Sumner Ballroom Dance School

Yay Team NZ at the Outside Change Cup in Melbourne

We cannot thank enough, the fabulous New Zealand support we get every year at the Outside Change Cup.

With many thanks to our amazing NZ Ambassador Viktoria Morgan and, the fabulous Helen Gordon & Miyi Amanda Chong. Your continued support of the OC Cup is extremely appreciated and we cannot wait to share with you all what 2027 will hold for the Outside Change Cup.

If you want to book for OC27 - 10th Outside Change Cup & Freedom To Dance Ball, our 10th anniversary. Which will be run over 2 days in 2027. Please let Viktoria know that you are interested and she can put you on the list for 2027.

Thank you NZ once again for your continued support. It is always wonderful to have you all here in Melbourne for the OC Cup.

Yay for Benjamin Scott and Nikki Taylor! 🤩🤩

✨ MEET OUR NEXT STRICTLY SUMNER COUPLE... 🕺💃 ✨

💃 NIKKI TAYLOR

A familiar face around Sumner Rugby Club, Nikki Taylor has dedicated countless hours to supporting the club and wider community over many years. A former club administrator and long-time volunteer, she is one of those people you just know will get things done, always willing to roll up her sleeves and lend a hand wherever it's needed.

Nikki has also played a key role in the campaign to rebuild the Sumner Sports Pavilion, helping drive the project forward as a member of the pavilion committee. Having spent years supporting others, she's now stepping well outside her comfort zone and onto the Strictly Sumner dance floor to help bring the new pavilion a step closer to reality.

🕺 BENJAMIN SCOTT

Benjamin's dance journey began by accident. Sent inside to collect his sister from dance class one afternoon after school, he was told, "We need more male dancers – be here at 4.30 next week." Four years of learning, training and competing followed.

Spending most afternoons at the Colleen Murray Dance School, Benjamin trained extensively in ballroom and Latin dance, competing locally, nationally and internationally before eventually hanging up his dance shoes — or so he thought.

While he stepped away from competitive dancing, the love of dance never left. In recent years he has been a regular at the Sumner Ballroom Dance Club, and when Strictly Sumner came calling, he jumped at the chance to dust off those old dance shoes and share his experience on the dance floor once again.

✨ One knows every corner of the rugby club. The other knows every step on the dance floor. Together, they're taking on Strictly Sumner 2026. 🏆✨

Exciting! Go Steve and Lisa! 🕺💃

✨ MEET OUR NEXT STRICTLY SUMNER COUPLE... 🕺💃 ✨

💃 **LISA DAVIES**
A familiar face on TVNZ’s One News, Lisa Davies has covered some of New Zealand’s biggest stories and is no stranger to the Sumner community. A regular at the Sumner Sports Pavilion, where she boxes each week, Lisa has a personal connection to the project she’s helping support.

One of our judges at the last Strictly Sumner, Lisa is now swapping the judging panel for the dance floor. Let’s hope some of the generosity she showed the dancers in 2016 comes back her way in 2026! ✨

🕺 **STEVE PIKE**
You may know Steve Pike as the local builder behind New View Construction, but away from the building site he’s a former New Zealand representative dancer, having competed at the 1997 World Dance Championships in Sweden.

After performing an exhibition dance at the original Strictly Sumner in 2016, Steve now returns to the dance floor to partner Lisa Davies in Strictly Sumner 2026. ✨

She judged the last Strictly Sumner. He represented New Zealand on the world dance stage. Now they're teaming up for a shot at the trophy. 🏆✨

Drop a ❤️ below to wish Lisa and Steve luck as they begin their journey to the dance floor!

📅 5 September 2026
🎟 Ticket sales open July 2026
🏉 Supporting the rebuild of the Sumner Sports Pavilion

Here they come! 🤩🤩

✨ MEET OUR NEXT STRICTLY SUMNER COUPLE... 🕺💃 ✨

🕺 **CALLUM BROWNLEE**
A familiar face around Sumner, Callum Brownlee was born and raised here and is known for his work in hospitality, local real estate and his deep involvement in the community. A passionate supporter of local initiatives, Callum is one of those people who seems to know everyone in the village. When he’s not selling houses, you’ll often see him whizzing around town in an old Land Rover, or supporting one of the many sumner businesses that we are so lucky to have.

💃 **SARAH HARRISON**
Secondary school teacher and founder of Maranga, a not-for-profit organisation making the arts more accessible, Sarah has long been involved in the performing arts. A familiar dancer in Showbiz Christchurch musicals and a former Crusaders cheerleader, she's no stranger to the spotlight. Sarah is excited to dust off her dance shoes for Strictly Sumner and channel her inner J.Lo

Will Sumner local knowledge and a touch of showbiz sparkle be enough to take home the Strictly Sumner trophy? 🏆✨

Drop a ❤️ below to wish Callum and Sarah luck as they begin their journey to the dance floor!

📅 5 September 2026
🎟 Ticket sales open July 2026
🏉 Supporting the rebuild of the Sumner Sports Pavilion

Wendy Ballroom is hosting a dance tonight, come along, we’ll be there 💃🕺

💃Throwback Thursday! 🕺
Went to the Outside Change Ball in Melbourne this month and bumped into my Aussie dance partner Peter from 25 years ago, we haven’t changed a bit 😁😆

So excited to be part of this fabulous project!!

✨ THE WAIT IS OVER... ✨

Are you ready to meet our first Strictly Sumner couple? 🕺💃

🕺 **MITCH COX**
Named captain of the Sumner RFC Premier Men's "Wave" team for 2026 before injury sidelined his season, Mitch has played for Sumner since age 3½ and has represented Canterbury U20, NZ Barbarians U20s and Sandy Bay RFC in Hong Kong.

💃 **ZOË WHITE**
One of New Zealand's leading Latin dancers, Zoë has competed and trained around the world and is ready to bring the heat to the Strictly Sumner dance floor 🔥

Will rugby muscle and Latin magic be enough to take home the Strictly Sumner trophy? 🏆

Drop a ❤️ below to wish Mitch and Zoë luck as they begin their journey to the dance floor!

📅 5 September 2026
🎟 Ticket sales open July 2026
🏉 Supporting the rebuild of the Sumner Sports Pavilion

🕺New start time for Tuesday classes, 7.30pm, see you on the dance floor 💃

Tuesday classes now start at 7.30pm
🕺See you there 💃

Amazing time in Melbourne at the Outside Change Cup and Freedom to Dance Ball. A stunning event in a gorgeous ballroom, watching brilliant dancing and then having some fun 💃🕺