Gardener School of Ballroom Dancing founder John Gardener, 79, has retired after 49 years of teaching ballroom, classical, new vogue and Latin dancing.
Mr Gardener said in the school’s heyday, his Carroll St studio was filled with students in classes from 3.30pm to 9pm, Monday to Friday.
A lot of his students competed and a lot just wanted to look good for their first dance at their wedding receptions, he said.
He enjoyed teaching social dance forms the most.
"That’s when everyone gets out on the floor," he said.
Mr Gardener personally enjoyed Latin dancing the most and was the Asia Pacific champion in that discipline in 1974.
He was a strict teacher because his name and reputation was on the line when his students danced, he said.
"They’re using your name so if they get out there and look like Charlies then you look like a Charlie."
He had always wanted to be a dance teacher and, if it were up to him, he would not be retiring, Mr Gardener said.
"I just haven’t got the clients to pay the bills."
He could not cover the monthly rent for his studio and, since Covid-19, he had only had four regular students.
All of of his students had been dedicated to learning and they were all his favourites.
Sometimes he would be surprised by students who he thought he would never be able to teach, but who then picked up the technique really well.
Mr Gardener began dancing when he was 17 years old and won many medals during his career.
He closed the school of ballroom dance in mid-June.
