About BoogieCamp
Kickstarted by Olga, BoogieCamp ran its first classes in September 2008 in a carpeted yoga studio on LaTrobe Terrace, Paddington, Brisbane. Carpeted? Yes, carpeted, and hence why the first classes were barefoot Latin dance classes called "Barefoot Boogie". The carpet proved a problem with Salsa, a dance style with lots of turns, and unfortunately, lots of carpet burn alongside it...
Since then, there's been a lot of changes and evolution, but BoogieCamp's vision is still to create a fun, relaxed and personalised atmosphere in which people can learn to dance and have the freedom to be themselves without judgement. After all, dance is about self expression!
Since then, there's been a lot of changes and evolution, but BoogieCamp's vision is still to create a fun, relaxed and personalised atmosphere in which people can learn to dance and have the freedom to be themselves without judgement. After all, dance is about self expression!
Who attends BoogieCamp classes?
- you like to have fun, learn something new and hang out with like-minded people in a welcoming community
- you want to improve your fitness and keep your mind and body active
- you want a time out from your family and have some "me" time
- you and your partner want to learn dance moves together that you can use at a party, wedding or on a cruise
- you and your partner want to re-connect without the kids and have quality time together
- you love music, you love to dance - and if you have two left feet, that's not going to stop you!
Who is Olga?
|
"Strangely enough, I discovered Street Latin dancing whilst in Egypt; our tour guide was a dance instructor, and as our felucca sailed down the Nile, we were learning some basic Salsa and Merengue steps on the boat's bow.
After coming back to Australia, I started beginner classes at Rio Rhythmics, and I'm grateful to have found a group that really bonded. After class, we would go out to dinner and then practise our moves at South Bank (when free dancing was held on Friday nights). A year later, I became a student supporter at Rio Rhythmics, which involved helping the teachers out in beginner classes and being available to dance with beginners at the social dance nights. My commitment and passion for Street Latin dancing was ignited, and I kind of went crazy doing 4-5 classes a week, helping out as a student support and attending social dance nights. In January 2007, I taught my first ever Street Latin dance class for another dance studio, Let's Dance Co, and something inside me changed; I knew that being a dance instructor was what I wanted to do with my life. BoogieCamp was born 18 months later." ~ Olga Gjokmarkovic |
|
History of BoogieCamp
2008
BoogieCamp was launched in September 2008 by Olga Gjokmarkovic. The first classes at BoogieCamp were held in a carpeted yoga studio at Sowelu in Paddington. These classes were called Barefoot Boogie because students could kick off their shoes and learn the foundation of one Latin dance style each month. Barefoot students had to be careful of carpet burn with the intensive two hour classes each Friday night! At the beginning, BoogieCamp was about intensive workshops for adults in one Street Latin dance style, like "dance camps" (playing off the fitness version bootcamps). |
2009
BoogieNites (social dance nights) were born in 2009 giving students the ability to practise their dance moves and also to bring their friends along to give them a taste of Latin dance. BoogieCamp also introduced Latin by Candlelight in 2009, a romantic dance night where couples learned two Latin dance styles on a candlelit dance floor without having to swap partners. This dance night eventually replaced BoogieNites. Private Boogie was created out of demand and were basically private dance lessons for individuals, couples and groups. BoogieCamp provided Latin dance fitness classes to several groups at their place of work after hours, including Trilby Misso (Brisbane CBD), Leighton Abi Joint Venture (Murarrie) and St Williams Primary School (Keperra). |
2010
In 2010, private lessons for couples for their wedding dance as well as hen's parties were added to the Private Boogie repertoire. 2010 saw a move from Sowelu located in Paddington to the larger Communify Jubilee Hall at Bardon, which was just up the road and around the corner. A new class was created, Couples Boogie, a weekly Latin dance class for couples without any partner swapping. Couples could learn two Latin dance styles each five week term. Latin by Candlelight dance nights were still popular in 2010. Partner dancing classes (Street Latin Dance for Beginners) were introduced in April 2010 at Kenmore State School as part of their adult community education program. |
