I'm a little late with the report on the Barry Durand, Max Perry, Kathy Hunyadi workshop at the Roundup in Tampa held last weekend and
hosted by Paula Messier. What a fun day we had!!! There was a big
crowd (I would guess around 80) and we really danced our feet off.

Everyone did a great job helping, from Paula organizing everything and another Paula and Cindy and Kathryn (I hope I spelled that right), to the bartender who worked late the evening before and was alive and hopping all day Saturday to Mark the DJ, who was fun all day long and ready to go and ready to count off the dances all day and into Saturday night.

There was a free lunch that was just perfect and we certainly needed a break by that time, as well as lots of prizes and just plain fun. There were teachers and dancers there from all over the state as well as a lot of support from the regular dancers at Roundup. We even had stuff to buy so that made it even more fun!! Thanks, everyone, for a special day with three great choreographers/instructors/best video site out there host, in my opinion (http://www.mydancelesson.com) and magazine editor. If you go to this site, you can read the bios of Kathy and Max and see all the great dances they have choreographed (http://www.maxperry.net). The combined experience of these three people is amazing and they made the hardest dances feel easy and the easy dances feel effortless. I was happy to see lots of people there I haven't seen at events before because you know I always say, "You can't do just one!!"

NOW TO THE DANCES TAUGHT:

BODY AND SOUL (WALTZ) BY BARRY DURAND: This is a really interesting little waltz that is easy without the turns and fun for the more experienced dancers with the turns. It goes to "Body and Soul" by Anita Baker. Intermediate 4 walls.

RICH GIRL, Barry Durand, Phrased but easy to hear the phrasing and everyone really liked this one to a very popular song at the moment, "Rich Girl" by Gwen Stefani.

KEY LIME PIE, Barry Durand to "Key Lime Pie" by Kenny Chesney. Your beginner and senior dancers will really like this one as well as the clubs that play only country. Super easy and fun music. 32 counts, 2 walls, no tags or restarts.

HOLLA, BY ALANA JOHANSON & MICHELLE JACKSON. This is listed as an advanced dance but it's really so easy to hear the phrasing that I don't think it's REALLY an advanced dance. There aren't any big turn other than a 3/4 turn and a couple of steps you haven't done before but I think almost anyone could do this dance and it was a big hit so give it a try. Michelle Jackson will be teaching it this weekend at Barry Durand's event in Washington so be sure and take the class. I promise you'll like it and you'll also like Michelle. She's so cute!!!

SHAKE YOURSELF LOOSE,
Kathy Hunyadi. 64 Count, 4 Wall.
This is going to be a big dance. I love the music, "Shake Yourself Loose" by Vickie Winans. It's got that good old gospel feel and you just won't be able to sit this one out. It's just starting
to be taught so don't miss out on this one. I really like it.

IN A DANCING MOOD, Max Perry. This is to "Im In The Mood For Dancing" and goes perfectly to the music as only Max can do. I heard lots of positive feedback on this one and requests for it to be taught.

DANA'S DREAM, Max Perry. There are two choices for this dance: "California Dreamin' by Queen Latifah and "On A Good Day" by Blake Shelton. I have to say that I loved the original of "Califonia Dreamin'" so much that the Queen doesn't really do it for me. I personally preferred this dance to the Blake Shelton song. I had seen it the first time at the Line Dance Showdown in Boston and liked it then and still like it. I'm curious to see which music everyone prefers. It's a 64 count, 4 wall dance and I don't think it had any tags or restarts.

X RATED, by Teresa and Vera. I loved this dance. The music, "Filthy Gorgeous" by The Scissor Sisters has a couple of bad words in it but believe me, you won't have time to be thinking about bad words. There's also a clean version of the music but I really don't think you can even decipher the words so unless you're teaching it to your Sunday School class, I would go with the original music. It's a very interesting dance and I really, really liked it and everyone I talked to really, really liked it. I think this is going to be a hit for them. They did another one recently that gets my "I love doing this dance because I don't get bored doing it" award and it's called Going All The Way. I'm hoping that you don't miss learning this dance. I dont know what it is about it, but it's just a great little dance.

Barry also taught a beginner two-step class between the line dance lessons and the dancing that evening. I was so impressed that he could keep going but then I found out he went to the hotel to take a shower and "rest his eyes" and no more Barry!!! LOL. He did stay late on Friday night at The Roundup dancing and partying and teaching a dance so I guess we'll have to forgive him. Maybe next time he'll be able to keep up with the rest of us -- and I MOVED ALL WEEK!!!!