FROM: JAMES & JEAN
Hi Fellow Dancers,
James and I, along with Adele and Pepper, would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone attending the 2008 Line Dance Marathon.
We know how difficult it was this year for many of you to travel because of the high price of gas and the state of our country's economy right now, so your support and friendship is really appreciated.
Now that we've rested a little, Marathon 2009 is on the top of our list and we look forward to seeing many of our 'family' back again.
Have a wonderful, healthy and safe year.
Kisses to all.
Jean.
jg2 (james & jean)
104 hogan dr - garner nc 27529
919-779-1044
website: jg2country.com
jg2 Line Dance Marathon - May 29-June 1, 2008
Sheraton Imperial Hotel & Conference Center
Durham-Raleigh NC
919-941-5050
There are DVDs being sold of every dance taught. Here's how to order them:
DVD Only
Package A - Workshops Only - $85
Package B - Workshops, Show, Parade - $100
Includes s&h for N American shipping.
International rate - contact Jean jg2dancer@earthlink.net
Should ship within 3-4 weeks.
Check or MasterCard or Visa only
mail order to
jg2
104 Hogan Drive
Garner, NC 27529
FROM: Christopher Petre, PetreThePirate@MutinyOnTheDanceFloor.com
Props to James and Jean for another great Marathon weekend! I was especially pleased to meet Dee Musk, Big Dave and Pauline, that I'd heard so much about. Good job on the dance Searching, Dave! And thanks for being my substitute DJ when I taught Ramalama.
It's always great to see people you don't often get to see, so big shout-outs to Nev & Julie, Michael Barr, Debi Pancoast, Linda Yakshe, Nancy Morgan and Sunday "Sniper" Garcia, and thanks to all of you for coming to my classes.
This year our friends from Rhode Island, Dan and Kelly Albro were invited for the first time and I have it on good authority that they had a great time too. Dan came in at the last minute to do our skit for the Saturday show with us and lend a certain amount of class (Just kidding! I hear that it looked good, thanks to the ceaseless efforts of Master Sergeant Nancy Morgan (ret) to get us to practice!)
Some dances that I took and enjoyed were: Searching (as mentioned)by Big Dave, fun-FUN teach! Online Everyday by Kathy Hunyadi (even better to the original Christmas music), Duck Soup by Frank Trace, Fade Away by Dee Musk, Just Can't Stop and Elevator by Neville F. and Julie, Wagon Wheel (I actually learned on the fly/floor) by Steve Lescarbeau, JustMad by Nancy Morgan, Got To by Johnny 2-Step (it wasn't demoed so no one got to hear the awesome music!), and Take It To The Heart by Max Perry. My lovely wife, Lindsay (A.K.A. Muffy) took Guyton's Hat dance (also known as Here We Go) and did an awesome job of it in the evening. And she's bruise-free, evidently.
Thank you to all the instructors, D.J.s and staff for a wonderful time.
Next year's theme will be Pirates, so of course everyone commented that I'll be in my element, but I may surprise you. I'm looking forward to it already.
FROM: bdcroy@suddenlink.net, West VA
Becky Absher is taking a much-deserved break for the next week or two so I agreed to send in the news, however, she will be back!
News flash! The Beckley-Bluefield DieHard Dancers have done it again for 2 years straight!!! Another one of our dancers won first place in intermediate/advanced choreography competition at the JG2 2008 Line dance Marathon! Congratulations to Becky Absher she won first place for her dance "Heartbeat" which goes to the song by the same name, the artist is Madonna. I heard so many positive comments about her dance from those attending the competition portion. If you have not seen it be sure to check it out on Youtube. The step sheet is available both on Carol Craven's website and Kickit. Carmen Stinson our Wednesday night instructor and Lawrence "Bub" Allen from Charleston, WV did a great job of demo'ing the dance with Becky.