2011
BoogieFit (originally referred to as Dance for Fitness) started to shake its "thang" in 2011 with Latin fitness classes commencing at Kenmore State School (February 2011), Pine Rivers High School (May 2011) and Stafford Heights State School (May 2011) as part of their respective adult community education programs. Couples Boogie and Latin by Candlelight were merged in June 2011 to form Latin for Two dance nights, which combined dance lessons with social dancing. Couples could learn two Latin dance styles each night without having to swap partners and mingle with other couples. Street Latin Dance for Beginners (where everybody swapped partners) changed to Street Latin Dance for Couples (no partner swapping) in mid-2011 at Kenmore State School. |
2012
BoogieFit: Dance for Fitness classes continued at Kenmore, Stafford and Strathpine. BoogieCamp's owner, Olga Gjokmarkovic, became a certified ZUMBA® Instructor (Basic & Gold), with ZUMBA® GOLD classes starting in July 2012 at Kenmore State School and Pine Rivers High School as part of their respective adult community education programs. To visit Olga's Zumba website, click here. In October 2012, Street Latin Dance for Couples classes commenced at a new location - Pine Rivers High School at Strathpine. Latin for Two dance nights evolved to focus on one dance style per evening. |
2013
2013 saw the introduction of Street Latin Dance for Couples classes at Stafford Heights. Now, couples can learn to dance without swapping partners at three locations - Kenmore, Stafford Heights and Strathpine. BoogieFit classes continued at Kenmore and Stafford, whilst ZUMBA® GOLD was still groovin' at Kenmore and Strathpine. Latin For Two Social dance nights were relaunched at Bardon to allow couples the opportunity to practise their moves to a variety of Street Latin dance music. |
2014
|
2015
|
2016
|
2017
|
2018
|
2019
|
2020
|
2021
|
20222022 offerings included:
Zumba Gold Mt Ommaney classes were relocated to CJ Greenfield Hall in Richlands starting February 2023. Zumba Gold Bulimba classes were added to the Active & Healthy Program from July 2022. Zumba Gold Paddington classes were partially funded by BrisWest Centre from January to June 2022, with Brisbane City Council funding the class from June to September 2022. Classes ran on a user-pays basis from October to December 2022. Zumba Gold Kenmore classes were discontinued in December 2022 due to ongoing low numbers. Zumba Gold Toning classes at Manly on Monday mornings were discontinued due to ongoing low numbers and increases in park fees for 2023. |
2023Due to Brisbane City Council diverting funds for the 2022 flood recovery efforts, classes at Paddington and Bulimba were offered under a user-pays basis. Term 1 classes at Bulimba proceeded however they were not offered in term 2. Paddington classes did not proceed due to insufficient demand.
Brisbane City Council are funding Zumba Gold Bulimba classes under the Active and Healthy Program from July 2023. Zumba Gold Paddington classes were not included and were discontinued as Olga didn't have the capacity to continue running these on a user-pays basis. Read more here. Zumba Gold classes under the Active & Healthy Program continued from January to June 2023 at Acacia Ridge, Bellbowrie, Inala, Manly, Norman Park, Richlands and Sunnybank. From July 2023, Olga cut back on Zumba Gold classes due to injuries (read more here) and chose to continue these Zumba Gold classes under the Active & Healthy Program:
Class changes from July 2023:
Occational Private Latin Dance Lessons were held during 2023. |
2024Active & Healthy Classes continue:
Zumba Gold Fitness classes continue at Bulimba Community Centre, Pattison Park Norman Park, Drevesen Park Manly and Sunnybank Community Centre. These activities are funded by Brisbane City Council as part of Council's Active & Healthy Program. Olga takes over a Zumba Gold Fitness class at Wynnum from another instructor. These classes are held at Waterloo Bay Leisure Centre, Wynnum on Wednesday mornings at 8:00am. In the first half of 2024, the focus is on Zumba Gold Chair classes for Seniors in Aged Care Centres and Retirement Villages. Current centres include:
|
