Dance – no one is watching!

If you love to dance, but not in public, a regular event at Waitoki Village Community Hall could be just what you’re looking for.

Waitoki resident Anna Glasgow started her Let Loose Underground Dance in 2017, initially in Silverdale. 

The difference about these dances is that, with all the lights switched off, participants can enjoy dancing, singing along and jumping about to music from a varied playlist, with no one watching.

Anna loves dancing, and often travelled into Grey Lynn for its version – Dark Side Dance.

“There was nothing like that on the Coast, so I started Let Loose,” she says.

Covid shut the dances down until last week, on Monday May 23, when they re-started at Waitoki Hall and will initially be held monthly.

Anna says letting loose like this is good for your mental health.

“This is special because there are no expectations,” Anna says. “You are free from any worry about what you look like and whether or not you have rhythm. You can shake off stress. It fills you with joy.”

“You can hear people having fun,” she says. “The best bit is when the lights come on at the end and everyone is smiling.”

The hour-long dances are open to all adults – Anna says it’s mainly women so far, but she is keen for more men to come too.

To check out the next date, visit Underground Dance HBC on Facebook. Waitoki Hall is at 439 Waitoki Road and the dances are from 7-8pm. Cost is $5 at the door.