Castlemaine's dance-off returns

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The Nugget
August 15, 2025

★ Castlemaine’s luscious, inclusive dance-off returns ★

Behold, the Dance Moms.

Galloping around Community House in my underwear was not something I expected to be doing this winter.

Then I signed up for Hot Moves No Pressure.

HMNP is much more than regional Australia’s hottest dance competition.

It’s a community love-in and festival of creative expression that charges all involved with enough endorphins to survive a central Victorian winter.

As the Dance Moms behind the event say, “no adult is too old for a dramatic lyrical solo or a sequined snap crotch leotard.”

Now, that is an invitation if I’ve ever heard one.

Of course, Castlemaine is mad for Hot Moves. Some 150 souls, of all ages, shapes, sizes and dance-ability, will take over Boomtown on Saturday night and lay down their routines.

Each crew gets 2.5 hot minutes to perform. There are battle rounds, an MC, and the crowd picks the winner, clap-o-metre style.

In between performances are DJ sets for everyone to dance it out together. It is a wild night of freak and frivolity and for many, the best night of the year.

Hot Moves was born from a collision of two trains running on pure joy. One was Lady Fun Times, a local dance troupe whose glittery performances at community events always had people coming up after saying, “How do I join?”

Dance Mom Sarah remembers being shook the first time she danced went to a Lady Fun Times rehearsal.

“I was just like, what? This is what I’ve been waiting for all my life.”

LFT grew until it couldn’t grow anymore, and Hot Moves was developed to give other people that same playful, creative experience.

This fit perfectly with the Dance Moms’ knack for putting on events, honed through helping to run Castlemaine’s Spring Ball.

That gave them confidence to organize the first Hot Moves in 2022.

From the jump, Hot Moves has been as popular as fuchsia feathers at Mardi Gras.

(I waited in line with hundreds of people to get into 2023 HMNP for two hours and wasn’t even mad about it.)

Sarah said they were shocked to see how many people turned up.

“When we knew we were close to our limit we had some people walking down the line, kind of counting, and then realising, oh my gosh, there are a lot more people here than we have capacity for,’ and not wanting to start a panic.”

The crowd of people who couldn’t get in watched the show through the windows.

That wasn’t fun for dancers who had people drive from Melbourne to support them.

“We really took that on board,” says Dance Mom Rhani.

Last year, they decided to allow every dancer to bring one supporter.

And poof, there goes the entire capacity at Boomtown. Sadly, there are no tickets available at the door.

According to the dance moms, “cousins, co-workers, ex-lovers and their chiropractors are hounding them to get in.”

But their door bitches are under strict instructions to keep extras out, and there’s actually a good reason for this.

“We obviously hear a lot about the desire for it to be bigger and bigger,” says Sarah.

“I guess, for us, bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better. And it really changes the intention. It’s primarily about creating a space for the dancers.”

Despite appearing fierce as hell, many of the people dancing on the night do not have dance backgrounds.

“There are so many people who have never performed in that capacity before, says Rhani.

“I know there’s a huge amount of anxiety and nerves leading up to the event.

“We want to make sure they feel like it’s a really safe and supportive and affirming space for them to be pretty vulnerable.

There are some kooky performances, but also some very, very fresh talent. We want to make sure that they’re not overwhelmed by a huge imbalance between dancers and audience.

“We know that when there’s that 50-50 split of dancers and supporters, it’s a really supportive crowd to be in front of.”

Because the Moms really are considerate, they film the event and share the performances on their YouTube channel for those who couldn’t be there in person.

And their message is clear. The best way to secure a ticket to Hot Moves, is to sign up as a performer.

That’s why I’m jazz leaping outside of my comfort zone and dancing this year. Anything to be part of Castlemaine’s most luscious, supportive and OTT night.

And as good as the night is, the journey is the best part. The weekly practices with mates, just for fun and LOLs, provides an unquantifiable mental health boost.

Making up dance routines is something we did as kids with our siblings or friends. Now in our mid 40’s and 50’s we are embracing our Primary School selves and having a bloody good time.

May that show through on Saturday. Hope to see you on the dance floor.

❀ Powerful ❀

Whoot! Check out the gorgeous shot Brendan Sydes of Muckleford Nature Photos got recently of the Powerful Owls in the Castlemaine Botanical Gardens. Excuse me while I get over there for a gander.

♡˖ EVENTS ˖♡

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