Seth Lilly did an awesome job teaching even if he is one of our dancers!! According to the door monitor, Seth's dance Gotta Get Her" mambo to the music by Blake Lewis had the largest attendance for the day in the room where he taught. He also taught his dance "All I need" by Maroon 5. Seth also competed in thePro Am Choreography with his dance Gotta Get Her while he did not win, both he and Becky danced with Junior Willis who won second place for his dance "Faith in Love." Way to go Junior!!
As usual, the Marathon was great and too many dances and too little time. Jean and James know how to throw a party...talk about Southern Hospitality! I will send you an update on our favorite dances in the next day or two. Unfortunately, I have misplaced my workshop schedule and cannot remember all the names of the dances and it is too late to call anyone I am sure they are getting caught up on their beauty sleep.
FROM: ROBERT MAH
I'm not going to review every new dance but just comment on a few highlights. I'm on the airplane now so I have no idea of what's been reported.
HERE WE GO. Also became referred to as the hat dance. Guyton gave out the 130 hats so we could do the hat moves in the dance. There is also some unique (optional) floor work. People had fun with it.
BRING IT. I was glad Nigel taught Paul's dance and it got a lot of open dance play. It remains a high energy dance. My favorite parts of the dance are the dead foot drag and the leg lift. Even though it's considered not very pretty. It really fits with either a high side kick or even a low kick but you really need the side arms to make it look good. At the speed of the music, it's more like a tick like you're balancing on a ledge.
THE SMELL OF YOUR SWEET PERFUME. Lou Ann taught Simon's dance and it got a lot of open dance play. I was glad I had already learned it in the weekly class.
FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND. This is set to a very powerful lyrical track. Dee Musk took first place for this in the Pro Choreography challenge.
KEEP IT REAL. The latest Scott brain buster. It will get better with practice. Unfortunately, I'm going to miss the opportunity for re-teach at the Great Big Party in Toronto.
AMERICAN POP and HERE COMES THE RAIN. A classic and a novel dance from the high energy Michael and Michele.
EX OH! EX. Got a teach on this Gerard classic.
AM I and SHE DANCED by Cato Larsen got lots of open dance play and were well liked.
Robert Mah
For Cancer Research: http://www.conquercancer.ca/goto/robert_mah
FROM: Dee Musk
Hi All
I want to say a huge huge thankyou to Jean and James and all who made me feel so welcome at this years JG2. I had the best time meeting friends old and new.
I had an amazing time. Thanks to everyone who supported my workshops and also to the fabulous judges in the pro-choreography competition for chosing Footprints In The Sand as 1st place (still overwhelmed with the result). :-) Massive congrats also to Junior and Will - luv ya.
You are all such a wonderful extended family across the pond and I miss y'all already.
Much Love
Dee xx
FROM: Dallas Proveaux
Just wanted to add my two cents to all the wonderful reviews being given to the JG2 Marathon. What a great event. James and Jean outdid themselves this year. From the outside everything appeared to be running smoothly and effortlessly. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who also worked hard to make the event a success.
Great dances from our returning choreographer-instructors as well as from the new ones. Guyton, Scott, Neville, Johnny Two-Step, Dan Albro, Dee and Cato Larsen. Not going to list everyone's names but I heard good things about all.
All the DJ's were fabulous. Three rooms for open dancing at night. I don't think anyone could possibly have a complaint.
I would like to mention one instructor, and one of his dances which I thought rocked. Christopher Petre and his dance Ramalama. What an impressive piece of choreography. Well at least in my opinion. I also loved about a dozen other dances. I think I might remember two! LOL
It was good to see everyone there and I hope to see all of you at the next event.
