While dance classes for young girls may be commonplace today, for a group of women in their 60s and 70s on the NSW mid-north coast, dancing was once not encouraged, and even frowned upon.
Now they're achieving their dreams: dancing burlesque, cabaret, belly dance; performing in shows, halls and nursing homes; and taking part in several dance troupes.
There is a noticeable lack of inhibition as these dancers use a large hall in Valla Beach to change in and out of costumes during their dress rehearsals.
Virginia Whitehead was never allowed to dance as a child, coming from a strict religious background.
"So when I was 40, I learnt belly dancing and haven't stopped. It lifts my soul," she said.
Her stage name is Berika, and she dances every day except Friday, doing cabaret, burlesque, Zumba and line dancing.
She taught belly dancing for years.
"My oldest [belly dance] student was 90, so age is no barrier," she said.
Ms Whitehead loves that she can dance with women and does not feel judged.
She said she would try striptease in their upcoming performance.
"It's very confronting and it will put me out there. But that's okay, it's a challenge," she said.
"Just to know that no-one can touch me, I can do it."
Ms Whitehead said her goal was to enjoy dancing every day.
Colleen Wood always dreamed of dancing.
"I can remember as about a 10-year-old wanting to dance in the main street of Bellingen of all places," she said.
"[But] we were on a farm out of town so [I] never had that opportunity.
Now, in her 70s, she is dancing in three troupes and performing in aged care homes, bringing a smile and a finger tap to the residents.
Her stage name is Chas-titty, but she says she is not game to say it how she spells it.
"To do the nursing homes is fabulous because you get such a good response from people," Ms Wood said.
"It just makes your day worthwhile and you put a smile on someone's face."
Why burlesque?
Among feather boas and bold costume pieces, Anna Atkinson puts on her stockings and sparkly heels and has her corset hooked up at the back by another dancer.
Ms Atkinson, who jokingly claims to be 52, says burlesque allows her the freedom to move however she likes.
"All my life, as with most women, you're told, 'Oh, you can't do this, you can't do that, oh, you mustn't do this,' and burlesque gives you a chance to break out … and do it," Ms Atkinson said.
When she heard about burlesque classes starting up near her, Ms Atkinson said she would go along and see what it was like.
"And from the very first moment, I thought, 'I love this.'
"I really loved it and thought, 'That's what I want to do,'" she said.
Ms Atkinson, whose stage name is Saffron Allspice, said she wanted it to be a bit more than just fun.
"I want to be good at it, I really do," she said.
Ms Atkinson said some of her friends were approving and some were highly disapproving.
"I don't care," she said.
Striptease routine
The teacher of Northern Rivers Burlesque Linda Wiltshire will hold a cabaret night for their student graduation, including a striptease element.
"It's optional whether you want to show how well you can twirl your tassels, or if you just want to take part in the teasing part and not reveal," Ms Wiltshire said.
"[They're] so inspiring, and I just hope I'm still out there doing it when I'm '52'.
"There's nothing wrong with me so why not?" Ms Atkinson said.
