Messages from the schools, families and students we’ve danced with

Thank you for the time and effort you invested in teaching our boys to dance. We greatly appreciate the opportunity you provided for them to dance with girls from other schools while modelling appropriate behaviours.

Best regards and we look forward to seeing you again soon.

I just wanted to say a HUGE THANK YOU for your tremendous work with our son David and all the other boys and girls who participated in your terrific programme.

David attended the first lesson 'under duress', but by the 2nd lesson he was really happy to go back and by the end he (obviously) really enjoyed the experience. He has met a few nice young ladies too.

We can only imagine how hard it was to teach all these teenagers in 7(!) weeks such a full and complex programme of dances. Well done to you all!

I will certainly recommend you to parents in younger grades at BBC – but also our daughter is currently in Grade 6 at St Aidan's and she's keen to participate when her time comes in grade 9. So, you'll see yet another Rentoul amongst your students!

The school magazine's "Shall We Dance" feature looks at a program that began in 1982, when the then Headmaster invited students to take part, and was still growing in popularity more than two decades later.

College Chaplain Rev Graham Cole calls it the best social activity the school runs, giving boys the chance to meet girls and build a rapport with them over several weeks, while picking up real dance skills. His view: "I think it should be compulsory."

Tony Huelsmann had run the program for 24 years at that point, alongside his wife Sandra and daughter Angela. A Latin American dance finalist at the world championships in the 1960s, he trained in Germany and at the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing in London. Rev Cole says he has seen him turn boys with "two left feet" into fairly competent dancers.

Over nine lessons, Year 10 students learn everything from Ballroom and Old Time to Modern and Latin American, including the Barn Dance, Cha Cha Cha, Tango, Jive and Waltz. The highlight is the final evening, when parents are invited to watch and each boy must ask a mother to dance. The program caters for up to 170 students a year.

Thank you so much for conducting dance lessons again this year for our BBC boys and their lovely partners from St Aidan's.

My son, Nick, so enjoyed them and last night's opportunity to see them in action as well as dance with our sons will always be a treasured memory of a key time in his development as a young man.

Just a short note to let you know how impressed I was with the quality of my Year 9 dancers.

Being a Physical Education teacher, I know it is not easy to teach so many students to dance, and as evidenced last night you did a fantastic job.

The girls and the BBC boys looked lovely and they all appeared to have been enjoying themselves. I spoke to some of my Year 9 girls and their parents and they all said how much they had enjoyed their Tuesday night dancing classes, and that they would actually miss the lessons.

Once again, congratulations on doing such an excellent job with your dance instruction.

My daughter has been attending the dance classes at BBC. Her and her friends have been having such a lovely time, they don't want it to end. Is there a way for them to continue dancing with you? (Simone)

I wanted to pass on my thanks to the teachers for the classes held at BBC this term. My son Leo has really enjoyed them. We are both sad to miss the final night. Ballroom was a big part of my teenage years so would have been lovely to see Leo on the floor. (Karen)

We so appreciate your role in building the She Shed community spirit this year. Wishing you and yours a very happy Christmas and we look forward to your continued contribution. Enjoy your break! See you in 2026. Yee hah!

...and thank you from me too Angela. You've brought lots of fun to people.

Thanks for all you do for The She Shed.

My son, Nic Smith, attended the BBC dance classes this year. He really enjoyed them and it was a pleasure to dance with him last Tuesday at the final class.

I love the way you encourage respect among the students, exactly as we do as parents.

Good luck in your retirement, and best wishes to Angela as she continues your good work!

Many thanks!

A very brief note to sincerely thank you and your daughter for all your wonderful efforts and, no doubt, patience in teaching my daughter how to dance!

She had a wonderful time and enjoyed every minute of it and I'm sure will remember those Tuesday nights for a long, long time. I only hope my second daughter will get to experience the same fun in a couple of years time.

This is to certify that I have known Angela Dahl for a period of 22 years in her capacity as a Dance class teacher of which I was the Brisbane Boys' College facilitator. For the first 15 years of our contact, Angela would lead our Year 10 Dance classes with her parents. In the past 7 years, Angela has taken over as the lead teacher of this outstanding program.

During the past 22 years I have been most impressed with the high calibre of Angela's teaching. Each year she is able to immediately gain a respectful rapport with the students and within one session, students are wholeheartedly participating. I have also found that Angela is very well organised and is an absolute pleasure to deal with when we are preparing for the program. Her communication with parents and students is exceptional.

As a College our students have benefitted greatly from this program which we plan to continue into the future. I would therefore wholeheartedly commend Angela and her Dance program to any school or organization that would consider running this program.

Quick one to thank you both so much for organizing & encouraging the BBC boys to do these weekly dance lessons.

Tim & I are very grateful that BBC offered this to the boys. It's old school, authentic & beautiful.

Henry has thoroughly enjoyed it & I know he wishes more of his mates had put their names down. Watching a 2nd row rugby player doing the Waltz was fantastic for us. Each week he came home with funny stories & new girls names.

As you both well know, classes like this provide lots more than just learning dance skills. I wish these single sex schools did more activities like this! It's so valuable to develop conversational skills!

Thanks again!

We couldn't be more impressed with the professionalism and care shown by the "Quick Step Dance" company. From the moment the students stepped into their first class, they were welcomed into a warm, well-organised environment where every detail was thoughtfully managed. The instructor was highly skilled but also incredibly nurturing, creating a space where children felt confident and inspired.

What truly stood out was how much joy the kids got from the formal dance experience. Watching our cohort grow in both skill and self-esteem has been a wonderful journey. The dances were beautifully run, and final dance night showcased the hard work and passion of both the students and staff.

A massive thank you from the boys and myself for the superb way in which you ran the Dance classes this year.

We so appreciate having this invaluable social opportunity for the boys.

All the best to you and the family.

Meri is my fourth and final daughter to participate in your dance course at BBC. She has watched her three sisters have a wonderful time, and now it is her turn.

I want to thank you for providing this special experience for them all.