FROM: Dee G. - Web Wench - www.mutinyonthedancefloor.com
This was my very first time at the Marathon and I have to say I HAD A BLAST!!!! Everyone was very friendly and accommodating. I got there early and went outside and hung out by the pool for a while. Got a bit sunburned, but it was worth it! The dancing was everything you could ever ask for and then some! I attended some awesome classes, with a lot of great instructors! Hopefully I can remember everything I took because by the end of the weekend I think both my brain and feet were starting to rebel. I took SO GLAMOROUS taught by Christopher Petre, PHENOMENON taught by Guyton Mundy, PICK UP MY STROLL taught by Nigel Amon, ELEVATOR and JUST CAN'T STOP both by Neville Fitzgerald (and Julie - who got me through the kicky wiggly parts), TAKE ME AWAY and ANY DREAM WILL DO both by Gerard Murphy, RAMALAMA (BANG BANG), LATE IN THE EVENING (this is a *sweet* little samba), BARBED WIRE WALTZ, and LIKE NO OTHER all by Christopher Petre, LIKE IT LOUD by Nancy Morgan (with help from co-choreographer Christopher Petre), and SEARCHIN' by Big Dave Baycroft. Dancing in the evenings was great and I think I spent most of my nighttime dancing in the "Empire" room with Big Dave doing the DJing. He did a fantastic job by getting in all the requests that were asked of him and making sure to get the dances on the floor for each choreographer that entered the room. Yes, it was a busy weekend! I have to say that I have never seen so much camouflage in my life! The "Boot Camp" theme was a hit and the Saturday Night Parade went off without a hitch. I met a lot of wonderful people there that I may never have had the chance to meet because a number of them were from "across the pond". I have every intention of making this an annual line dancing "vacation" for myself. My feet are no longer sore and I'm ready to do it again!!!
FROM: Steve Lescarbeau, Marathon Registration Coordinator
Well another year has come and gone for one the most anticipated event of the year! I think it this year was a HUGE SUCCESS! It was great to welcome for the first time new Marathon Instructors, Cato Larsen(Norway), Dee Musk(UK), Big Dave & his wife Pauline(UK), Frank Trace,(OH), Mona Puente(TX), Lou Ann Schemmel(CA), Pam Leader( ), Dan & Kelly Albro(RI), Seth Lily(WV), & Will Craig(NC). Thank you all for providing our guests with so many great dances to such a variety of music and styles. Welcome back to many favorites of past years like Max Perry & Kathy Hunyadi(FL), John Robinson(KY), Junior Willis(TN), Scott Blevins(IL), Guyton Mundy(FL), Karen Hedges(MO), Maurice Rowe(FL), Kathy Brown(FL), Nancy Morgan(AK), Christopher Petre(CT), Michael Thompson(GA), Michael Barr & Michele Burton(CA), Bracken Ellis & J P Potter(CA), and my good friend Pepper Siquiros(NJ). Pepper did a great job as usual as our MC for the competitions and shows. By the way, doesn't she look AWESOME! As one of the events new co-associates, the other one being Adele Plantamura (Great Big Party), Pepper and Adele's help behind the scene is immense. THANK YOU both for helping keep Jean less stressed. I think the event went very well. This event has such a huge staff in order to make it run as smooth as it does. Fran Chelius as Volunteer Coordinator has a really tough job of not only making sure that everyone knows his or her job, but is respectful of their fellow workers who will be relieving them. Thank you to all of you, (sorry way too many to mention you all individually) for making the 15th Anniversary a big success. Can't forget the event DJ's, both all of the ballroom and workshop dj's. I think the count for total dances taught was 146 dances!
This year I taught 3 of my dances, Wagon Wheel on Friday at 2:00pm, Mamacita on Saturday at 5pm, and Virginia Creeper on Sunday at 12:00p. Thank you Big Dave for liking my dance Wagon Wheel well enough to mention it in the top 20. Also, congratulations on your dance Searching, and the great job you did DJ'ing. I had a very good turnout for Wagon Wheel, and was pleased with the turnout for Mamacita. It's very difficult when you are up against Kathy Hunyadi, Cato Larsen, Dan Albro, and Big Dave during the same hour.
