Middle Aged Mama

Blogging about my Midlife Adventures

Where can a Middle Aged Mama go to Dance?!

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There’s been a lot in the media lately about the “upper age limit” for clubbing.

mature women dancing

The general consensus it that while 31 is too old, anything over 37 is just plain tragic.

Which is fine by me. I’m not interested in hitting the nightclubs (which are probably better known for being a meat market, than a place where you can dance), and probably haven’t set foot in one since about 1989.

BUT. Just because I’m no longer young and single, doesn’t mean I no longer feel the urge to bust a move on the dance floor every now and then!

I’ve been known to bop around the house with the music up loud, but sometimes that’s just not enough. I miss having a DJ, the doof-doof, the lighting, the atmosphere …

middle aged woman bopping

So where can a Middle Aged Mama go to dance?!

Although it’s been 30 odd years since I last went clubbing, I have still enjoyed the occasional opportunity to dance in recent years:

  • At Wedding Receptions – Mind you, it’s been quite a while since I last attended a wedding, but it’s a great place to enjoy a dance with all age groups having fun.
  • On Cruising Holidays – Just another reason why I love cruises! The parties on deck are legendary, and there is something about being on a holiday that really helps free you from the old inhibitions. Plus they often have staff on the entertainment team just to encourage you to join in – so while you might start out just watching from the sidelines, before you know it you’ll be dancing the Macarena or the Time Warp with the best of them!
  • When you go to see a Tribute Band – Hubster and I went to a local pub a couple of years ago to catch a show by an Abba tribute band. There was limited seating, and we found that if you are standing up  you start to sway, and tap your foot, and before long you are dancing along with everybody else!
  • At Parties and Award Nights – There was something very special about dancing the night away, alongside my 20 year old daughter, at the Redland Business and Retail Awards Gala last year. Who says dancing is just for young people?! I was dancing The Nutbush, Chicken Dance, and Bus Stop long before she was born!
dancing with my daughter
Not a great photo. but proof that I got up on the dance floor at last year’s Awards Gala!

The 2017 Awards evening is this weekend and in addition to crossing my fingers in hopes that I win (I’m a finalist in the Best Startup Business category), I’m looking forward to doing my thang on the dance floor once again!

Do you still get your dancing shoes on? Do you have any suggestions to add to my list of dancing opportunities for this Middle Aged Mama?!

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  1. I’m going to no lights no lycra tonight – it’s sort of like free dancing in the dark – without the uncomfortable shoes & alcohol. I’m going on my own, but, why not, hey?

  2. I love it that Jo is going to “no lights no lycra”. That will more than likely be her post for next week! Yes I don’t mind a bit of a boogie. I often say I’m going to go latin dancing or zumba, but never get around to it. Dancing at weddings is also one of my specialties. #TeamLovinLife

  3. They had Ministry of Sound reunion a few months ago, it was great! Everyone there was between 35 and 50! I hope they keep knocking them out. It was great to feel comfortable and be ‘out’

    • Ok excuse my ignorance by what is this Ministry of Sound of which you speak? I’ve heard of it but other than that I have no clue!

  4. I haven’t been dancing at a club for a very long time. The last time I danced in public was a weightloss thing (12WBT) finale in Brisbane in 2011. I was looking forward to going dancing a local pub with friends recently but got sick part-way through the night and wasn’t able to stay until the band started.

    As I flagged on FB though ‘Dancing in the Dark’ (also called No Lights No Lycra) started locally late last year and I went to 3-4 classes before it stopped cos of a lack of attendees. Mind you, the music they played was pretty crap cos it was run by a yoga studio with little idea of what people would like to dance to! But, it was fun. I thought I’d be self conscious but I wasn’t and happy jumped around in the flashing lights and darkened room. #teamlovinlife

    • I’ve now found out they run this in Brisbane so I will have to give it a try!

  5. I danced at a pub a few months back. We’d been to dinner with some old neighbours and friends we had reconnected with and dropped in to this pup for a drink after mostly because there was some big football game on and the boys wanted to check the TV for the score. Got dragged onto the dance floor and felt so self conscious and OLD. Eventually though I relaxed and actually enjoyed myself. I danced at an outdoor food and wine festival a few years back – there were bands playing and a dance floor. It was fun! That’s about it apart from occasionally busting out a move at home! 😉 #TeamLovinLife

    • A wine or two definitely helps you to relax the inhibitions 🙂

  7. I used to go to the school dances when I was 14 and 15 and frankly they were wilder than any nightclub I attended when I was 18. So by the time we were of clubbing age, I was all clubbed out.

    Not sure if I have any suggestions on where to dance – I did it in front of a 500 seat lecture theater the other year because I was bored haha. Does that count?

    • Do you know high schools don’t have dances/discos any more? Too much risk/problems. I loved our high school discos! My kids went to dances at primary school but they aren’t held in high school anymore.

  8. I can’t remember the last time I danced in public (besides the obligatory parents dance at our kids’ weddings) I really need to get out more and loosen up a bit (I am way too self conscious!) Nice to see you busting a move and looking forward to doing it again this year 🙂

  10. So few dance opportunities for us lately but dancing with Rowan was one of the reasons I fell in love with him, so easy to follow 🙂 We both so enjoy it when we get the chance.
    I hope you find somewhere soon to bust a move and good luck with the award.

    • I really wish my Bear and I knew how to dance “properly”!

  11. It’s been a very long time since I went to a club, other than the RSL! LOL 🙂 The last time I danced was at A Day on the Green a few months ago. We were all over 30, some of us much older (ahem!), so there weren’t any rules. Everyone just had a great time! #TeamLovinLife

  12. I’m still in shock that anything over 37 is just plain tragic! I mean, I haven’t been clubbing in a gazillion years … but that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be able to. Tragic?!?! I’ll show them tragic. (Actually, it probably would be tragic on so many levels).
    Good luck at the awards! How exciting. What a fabulous nomination. #teamlovinlife

    • Surely there are clubs for the “more mature” – I just haven’t heard of them?!

    • Jill, they had some great flamenco dancers on our cruise ship when we were sailing the Mediterranean. Only trouble is all that stamping gave me a headache! 😉