I've just been reading a Rock & Roll News from 1996. It's interesting to see the prices of some of the big dances were around the $12 - $15 mark compared with the $15 - $18 price range of today. That's not a bad inflation rate over the past 23 years! I'm sure the cost of venue hire, bands, insurance etc have all gone up a lot more than they were in 1996.

Here's some highlights of what was happening 23 years ago.

March 1996.

50's Rock & Roll dance teachers Carol and Kevin became engaged. They were teaching on Mon nights at the Anglican Church on Burwood Hwy for $5 a class.

Ray was starting up junior dance classes, Teresa Mileto started running monthly dances at Coburg Town Hall from March 1996, with dance competitions, $12 entry, with Adrian running dance classes there as well.

Adrian Spadaro and Chris Black ran a dance at Mordialloc Community Centre with band "Brassworks" and guest teacher Sylvia Sykes from the US taught the shim sham, $12.

Merv Benton played at the Moorabbin Town Hall, $22, the Starliners and Wild Turkey with DJ Wolf played at the Waltzing Matilda Hotel $10, The Premiers and DJ Jeff played at Clayton RSL, $8 entry.

Ararat Jailhouse Rock festival was held in March with bands including Eddie Youngblood and Flashback, $15. The Rebel Tavern in Seaford had bands every Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights with $5 entry.

The Straight 8's played at the Monash Hotel, $8 entry.

Aspendale, Box Hill, Clayton, Frankston, Spotswood, Rye, Springvale RSL's all had live bands on Fri or Saturday nights, Just Rock in Kilsyth had Fri and Sat night monthly social dances, Pitrones in Keysborough had bands every Wednesday night.

Good Friday Children's Hospital appeal was held at the Moorabbin Town Hall on 4th April with the Allstars, Donna Fisk, Johnny Chester, Andrew Portelli, Bill O'Rourke, Grantley Dee, Steve Lawson and Oscar Swaru, $20 entry.

The Australian Rockabilly Association held a dance with the Straight 8's and Jump & Jive at Caulfield Secondary, $15 entry.

Line dancing / bootscootin was popular with classes held all over Melbourne, live bands playing on Wed nights at Italo Australian Club Dandenong on Wed nights and San Souci in Moorabbin on Thurs nights, plus a monthly gig guide / booklet "Heart of Country News".

See more about the history of rock n roll dancing in Melbourne on the website:
http://www.historyrocknrolldancing.webs.com