TAMPA
BAY CLASSIC 2006 |
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Wow!!
Another great event in the lineup of premier line dance events that
we are so fortunate to have now. There was an international cast
of instructors and guests. The Oriental theme added a touch of elegance
to everything from the vendors to the fabulous show on Saturday
night. I was just proud to have it in our little area of the world
and I hope all of the guests enjoyed visiting the Tampa Bay area.
You really should take time next year after the event and spend
an extra week so you can share in the festivities following this
event.
The hospitality starts the minute you walk through the hotel doors
and you are given your keys with a luscious chocolate chip cookie
along with a greeting from the hotel staff and the greetings continue
as you walk through the lobby to prepare for the weekend. Arline
was there dressed in one of the many beautiful oriental outfits
she wore throughout the weekend greeting people and it's just a
very welcoming place to start a fabulous weekend.
There were previews every night for the next day's dances, which
is always a big plus in my book. The FREE Thursday night party was
really fun with great music, a wonderful floor and lots of room
even though there was a large crowd for the Thursday night party.
Here's some things that made this event special: Very nice floors;
water every minute of every day -- I never saw them run out even
very late at night; easy access to breakfast and lunch set up outside
the ballrooms, very reasonable prices in both the cafe and the bar
area with a really nice staff even on one of the nights when they
were very shorthanded in the bar area, free popcorn for snacks,
Barney's Coffee bar in the lobby with flavored cream -- I LOVE flavored
cream. LOL. Places to sit to eat and chat and review dances in a
big room kind of in the middle of everything. Easy registration
handled efficiently and cheerfully, as always, by Jennifer and her
helpers; easy way to find out if you won anything in the raffles
-- the results are posted in the hallway -- Arline being everywhere
taking care of all requests and helping anyone who needed help.
|
 Great
DJs including Louie, who played an excellent mix all weekend;
Big Dave in the review room and Olivia in the room with
all requests for all levels. The floor in Olivia's room was
large this year and was used a lot. The review room was very popular
and it seemed to be full most of the time. The schedule for reviews
was posted outside so if there were a dance you wanted to learn you
would know what time to go there. Everyone commented on how much they
liked this. |
The raffle prizes were really super and included lots of passes to
events and baskets and a bunch of lottery tickets. Thanks to everyone
who donated prizes. I think everyone looks forward to the raffles.
Lots of time for open dancing during the day (another must have for
me to have fun at events). |
It was great having Neville and Julie, Shaz Walton (who was always
accommodating every time someone asked her to review her dances.)
This was the first time she has been to the US and I heard lots of
nice things about her and her dances were very well received and done
a lot, including the one that was a hit in Chicago, SEXY BACK. |
It was also the first time in the US for Robin Sin and I now know
why everyone always talks about him. He is so very nice and an excellent
teacher and his dance INFINITY was one of my favorites of the weekend.
I hope we see lots more of him at events in the future. He will be
at Worlds and if he teaches this dance I promise you will like it.
It was also great meeting Khim who came over from Malaysia because
I talk with her through e-mail all the time. |
Peter and Alison were here once again from the UK
and their classes were always well attended. In
fact, I thought all the instructors this year were
particularly accessible and were out dancing with us all during
the day and night and just seemed to be enjoying the
experience as much as we did. I know that instructors
are paid to teach at events, but it means a lot to
everyone to see them around and being able to meet you and dance
with you and see you in a different light and it means a lot to
the directors if you take the time to be accessible during the
weekend.
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Here's some dances I particularly noticed or liked:
INFINITY, Robin Sin; LESS COMPLICATED, taught by Kathy G.
(this won the choreography competition in Chicago.) |
FAIRYTALE LIFE, taught by Bill McGee (I just LOVE this
dance and kept asking him if we could do MY dance all
weekend so thanks for doing it a zillion times, Bill).
Beautiful music and just a cool dance by Kate Sala.
|
SEXY BACK, Shaz Walton. This was taught in a late night quick teach
and there's a reason it was a hit in Chicago. It's a fun, funky dance
with great music. |
 LITTLE
STAR, Maurice Rowe. Another hit for Maurice. His dances just keep
getting better and better each time and this one is no exception.
I also really like SWEET AND SASSY. What is setting Maurice's
dances apart is that they will be classics for a long
time to come because they are not too difficult but just
challenging enough to keep them interesting and they can be done
to lots of different music. |
WIKKIDEST TING, Neville Fitzgerald. This was another hit of the
weekend to great music and it filled the floor. A LITTLE CRAZY, Neville
Fitzgerald. This is a faster waltz to beautiful music. |
GALLERY, Junior Willis. I didn't take this class but many
people told me they liked it a lot. HOTLINE, Shaz Walton.