I was able to get out of the box this year thanks to a larger registration staff. Thank you Jean. This allowed me to observe more and take a couple of classes. Here's my pick of ones to watch......
FRANK TRACE - Duck Soup (Another fun, happy dance - keep it going Frank)
DEE MUSK - Footprints In The Sand & Fade Away
JUNIOR WILLIS - As If, Drives Me Crazy & Faith In Love
NANCY MORGAN- JustMad & The Charleston Boogie
DAN ALBRO - Good Time Jackson & Cowboy, Cowboy
CATO LARSEN - Am I,(I'm teaching this one next week) & Burning
CHRISTOPHER PETRE - Late In The Evening (Can't wait to teach this great Samba)
GERARD MURPHY - Take Me Away
MAX PERRY - Higher & Higher
JOHN ROBINSON - Smokin' Cha (co-choreographed with JO THOMPSON SZYMANSKI)
PAM LEADER - Lie In The Sun (My class has been doing this since Boston)
PEPPER SIQUIEROS - Worry B Gone
NEVILLE FITZGERALD - Elevator (Co-choreographed with JULIE HARRIS)
SCOTT BLEVINS - Keep It Real (I have to learn this one)
There were so many other great dances done by all the choreographers, but these are ones I saw myself or heard lots of people taking about. Of course included among those was my own WAGON WHEEL. Anyway, open dancing was so much fun with dances like CRAZY FOOT MAMBO probably played the most followed closely by AMOR DE HEILO, DANCE LIKE YOU'RE THE ONLY ONE, SEA SALT SALLY, SO GLAMOROUS, CRY TO ME, THE WAY & NOW OR NEVER. I love all of these dances, and it was great to add so many of the new ones that came out of this weekend. As an instructor I love the Marathon because I have enough dances now to teach for months and months. As a volunteer, I love the Marathon because I have met so many wonderful people from all over the world. As a dancer, I love the Marathon because of what it is, THE BIGGEST AND BEST ALL LINE DANCE EVENT IN NORTH AMERICA! See you next year May 28 - 31, 2009!
Don't forget to check out my website www.LineDanceVacation.com in the next few weeks for photos from the 2008 Line Dancers' Spring Break in Myrtle Beach, SC, and for registration information on next years event. Congratulations to Celine Yee from Dallas, TX on winning a free pass to the 2009 Line Dancers' Spring Break!
Be sure to read more about the Marathon on Carol Craven's newsletter. www.worldlinedancenewsletter.com under event reports. Thank you Carol for the great cookie party and for all you do to help promote this sport we all love so much.
Steven J. Lescarbeau
A+ Vacations
64 East Road
Clarksburg, MA 01247
(413) 662-2323
steve@aplusvacations.com
www.aplusvacations.com
PS: I wanted to apologize to Lou Ann Schemmel and Nigel Amon for leaving them out of our returning instructors list. Thank you both for your hard work on this years staff.
