A family tradition
Teaching Brisbane to dance since 1983
The Huelsmann family has taught social dance in schools across Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast for over four decades.
Learning to dance, making friends for life, in a relaxed and safe environment.
The social side of class matters as much as the steps. Many students stay in touch through high school and beyond.
A FAMILY TRADITION
From Melbourne to Brisbane
01.
Where it began
Over forty years ago, Tony Huelsmann and his wife Sandra started teaching social dance in Melbourne. Tony trained with the I.S.T.D. in London and taught ballroom at the German Theatre in Munich for seven years.
02.
Dancing in Melbourne schools
Tony, Sandra and their staff taught in over twenty-eight private schools, after school and in the evenings, six evenings a week.
03.
Moving to Queensland
In 1983 the family moved north and began teaching at Brisbane Boys’ College, with girls joining from nearby schools. They also taught at St Hilda’s on the Gold Coast for over thirty years.
04.
Angela carries it on
Angela Dahl (Huelsmann) continues the family tradition at Brisbane Boys’ College and teaches line dancing at community halls and centres.
MORE THAN DANCE STEPS
Learning to dance, making friends
Students learn approximately ten to twelve dances in eight lessons, and at the final class they have the chance to show their parents what they’ve learnt. The classes are an extra-curricular activity, but they’ve become so popular over the years that the majority of eligible students enrol.
The social side is just as important as the steps. As the students attend single-sex schools, the classes give them a relaxed and safe place to socialise and learn appropriate behaviour. By the end of the course they’ve formed some great friendships, and some stay in touch all through high school and beyond.
The dance classes have resulted in a few marriage proposals, which is wonderful.