Our group members love dancing the traditional figures of Ballroom and Latin, to a wide range of music, with like-minded friends. The activity ticks all the right boxes. Enjoyment is the key word but our sessions are also a great way of exercising to your own personal level. You know that you are doing all the right things for your joints, balance and fitness. Add to that the sense of well-being that you get and you have a winner. The word ‘joy’ is used frequently!

The group started so that members could dance without partners to a range of both traditonal and innovative dance music. It is easier & quicker to learn on your own and incredibly liberating to dance solo. Our repertoire goes beyond Waltz and Cha Cha. We now cover all the Ballroom and Latin dances. You can even learn to do a Bossa Nova, Charleston and Paso Doble. Judith (the dance advisor and convenor) has designed the choreography specifically with our groups in mind and there are over 30 dances unique to Chepstow u3a. Once you have the basic techniques, he speed of learning the routines increases suprisingly quickly. Many group members had not danced at all before joining but can now truly call themselves ‘Dancers’.

There are 4 sub-groups, 2 on Monday mornings and 2 on Wednesday mornings, all meeting in St Arvans where there is an excellent floor to dance on. The range of dance experience is very wide. New members, whether they have danced before or not, are very welcome. We aim to provide taster sessions and some preliminary teaching so that integration into a group is smooth

Confidence builds as you learn with a group of friendly, like-minded people

In fact, such was their confidence of our  members in May 2023, they gave a staged presentation to the u3a Monthly Meeting, wowing the audience with their enthusiasm and skill. If you would like to read about it and see links to information about the history of dance that Judith  included in her talk that day, please click here. There is a second video clip where you can meet some of our members that enjoyed dancing that day. Please click here.

At the 2025 Christmas party, each of the groups demonstrated a new dance to the rest of the members. Photos of this memorable day can be found here.

 If you want to know more, please see the contact details for Judith, below and talk to her. She will organise a taster session and suggest which group is best for you.

Give it a go and surprise yourself! If you enjoy dancing and want to do more or perhaps you have little/no experience  and would enjoy learning in an informal atmosphere, then why not try us? You can be certain of having a session of enjoyable exercise, a good learning experience and a bundle of fun!  Meet new people, abandon the world outside and dance the time away.

Judith and Irene, Partners in Solo Dance Teaching

Until 8 years ago, Judith was teaching lipreading to adults with acquired deafness. There were very few published routines for Solo Ballroom and Latin dancers when this group began but good communication skills plus a lifetime of dancing experience means that she is well equipped to choreograph the routines as well as teach.  Judith and Irene have been truly delighted by the speed at which dances from many genres have been learnt. Needless to say that the group members are pretty pleased too and very proud of themselves.  Enthusiasm and a friendly atmosphere, along with practical help and support from experienced dancers (who love it too!) makes this group rather special.

Irene joined the group on day one, in May 2018. She very quickly became an invaluable help, assistant teacher and Judith’s Right Hand (and Foot?) Support! She started Ballroom Dancing at the age of six and spent her formative years on the dance floor. Work and family commitments got in the way a bit but, after retirement she danced with husband John in the u3a Ballroom Dancing Group, where she also assisted with teaching. Now she dances solo and passes on her wealth of knowledge to our group. She agrees with Judith that dancing is perfect for both body and soul

Judith and Irene’s main aim is that everyone should enjoy and get personal satisfaction from learning a wide variety of dances. No-one ‘Goes Wrong’ in their classes but sometimes dancers ‘Do Their Own Choreography’. And why not if it is fun for them and helps others to smile!

NB. It is interesting to see that one of the Professional Dance Teachers Associations in the UK is now offering medal tests for solo dancers. This is formal acceptance of this mode of learning and must mean that more groups will develop along these lines, helping to keep traditional dancing alive and thriving. Not everyone has the benefit of a partner but that doesnt mean that you can’t dance with your friends.

All of our dances, including those performed at the 2025 Party can be seen on video By clicking ‘Videos for Revision’

They are learning videos in both Walk-Through mode and with music.

Please get in touch with Judith if you would like to know more. Follow the link above or phone/text 07870 500300