It takes two for BGRC star to tango

LEARNING to tango as part of this year’s Ballarat Foundation Dancing With Our Stars fundraiser, Ballarat Greyhound Racing Club’s (BGRC) Jodie Faralla is having such a blast she plans to keep dancing when it’s done.

The club general manager has been paired with experienced dance instructor Mark Vanderkley as her partner ahead of the gala performance night on Saturday 20 June.

With the BGRC committee booking a gala table and inviting all club staff, Faralla will even have her own cheer squad as she moves across the dancefloor.

“What I found out about the tango is that you can’t smile,” Faralla said, nine lessons in.

“It’s a serious dance. But I’m having so much fun that not smiling is hard. And your head is either on the right or the left at all times.

“If your head’s not in the right spot your feet aren’t either. Thank goodness it’s just the one dance.

“The thing about the tango is, basically, we cover the whole floor. We cover a lot of ground. The music is very fast.

“I did master the steps in about two-and-a-half weeks. Now it’s all about technique. I’m assured that with practice it will all come together on the night.”

The gala event will be the culmination of many weeks training at The Dance Studio under the instruction of Shelley Ross.

It will also follow various fundraising efforts and events, with all money supporting the local work of the Ballarat Foundation.

“The greyhound industry and the participants have been extremely generous,” Faralla said.

With the tango being so athletic, Faralla is feeling the benefit of working out at the gym and running.

But while they make great pets, her own two resident retired greyhounds, Zoe and Nelson, are leaving that side of things strictly to their mistress.

“When we go for a walk, my two are happy just to have a bit of a sniff around and then get back to their beds,” she said.

“They’re speed machines when on the track but otherwise it’s all horizontal with these dogs.”

Individual fundraising pages for the Dancing With Our Stars competitors are live and accepting donations at ballaratfoundation.org.au