Deloraine shakes its Salsa on a Hot Miami Night

Deloraine’s Big Band revs up for Hot Miami Nights, a fabulous evening of Latin Dance Music at the Little Theatre in Deloraine. Front row: Shannon McMonagle, Kat Dent, Leanne Wickham, Louise Schaap, Bloss Lorenz, Andi Mara, Deb Morcom. Back row: Janis Chaberka, Cameron Scott, Darren Llewellyn, Janet Morley, Gary Telford, Simon Death.

Jackie Webster of Dunorlan with Liz Walker of Elizabeth Town.

Richard Dunlop, Kevin Atkinson and Kylie Elkington of Deloraine.

Neil Gibson of Ulverstone and Kat Jeffree of Deloraine.

Linda Waddell of Swansea, Linda Pittard of Christmas Hills and Nancy Kowalski of Swansea.

Tuck an exotic flower behind the ear, rock up to Deloraine’s Little Theatre on a Saturday night and where are you? Dancin’ on a Hot Miami Night!

In early September the Deloraine Big Band revived a repertoire from before the 2020 COVID shutdown and Deloraine flocked to the opportunity to put on their JLo heels and dance.

Mambo, calypso, salsa and funky cha-cha were all on the dance card, relished by locals and visiting swing dancers.

Band leader Cameron Scott said he thought that post-COVID it was good for people’s wellbeing to come out and dance to great music.

‘It’s a terrific thing about living in Tasmania to be able to put on a dance for the community,’ he said.

‘I watched one elderly lady dance in front of the stage all night long, having the time of her life.’

But many locals believe it’s the other way around. That a small town like Deloraine is privileged to be able to attract musicians of the calibre of the Big Band.

On the night everyone got into the spirit of the music and Caroline Greig’s stunning decorations – along with members of the Salsa Dance Society and a group of Argentinians.

Afghan food sold supported northern Tasmanian Afghan refugees and ticket sales went to the Big Band and Arts Deloraine.