EXCERPTS FROM THE WEST VIRGINIA DANCE NEWSLETTER
FROM: Susan Webb in North Carolina
The jg2 Line Dance Marathon was another great event. James and Jean always put on such a wonderful well-organized event. I took many classes throughout the week-end. On Thursday, I took Bring It' by Paul McAdam taught by Nigel Amon. I was glad to get a teach on this I/A dance since I had worked on it a little at home. It is an awesome dance with some different kinds of moves in it. I also took The Smell Of Your Sweet Perfume by Simon Ward taught by Lou Ann Schemmel which is a beautiful waltz by Simon Ward. I had planned to take Miss You 2 by Niels Poulson taught by Neville Fitzgerald but Neville was coming from the airport and was not there at the beginning of class so I didn't wait around and went on to Boo-Taaay by Amy Spenser taught by Nigel which I already knew and love. I also took Pick Up My Stroll by Shaz Walton taught by Nigel and think I will like this one when I learn it. The small room was really crowded and hot which made it difficult to pick up easily and on the carpet at the back of the room. On Friday, the first dance I took was Mo Money, a fairly easy hip hop dance by Maurice Rowe and a lot of fun to do. I also took Abdul's Comeback by Karen Hedges and Nancy Morgan, a fun phrased dance and also took Junior Willis' Just Wanna Dance(love Junior who is always so nice and friendly to everyone) done to the same music as Abdul's Comeback so now I have a choice when the music is played. I was so sorry I missed Scott Blevin's Too Deep because I was in Gerard Murphy's Seminar at the time it was taught. Saturday was a busy day with the first teach I took being Keep It Real, an intermediate/advanced cha dance phrased and with restarts. I will love it once I am able to remember where all the A's and B's, minuses and everything come. I also took John Robinson's Get On The Floor, a really fun dance with one restart, Late In The Evening, a nice samba dance by Christopher Petre(love this guy--so friendly and a very good teacher), Gotta Get Her(B) and As Time Moves On(I) by Seth Lilly, two nice dances chroreographed by this young man and friend who won first place in his category last year at the marathon. I also took Searchin' by Big Dave and Shaz Walton which is a great dance, but that one will require some practice by me to be able to do and know where the tags and restarts come. On Sunday, I took Seth Lilly's new dance, All I Need and really like this dance a lot, Kathy Brown's EeZee Boogie(B) and Slow Temptation(I), both good easily doable dances. Many other really wonderful dances were taught that I already knew or was just too tired to take if I didn't know them. There were dances of all kinds from slow waltzes to hip hop dances taught during the week-end, something for everyone! On Sunday morning, I went to the choreography competition and loved Becky Absher's Heartbeat which she won first place for. Congratulations, Becky!!!! Also, Walter Tallman who dances with our regional group won second place in his category for All My Friend's Say. Congratulations to Walter. Keep up the great work, Becky and Walter!
FROM: Mona Puente, Fort Worth, TX, monapuente@sbcglobal.net
Here's my 2 cents on the FABULOUS jg2 Line Dance Marathon '08...believe it or not, this year even topped last year, which really didn't seem possible!!! Jean was the everpresent gracious host throughout the weekend, aided by Pepper, Adele, and a hardworking, dedicated staff who loves her.
To make this impossible fete possible, add these great new instructors to an already awesome slate:
Cato Larsen from Norway
Dee Musk from the U.K.
Seth Lilly from West Virginia
Big Dave from the U.K.
Will Craig from South Carolina
Pam Leader from Maryland
Frank Trace from Ohio
AND
CAROL'S COOKIE PARTY for Instructors...this was great!...everything from:
the really nice, quality nametags the instructors thoroughly enjoyed wearing all weekend and now have as a momento from the event (cute that the "nametags" have our email addresses on them with our names because that's what Carol recognizes us by!),
to a really great networking time for instructors during the party,
to the information shared about NTA (National Teachers Association of Country Western Dance) and cool NTA dogtags furnished to the first 100 instructors in attendance,
lots of other interesting information shared at the party,
and...the cookies were awesome!
I hope Jean realizes the instructors are going to want to have this Cookie Party again!
The Boot Camp theme was a huge hit, with dancers dressing in camo, etc., all weekend long, rather than waiting for the Parade to strut their stuff...some of these people had a whole wardrobe of military outfits!
The talent displayed in the choreography competition was unmatched...everyone was a winner.
