From the waltz to the quickstep, this family-run dance studio has been keeping time with a resurgence in ballroom dancing. Teaching beginners to seasoned dancers and even champions, Gold Coast DanceSport moves to its own beat, keeping the music going and the dancefloor full.
It’s all come together rather beautifully, just like a well-rehearsed routine. A professional ballroom dancer and tv personality, flanked by a bevy of champion dancers, the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé 300 and picturesque winery Sirromet setting the scene in the backdrop.
While he’s best known as a judge on Dancing with the Stars, there’s another side to Mark Wilson that makes this pairing particularly fitting. Before the spotlight and sequins, Mark was a fitter machinist, meaning he knowns his way around a finely tuned engine almost as well as a perfectly timed step.
“What really sets Mercedes-Benz apart is the precision,” says Mark. “The tolerances are far higher, so every component from the pistons to the crankshaft is engineered to run more efficiently and last longer. It’s the kind of craftsmanship that makes the driving experience amazing.”
This level of engineering is on full display in the Mercedes-Benz CLE Coupé 300.
Beneath its sculpted bonnet sits a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with mild-hybrid assistance. Inside, the cabin is impeccably finished, with supportive sport seats, augmented-reality navigation and more.
Despite its sleek coupé silhouette, the CLE 300 offers four-seat practicality. Paired with 4MATIC all-wheel drive and a design that focuses on muscular lines and elegance, it’s a refined drive and a car tailored for those who enjoy the finer details and appreciate an occasional spirited drive or dramatic entrance.
Teaching dance and building a business around it was never part of the original plan. At the time, Mark had a corporate career. But as interest in the studio grew, what began as a small side pursuit gathered momentum and evolved into a permanent fixture.
“Our venue, which is in Bundall, is where we train beginners, social dancers, and eventually some of them evolve into competitive dancers,” says Mark. “Not everyone, of course, but a number of students go on to become competitors and start training until they reach elite level.”
Gold Coast DanceSport is a vibrant space for anyone wanting to explore the world of dance. Offering world-class ballroom, Latin and New Vogue styles, it caters to kids, adults, beginners, intermediate, skilled and competitive dancers. Classes range from private lessons to group sessions and wedding packages, with social dance events giving everyone a chance to put their skills into practice.
It’s also very much a family operation, with Mark joined by his wife Annemarie, their son Christopher and their daughter in law Jordan Kopp-Collins, all of whom help keep the business ticking along. Between teaching classes, managing day-to-day operations, the Wilsons also prove that passion and talent clearly run in the family.
“Christopher and Jordan are the current Australian Professional New Vogue Champions, and later in the year they are heading over to England to compete against the rest of the world,” says Mark.
“So it’s a business that opens the door for everyone, from children to youth and adults, to start dancing socially and for some, it becomes so much more than that.”
Part of the magic, and what keeps people coming back, is simply the experience itself. The connection, rhythm and joy of dancing with someone else is what makes the classes so appealing.
“Most people like to dance, and even men, once they have a few beers, will get up and give it a go,” says Mark.
“When you introduce people to what it feels like to move with somebody else and they start moving in time and sync, it’s a beautiful thing. It taps into this inner need for human connection. Pair that with music and the flow of moving together, it’s an experience that people enjoy coming back to.”
A combination of passion and persistence that has seen the studio thrive. By sharing their love of dance, from local high schools to bridal fairs, Mark has sparked interest in a new generation of dancers.
“It comes down to our ability to keep telling people what we do,” he says.
“We run a dance program at TSS, St Hildas and The Broadbeach State Primary School for the grade nines and from that, we have quite a few teens coming to our studio to learn more.”
Between the driver’s seat and the dance floor, there’s certainly an overlap, with both relying on rhythm, timing and control. For Mark, the joy is in showing people that neither pursuit is reserved for professionals.
“Anyone can dance,” says Mark.
“I want everyone to feel that they can step into the refinement and what we create at Gold Coast DanceSport. Just like they can get behind the wheel of an amazing Mercedes-Benz.”