By Freya Jetson

Copyright abc

Under the bright lights of a Brisbane country music bar, Chelsea Gillum is guiding a crowd through a night of line dancing.

Her shiny cowgirl boots are leading each step on the stage, a stark contrast to four years ago, when she didn’t really know what line dancing was.

It was through a chance encounter that this community became something that would help her during a period of intense loss.

“I lost my mum in 2021, and her best friend took me to Gympie Muster the next year,” Ms Gillum said.

Ms Gillum is one of many turning to line dancing for connection and movement, and social media is helping to drive the popularity of the dance beyond country towns.

“It’s always been popular, but been in the shadows,” she said.

The Great Western pub in Rockhampton, central Queensland, is usually home to bull riding but, every fortnight, more than 300 people come along to kick up dust with their newly learnt moves.

Organisers say what started as a small gathering two years ago has almost tripled in size.

Social and mental health benefits

Ms Gillum said the line-dancing community was one where everyone was made to feel welcome.

“It’s brought friendships into my life I didn’t know I needed, all from different ages and demographics,” she said.

Ms Gillum founded her own line dancing business with the aim of replicating the experience she enjoyed in Nashville, in the United States.

“I started at one of Brisbane’s country bars for free for seven months because I wanted to show them line dancing was a thing,” she said.

CQUniversity lecturer Danielle Le Lagadec was part of a group study, which found there were multiple benefits of taking up the form of dance.

“The physical benefits are the most obvious one,” Dr Le Lagadec said.

“The social interaction of these events is also a big factor. It reduces anxiety and depression and supports positive wellbeing through interactions with like-minded people.”

Something for everyone

For a group of Rockhampton mums, attending line dancing was a New Year’s resolution to try something different.

“We discovered that we could dance and laugh and have fun with each other here at line dancing, it’s very relaxed here,” said Bec Faria.

“They say when your age goes up, your care factor goes down.”

Line dancing instructor at the Great Western, Emily Holloway, said the free event was held fortnightly and catered for all abilities.

“It’s really great to see so many people coming together and making friends,” she said.

“[Instructor] Mahalia Hayman and I didn’t know each other before we started line dancing, and we’ve become really good friends since.