I'll touch on a few of my favorite workshops. First of all, I thoroughly enjoyed Cato's classes, his teaching style, his choreography, his music selections, his vocabulary, and his cool hat. I particularly liked Am I and She Danced. This was my first time to take a class from Zac, but it certainly won't be my last...his classes and technique tips were excellent...now if I could only learn to dance like him! I particularly liked In My Arms and hope lots of people will give this one a try. Dee did an excellent and admirable job of teaching challenging dances clearly and concisely, within the 50-minute workshop period. I particularly liked Fade Away and Footprints in the Sand. And, Scott did it again with his Keep It Real...absolutely awesome dance...I can't wait to master it! I always have to take a Scott class for sure...with people dancing on the carpet and falling out the doors and plastered against the wall...it just wouldn't be jg2 without a Scott class! Bracken did an amazing job of teaching 2 beautiful waltzes in one 50-minute time slot...Less In Time and Under Your Spell, and Lou Ann did a wonderful job making Maggie G.'s advanced Could It Be You a very possible dance to master. I wish I could comment on all the workshops 'cause they were all wonderful and I really hate to leave any of them out.
A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to my classes for Not Like That AND Sea Salt Sally! Y'all were so awesome and we got to dance both of these dances many, many, many times during the weekend--thanks to a line-up of wonderful jg2 DJs!
Okay...we have a year to figure out our pirate outfits for the next Marathon.
FROM: Lorraine Gehlbach
At my age a “first” is unusual, unexpected and fun…and I had many “first” last weekend at the JG2 Marathon. The first time dancing outside of South Carolina, the first time at a JG2 marathon and the first time entering an event.
It was nice meeting the people that I only heard about or knew by their dances. There was so much to do; I didn’t know where to start, so the previews were really important for a newbie like me. (That is when I could manage to get up that early to see them)
Some of my favorite dances were, Charleston Boogie, Chilli Hot, What’s your name, American Pop and Here Comes the Rain.
Some of my favorite classes were with Michael Barr (what a sweetie) Frank Trace, Max Perry and Dee Musk. The hardest dance I learned (or didn’t) was Fade Away. I really liked it and will know it by next year. The easiest dances were on Sunday morning (the only ones I can fully remember) Duck Soup and Feel Good Rumba
Dancin’ Terry is my good friend and instructor. Many of you already know she had foot surgery and was not able to attend the marathon this year. We truly missed her and her “in the know” advice. The Carolina girls choreographed a dance organically. Terry put on a CD and asked us girls how we liked the music. We all started to do our own thing to it and she said “wait, wait, let me get this down on paper.” We supplied her with a paper towel and Wiggle, Wiggle was born… need I say we were sipping a little vitamin C at the time. She wanted to present it at the marathon but no one was brave enough to do it, so along came Lorraine. I had never done an event, had never even seen an event and what happened…I had to go first..just my luck. It was nerve wracking and fun at the same time, especially when I remembered to breath. Everyone was nice and made me feel comfortable and some even gave me advice.
What a great undertaking this is for James Gregory and Jean Garr and the many people who volunteer their love and time. Thank you for sharing the love of Line Dancing. It was a GREAT “first” for me. Hope to see ya’ll next year.
Lorraine Gehlbach
FROM: Karen Hedges
Wow, I can’t believe another year has come and gone. JG2 was awesome this year as always, thank you so much James and Jean for inviting me back again this year. Thank you so much to the guests who attended my classes, Thursday afternoon I taught Hound Dog one of my fav’s. On Friday I taught Abdul’s Comeback choreographed by myself and Nancy Morgan, then on Sunday I had a wonderful class where I taught The But Dance choreographed by myself and Jamie Marshall. You were all so kind and too much fun.
I want to thank Carol and Gerard, for having the Instructor cookie party, how fun was that. I would like to thank Mona Puente and Jan Clifford for helping me pass out the NTA dog tags to the first 100 instructors (thank you Kelly Gellette for providing the dog tags) and to Pepper (she looks so good) for inviting me to speak about NTA. It was great meeting so many instructors for the first time, Frank Trace, Dee Musk (she is a hoot), Dan Albro, Cato Larson, and so many others. And to see Johnny 2-step, Kathy Brown, Max and Kathy, Christopher Petre, and all of my good friends.
Needless to say we had an awesome time, thank you Jean for everything.
