Sunism founder Catherine Lilly Wheel calling on Novocastrians to dance with dogs at dawn

The founder of Sunism, a spiritual belief centred around the power and energy of the sun, has established a new event in Newcastle that combines those two loves, and is inviting others to join her.

Ms Wheel is inviting members of the public to join her at Horseshoe Beach to dance with dogs at dawn on Sunday mornings.

"It's a nice way to start the day," Ms Wheel said. "You can watch the sun come up and dance to some music at the beach.

"There's no one really around. We just play some music and dance to the glory of the rising sun while the dogs run around.

"It's a nice way to meet other dog owners, too. But you don't have to have a dog to participate. You just have to like dogs."

Ms Wheel and has been dancing with her Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Darling, at Newcastle's dog beach since the first dawn dance on August 25.

Since the inaugural dog dawn dance the event, which is free to participate in, has slowly been growing.

Andrew Brown with his dachshund Danny have been regular participants.

But Ms Wheel said she is hoping to build the event even further.

"It makes me happy to get up with my dog on Sunday, the sun's day, and go down to the beach to see the day start," she said.

"It's also a great way to meet new people. I think others could get a lot out of it, too."

The dawn dance is a Sunism event. But Ms Wheel, who founded Sunism in 2008, said the event was simply about finding a new way to be happy, which is a core belief in Sunism, and not a religious service.

The dance with dogs at dawn event is held at Horseshoe Beach each Sunday from 6.15am.