Butcher to Dancer: How Line Dancing Spiced Up Sonny's Life
Sometimes, life throws you a curveball—or in Sonny Jackson's case, a line dance! Picture this: Sonny, a big-hearted butcher from Levin, strolls into the local Cosmopolitan Club just to throw a few darts. Little did he know, he’d soon be swapping bullseyes for boot-scootin’ boogies.
Sonny’s journey into the world of line dancing wasn’t part of some grand plan. Nope, it was more like a happy accident. One day, while flipping through the club’s monthly newsletter, he spotted a mention of line dancing classes. Curiosity piqued, he decided to check it out. What started as a casual dabble soon turned into a full-blown passion.
The music was catchy, the steps were fun, but it was the health benefits that really got Sonny hooked. Just weeks into the classes, he began to notice a change in his health. Back at the start of 2023, Sonny weighed in at 160kg. Determined to turn things around, he’d already started doing some light exercise with Think Hauora in Levin. But it was the line dancing that truly kicked his fitness journey into high gear.
“I never thought I’d enjoy anything more than the gym,” Sonny says with a grin, “but line dancing proved me wrong!” Fast forward, and Sonny’s now down to 114kg, and his type two diabetes has eased up to a prediabetic state. Talk about a win-win!
But it’s not just about the weight loss. For Sonny, line dancing has been a ticket to new friendships, too. “Where else can you say you’ve danced with 20 women at once? I’m the luckiest guy!” he laughs.
When his dance instructor decided to hang up their boots at the end of 2023, Sonny wasn’t ready to give up the dance floor. So, he decided to step up—literally—and start teaching. “I’ve got a few dances down pat, I’m confident in my steps, and I’m ready to share the joy,” he says. “It’s a new challenge, but I’ve got great mentors to lean on.”
When he’s not twirling on the dance floor, Sonny is a self-described “semi-big Māori fella” with a hard-case attitude. By day, he’s a self-employed butcher, processing farm-kill and game meats. He also runs his own lifestyle property, which keeps him on his toes as a “general farm hand.” Balancing butchery and boogying might seem tricky, but Sonny’s got it down. “As long as my animals are fed and watered, I’m a happy chappy.”
Sonny’s classes will cater to all levels, from absolute beginners to those who’ve got the basics down and are ready for more challenging routines. His advice? “Give line dancing a go—you never know, you might just love it!”
Class Details:
Location: Levin Cosmopolitan Club, 47-51 Oxford Street South
- When: Mondays, starting September 2. Absolute beginners and novices, 1.15pm-3pm; improvers and intermediates, 3.15pm-6pm.
- Info: $3 per session, pay on the day, first beginners’ lesson free. You don’t need to be a member of the Cosmopolitan Club to join in the fun.
LDNZ Club & Classes Listing: Click Here