A DROMORE dance teacher is preparing to step out with hundreds of people on the streets of Derry this weekend as they attempt to jive their way into the record books.

Tina McGurren is taking part in the ‘Drink Wise and Jive’ event in Ebrington Square on Saturday, which is being organised by the charity Drink Wise Age Well.

The world record attempt is for the Largest Jive Dance, which currently stands at 250 people, with dancers having to do a synchronised jive for five minutes.

Tina has been teaching dance classes along with her son Conor for the last three years. They specialise in Country jiving.

In the run-up to Saturday’s event, the duo were asked to hold over-50s jiving classes for people interested in taking part in the world record bid.

The free classes have been taking place over the last four weeks in both the Westville Hotel in Enniskillen and the Mellon Country Hotel, outside Omagh.

Speaking to the Impartial Reporter this week, Tina said that she had received very good feedback from the classes.

She said: “It’s a sociable thing and they enjoyed the craic. There were people from all different walks of life. I made them introduce themselves to somebody that they didn’t know and then dance with that person. There were no romances though!”

The Dromore woman said that the popularity of jiving was building all the time and she is confident that the current record will be smashed on Saturday.

“Jiving’s a big thing, it’s the trend now. They will have no problem getting the people, but the most important thing is that everyone will have to be doing the same routine properly. It’s doable,” Tina said.

She revealed that the routine being used is available on her Facebook page, Modern Country Moves.

Urging dancers across Northern Ireland to go online and register for the event, Tina added: “You’ll be taking part in something that’s never been done before!”

Participants are being asked to gather in Ebrington Square on Saturday at 1pm, with the world record attempt due to start at 2pm.

Drink Wise Age Well is a Big Lottery Funded programme which offers a variety of support to those aged 50 and over to help them make healthier choices about alcohol as they age.

To find out more about the world record attempt, please log on to drinkwiseagewell.org.uk or call 028 82839240 for further information.

Meanwhile, after the world record attempt has ended on Saturday, Ebrington Square is set to play host to some of the biggest names on the Irish Country music scene for this year’s ‘Country Comes to the City’.

From 5pm to 11pm there will be non-stop entertainment, making it six hours of country music.

Headlining the event will be the award-winning country star Derek Ryan, with support from ‘Hillbilly Girl’ Lisa McHugh.