👋🏻 Hello, meet Chris

A Journey from Line Dance to Life Dance

Chris Brocklesby is the founder of Linedance NZ and has been involved in line dance since the early 1990s, starting as a child. His mother encouraged him to take it up as a family activity, and his parents and sister were very supportive, with his mother attending many events and competitions. She passed away in 2004, but her encouragement continues to have an influence on him.

Chris appeared regularly in Linedancer Magazine during the late 1990s and early 2000s and took part in various TV programs, including the National Lottery and other daytime shows. Over the years, he won several titles, including UCWDC World Champion, as well as championships in the Netherlands, Germany, Scotland, and Chicago.

After finishing school in Wales, Chris spent some time in Chicago, attending high school and participating in local line dance classes and events. While there, he trained with Scott Blevins, a well-known international line dance instructor, gaining exposure to different styles of dancing than he had experienced in the UK.

Returning to the UK, Chris established several line dance classes and founded a club called “WickedWest”. One notable performance was at the London Royal Palladium (for Royalty 👸🏻), where he danced alongside figures such as Michael Flatley, Wayne Sleep, and the ice dancing pair Torvill and Dean.

Chris has also mentored a number of line dancers, passing on both technique and a broader appreciation for the dance. Several of his students have gone on to achieve championship titles, including two who are currently active figures in the line dance community.

Through line dancing, Chris met his wife Renay, and they have two sons. In 2004 after the untimely passing of his mother, he stepped back from line dancing to focus on family and a career in medical technology and software development, eventually holding senior and management roles that involved travel and led to emigration.

In 2019, Chris and his family moved to New Zealand, where he returned to line dancing. He is now an active participant in the local line dance scene, mainly in the South Island, enjoying the community, country music events, and making new connections. While he notes that he may not be as flexible as in his youth and sometimes adds unintentional freestyle variations 😆, his enthusiasm for the dance remains.

Chris continues to work at promoting line dancing in NZ hoping to grow and promote the community and its fabulous personalities within the country. He has a vision to support a more connected and vibrant line dance community in New Zealand through Linedance NZ, aiming to connect with others, highlight local choreographers and personalities, and foster the country’s line dance scene for all generations. 🇳🇿 🤠 🕺🏻