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Dancing is something I love. Spending my life on the stage has meant it has been a part of my life seemingly for ever. I love all forms of dance from traditional to modern and a real love of ballet so, when an opportunity came up for me to steward the Sheffield City Hall Tea Dances, I jumped at it.

I have met some wonderful people and made some great friends, and what never ceases to amaze me is the level of energy these people have. They are here socially, yes, but they never stop dancing so please stay for a few minutes, scroll down and come and meet the staff and customers alike. Enjoy.

City Hall Background

While the sprung dance floor might evoke disco memories of late 1970s movie musical smash hit Saturday Night Fever, the setting is strictly art deco. The basement ballroom is the little gem inside northern England’s Grade II listed Sheffield City Hall, a neo-classical building with an imposing portico of eight giant Corinthian columns dominating a central square.

The ballroom’s versatility ranges from hosting exhibitions, conferences and weddings to X Factor auditions, Antiques Roadshow and a night club, but on three afternoons a week tea dancers trip their way downstairs. They greet each other as old friends which, being mainly regulars, they are, although there’s always a warm welcome for newcomers to join the social, highly sociable gathering.

They chat over a cuppa and sandwiches, then take to the floor to the recorded sounds of Charles & June Hancock (pictured) or the organ dexterity of Aubrey Robinson. Charles and June are the regular Tuesday and Saturday Tea Dance hosts, while Aubrey plays live on Thursdays. For the singleton, there is instant companionship, maybe even romance.

A healthy mix of ballroom and sequence is delivered…waltz, foxtrot, quickstep, tango, samba, rumba, cha-cha. Though it may not have the competitive edge of TV dance spectaculars, the enjoyment is overwhelming and the enthusiasm contagious. So, please take your partners…

Charles and June Hancock have been involved with dance in some form for most of their lives. As a young couple, they had such a love for dancing they would take to the floor five times a week.

It was this love affair that led them to a four-year dancing engagement at Burton Street School for Agewell. In early 2002 came an offer to run dances at the then bustling Dial House Social Club where they spent a very successful three and a half years. The closure of Dial House saw this busy duo taking their ever popular dances to Grenoside Community Centre, staying until July 2005.

During this time the City Hall closed for a major refurbishment and then resident organist Ken Outram got in touch with Charles and June to ask if they would continue the dances for him at the Cutlers Hall which they did for two years. When the City Hall reopened in October 2005, Charles and June were approached by the management to see whether they would take over and run the tea dances as Ken had to retire for personal reasons. And it is there that the couple, along with all their followers, are still tripping the light fantastic.

Opened in September, 1932 at a total cost reckoned to be close to £500,000, Sheffield City Hall was the inspiration of well-respected municipal architect E Vincent Harris, acknowledged as one of the last champions of the classical revival style, whose considerable portfolio, aside from civic projects, complemented schools and residential housing with government offices between Whitehall and the Embankment in London.

Sturdy Darley Dale stone, hewn from the nearly Derbyshire Peak District, has ensured the longevity of the architect’s Sheffield dream, although a World War II bomb exploding in the adjoining square scarred the portico pillars for ever. Inside, the venue, which has staged concerts to suit most musical tastes, has been continually updated, as recently as 2005 when £12.5 million was spent on refurbishment and redevelopment. One of the revelations was the restoration of the ballroom to its full original art deco glory (pictured above).

We have some great characters working on the Tea Dance-The number 2 man in my life work colleague Rod. After an extremely busy life as a former top photographer to the stars and royalty Rod now deals with tea dance tickets and reception area. PS next week I’ll take another picture of him and make sure his shopping bag is not in view!!!

He’s a bright spark, Master Electrician Mick Ludlam (above). Always has a smile on his face and has worked at the City Hall for a number of years.

Pictured with Tea Dance steward Ann who comes across as a real homebird, but don’t let that fool you as she jets all over the country most weekends.

Kevin- Head Caterer (right) or so he thinks!!! but when you have only women working with you, experience prevails and we know just how to let him THINK that he is in charge!!!!

Musically talented Clare (left) who dutifully stands in to help out on the Tea Dances during holidays and illness. Clare has worked the City Hall for about 4 years and when the right job comes along will be moving on to musical pastures. With a degree in music and a master in musicology let’s hope that something worthwhile comes her way. We also all get together about once a month for a Chinese meal after work (Doing this when picture was taken) so Clare, you will be missed but Good luck.

The afternoon Tea Dances are a big social event at the best of times. This is where everyone shares weekly gossip, catches up with friends and dances so, when there is a special occasion such as a birthday, all the crowd are in on the celebration and we had one at the weekend. For the beautiful, ever smiling Rosemary.

I am convinced it is these weekly dancing sessions that keep these people looking so young. Their energy is endless. These dancers can rock all afternoon and that is exactly what they do; for anyone who has visions of oldies dancing with the aid of a zimmer frame, you couldn’t be more wrong.

Maybe it’s that regular weekly exercise and a reason to put on the warpaint, bling and glad rags, but I would defy anyone to be able to tell the age of some of these ladies and gentlemen. They look amazing!!!

Just to prove a point, I want to share some very treasured memories for the people involved who have very kindly loaned me some old photographs and I want you to enjoy them, too.

The photo above was taken in the mid-1950s. Focus on the bottom left; about an inch in on the front is a lady, behind her is a gent and behind that gent is our birthday girl, Rosemary, dressed in white with a flower decorating the front. Still dancing and still smiling.

Happy birthday, Rosemary, (left) and may there be many more.

The photo below was also taken in the mid-50s, can you believe it? That gentleman is Denis Whinfey and he is pictured dancing with his now sadly departed wife. I truly have never met or seen a more smartly dressed gentleman.

I tease him terribly, but am sure he loves it!!! The gorgeous lady with him on the left is his lovely dancing partner and good friend, Gwen Ward, who has been dancing at the City Hall for about nine years. Their love of dancing means that Gwen travels all the way from Holmfirth every weekend, weather permitting.

So keep on dancing, stay young and fit and live long and healthy lives. Now back to our birthday girl, Rosemary, and some super pictures for you to enjoy.

OOPS!!!! This crowd’s had a pint too many, I think!!!

Steward Ann’s daughter, Louise, who regularly pops in with friend Shelley

Look closely and turn on the speakers…you just might see yourself.

While you are here, why not have a browse around, watch some strictly classic ballroom dance videos and, if you’ve enjoyed the read, leave a message in my guest book. Have a great day Jackiexx