Karen Hedges
International Instructor, Choreographer, DJ
Event Director Dancin Up A Storm to Benefit Ararat Shrine Wings of Mercy and Shriners Hospitals For Children
Event Director NTA Dance Camp
NTA Zone W Director
816-728-3750
Fax-816-524-7990
www.dancinupastorm.com
FROM: Lindy
I wasn't going to write anything up this time because the event was so well covered by everyone else, but I just had to add what a truely wonderful time I had and always do at this event. It runs so smoothly and like clockwork, everything on time and all. I love being in classes where there are internationally known instructors/choreographers there learning the same dances we are all trying to learn and having as much fun as the rest of us. It is just like a big party with all your friends, whether you have met them before or not. The dances this year were just awesome and we loved them so much that we came home and started teaching them to our classes right away. At our Instructors Meeting today, most of the dances taught were from the Marathon and it was great to have another go at those we loved but forgot as we stepped into the next class. The hotel is the best and I think it speaks volumes about their management that they have the same people working there for many years and they appear to remember us from year to year. James and Jean and all their helpers just do a most awesome job of putting this event on and I know that Jean has already been working on next year's event before this one is even over! Janis and I were most surprised and honored to win first place for both dances we entered in the choreography competition. There were some really good dances in the regular choreography as well as the pro competitions, and it's always a great bonus to make new friends at those competitions too. We swapped dances with other competitors there and will be teaching them soon too. Thanks again to James, Jean, Adele, Pepper, and all the people who worked so hard to make it look so easy! See you next year!!
DANCE!!! :-) lindy
FROM: ALICE DAUGHERTY/TIM HAND
E-MAIL: bigalofamerica@aol.com
We just wanted to say Thank You again to James and Jean for having us back at the Marathon again this year. It was great as usual! This was like our ninth year and we so enjoy this event every year. We taught two new dances "Hey Mr. DJ" which is a great Beginner Dance and our new Intermediate Dance "First Time" and brought back "Cha-Cha for 1 or 2" this is an intermediate line/couples dance. We want to thank the dancers who attended our classes If anyone has any questions regarding any of the dances we taught please contact us. If you have not been to the Marathon you really need to do it just once and after that you will be hooked. If you think it is just too far to travel do like us and plan a vacation. Tim and I plan a vacation around the Marathon every year and this year we started out by stopping in Pigeon Forge, TN to see Barry and Dari Anne Amato and Doug and Jackie Miranda's show and to check out the Majestic. We really enjoyed the show as everyone is so talented and it is the only show in Pigeon Forge like this. If you travel through Pigeon Forge we strongly suggest you stop in and catch the show. Also, I hope you have sent your registration in for the "Dirty Line Dancing Weekend" hosted by the Amato's and Miranda's with Special Guest Instructor "Joey Warren" Sept 11-14th in Pembroke, VA. Tim and I will be your Djays for this special weekend of dancing and we are looking forward to this event and checking out the Mountain Lake Hotel where the movie Dirty Dancing was filmed. Well, after Pigeon Forge we stopped in Myrtle Beach for 4 days of relaxation and then we were on our way to the Marathon. The Marathon, four days of dancing, great instructors, so many great dances, great DJays! You could never leave this event and say you did not get to dance! So make plans now to attend next year! Also, A Special Thanks to all of the Volunteers for all of their hard work, also Pepper, Steve, Adele and everyone else behind the scene to make this such a great event for everyone! It was such a pleasure meeting Big Dave and his wife, Cato Larsen and Dan and Kelly Albro for the first time and of course seeing our old friends. Don't forget make plans now to attend next year! We did miss the Cookie Party, but heard great things about it so hopefully Carol you will do it again next year. Remember, if traveling through Louisville, KY stop in and dance with us on Friday Nights.
