Competitors in a dance marathon, 1977

Dance Stamina

By the late ‘70s disco was king. The flared suits and moves made famous by John Travolta and the Bee Gees in Saturday Night Fever fame were mimicked across the nation’s dance floors. Another feature of the disco era was the dance marathon. Competitors literally danced till they dropped. In April 1977, Bob Easton and Hera Cook were the last two dancers left standing at Oliver’s Cabaret in Wellington. Both appear to be feeling the pinch and despite the words of the 1978 hit, not everyone could be a winner. After dancing for 86 hours, with five-minute breaks each hour, Hera was declared the winner, receiving a small cash prize and a stereo for her efforts.