

Nicola Rayner was editor of Dance Today from 2010 to 2015. She has written for a number of publications including The Guardian, The Independent and Time Out Buenos Aires, where she cut her teeth as a dance journalist working on the tango section. Today she continues to dance everything from ballroom to breakdance, with varying degrees of success. Her debut novel, The Girl Before You, was published last year in paperback, ebook and audiobook.