Alice Daugherty/Tim Hand-Louisville, KY
FROM: hilwave@hawaii.rr.com
MY VERY FIRST JG2 EVENT
Only a line dancer could understand that why I am traveling thousands of miles from Hawaii to North Carolina just to dance for 4 days. Although I hardly stepped outside of the Hotel, I was happy just traveling between the ballrooms, the hotel restaurant and my sleeping quarter. My daily routine for the 4 days at the event was really like a boot camp. The Thursday New Teaches set off the mood for the dance-until-you-drop (for me). I was so hyped seeing, meeting and dancing with the professionals in the business. They came from different countries, states, communities, but spoke a common language of 5678. For me, there were just way too many dance classes offered simultaneously in four ballrooms. A new comer can easily get overwhelmed with choices and choices...I think it might be good for the experienced event goers. I had to strategize for the best outcome of learning what I really like during the daytime, and still having energy for the nightly Open Dancing. It was a big attraction for me to dance with hundreds of people in a large dance floor. The sheer excitement, energy, charisma, and happiness of dancers resonated in the air along with the loud speak sound. The dance floor was always jam packed in the early hours of the night. I surely danced to my heart's content each and every night of the 4 days at JG2. It was a happy feeling even with my bruised toes and sore feet. Here is a big "Mahalo!" to the JG2 event directors, staff, choreographers, instructors, lovely dancers/friends, for you have inspired many happy souls.
Aloha! Grace from Hawaii
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/hawaiilinedance/
FROM: Lynnie (langan.lynnie@gmail.com)
Hi All,
I’ll try to make this short and sweet, which won’t be easy as anyone who knows me will testify that I like to talk, so here I go…
This was my first time at the JG2 Line Dance Marathon. The only thing I can say about this event is WOW - it was great!!!! I’m HOOKED!!! You can count on me to be at the 2009 marathon! My thanks to Jean, James, and staff for putting on such a great event, which is no easy task.
The list of instructors/choreographers was impressive to say the least. I finally got to meet instructors/choreographers that I read about in this newsletter - I now have FACES to go with names! I got to meet Big Dave and Pauline, Dee Musk, Nancy Morgan, Johnny 2 Step, Neville & Julie, Frank Trace and the list goes on…….
Dances I took were: SO GLAMOROUS taught by Christopher Petre, BOO-TAAY taught by Nigel Amon, FADE AWAY by Dee Musk, JUST CAN’T STOP by Neville Fitzgerald and Julie, JUSTMAD by Nancy Morgan, LIKE IT LOUD by Nancy Morgan and Christopher Petre, RAMALAMA (Bang Bang) by Christopher & Lindsay Petre, ELEVATOR by Neville Fitzgerald, LATE IN THE EVENING by Christopher Petre, BARBED WIRE WALTZ and LIKE NO OTHER by Christopher Petre, PHENOMENON taught by Guyton Mundy and SEARCHIN by Big Dave Baycroft - I had a ball taking a lesson with Big Dave - what a great guy! I didn't take Guyton’s HERE WE GO a.k.a. the hat dance but wished I did - everyone look good doing the dance whether they GOT DOWN on the floor or not.
For evening open dancing I mainly stayed in the Empire Room where Big Dave was DJing. Big Dave did an awesome job playing everyone’s requests and watching for instructors/choreographers coming into his room to play the dances that they taught at the weekend. The theme of the event was military. I saw camouflage in every color that you can imagine!!! Hmmm, how would our soldiers look in purple camouflage???
The Saturday night show, which was run by Sergeant Louie, (who is potty trained - you had to be there) was short and sweet which left plenty of time for open dancing. OK, I’ll stop talking now but I just have to say one more thing…… put JG2 Line Dance Marathon on your list of MUST DO dance events for 2009. You DEFINITELY won’t be sorry you did!!!!
Jean Langan
Rockland County Sewer District No. 1
4 Route 340
Orangeburg, N.Y. 10962
Phone # 845-365-6282
Fax # 845-365-6686
Email address: langanj@co.rockland.ny.us