This one was one of the hits of the weekend. Funky but
not so funky that everyone can't do it. |
DON'T FEEL LIKE DANCING, taught by Marilyn McNeal. Her class
was packed and this dance was done over and over all weekend. It is
also racing up the survey so you might as well learn it if you haven't
already because it will be done at upcoming events. PON DE REPLAY,
taught by Bryan McWherter. Another floor filler that will be done
for a very long time to come. A cute, fun dance that kept everyone
smiling. |
LET
IT SWING, taught by Stella Cabeca. I think the title tells it all.
Fun, upbeat swing-type dance that makes you have to get on the floor.
HOLDING BACK THE OCEAN, Peter and Alison. I heard many good comments
about this one. |
 CROOKED
LETTER Y, Guyton Mundy. Another hit for Guyton along with SMACK DAT
and the group competition dance by Guyton, Joey and Rachael
from Chicago CRYING DOVES. Another of the group competition
winners from Chicago that was really fun was COMIN' OUT by
John Robinson, Bryan McWherter and Junior Willis. I think this one
will be done a lot. The sheet might look a little scary
but it's very easy to learn. This one won the group choreorgraphy
in Chicago. CROWN ROYAL, taught by Marilyn McNeal. I meant to take
this class and forgot the time but I liked this one a lot.
|
 CHAMPAGNE
ON ICE, taught by John Robinson. Another of my picks
of the weekend. A BEAUTIFUL waltz that just feels great to beautiful
music. Even if you don't like waltzes, I know you will like this dance
so learn it so I can do it a zillion times at the next event I go
to. John did a great job of teaching it like he always does a great
job of teaching every class I've ever taken of his. He's one of the
few people that never make me bored when I'm taking a class and I
HATE being bored!!!!! He can even take an entire hour to teach a dance
and maintain my interest so I call that real talent. I think every
instructor in the world should put him under a microscope and figure
out what he does that makes him a master at teaching classes because
he's just really excellent. |
I couldn't take every class but the entire schedule is posted on this
site and we will post the comments that others have sent in about
the weekend so you can see their picks because there were lots of
good dances that I saw after they were taught and just didn't have
the time to take the classes.
The dinner was served in a timely manner and the food was very good,
as it was last year. I always enjoy buffet meals at events so you
can choose what you want to eat. There were two times for dinner so
you could choose to have early or late seating and dance when you
weren't eating. I have to comment on the show. It was truly one of
the best shows I've seen. |
Bryan McWherter was truly the perfect MC for this show.
He was funny and kept everything moving and just did a
superb job, as he always does in this role. I think being
MC is one of his hidden talents. |
We
had the Joy Luck Club Dancers from our area. They are friends of mine
from Roundup but I had never seen them perform and they were EXCELLENT.
They really set the tone for the beginning and ending of the show
and everyone loved them. Guyton's Group, Pop Shop, were what line
dancing SHOULD be about for kids. They were truly excellent and professional
and just thrilled everyone who was there to see them. I was imagining
them multiplied by about a hundred groups of kids and what it would
do for line dancing. There were boys and girls ranging from probably
about nine or ten through teens and they got a very warm reception.
Thanks, Guyton, for sharing this well-kept secret with all of us and
for doing such a great job with them. They obviously loved what they
were doing. You will love seeing the pictures of the Sumo Wrestlers.
They were hysterical and always stayed in character. Junior Willis
and John Robinson kept everyone laughing with their routine. The Wilted
Lotus Blossoms from the Villages (all instructors at the Villages)
were truly entertaining and I loved the big lips!! Guyton and Natalie
were great as usual. Celine Yee performed a lovely ribbon dance. I've
always wanted to know how to do that so we're going to have to get
her to teach us how!!! John Robinsin and Michael Barr did This Country's
Rockin as a tribute to Jo Thompson. AJ Clayton and Christine, Big
Dave's daughter, performed and entertained us all. Everyone had been
asking about Zumba and we got to see it first-hand. The Zumba dancers
not only danced for us but had some of the other people in the show
join them for a demo. In case you don't know, this is a dance exercise
program that is taking the US by storm and after watching them, I
can see why. It's very high energy dancing done to Latin music and
it was fun to see what it was all about. I heard many people asking
about bringing it back to their studios and countries so look for
a Zoomba class near you in the future. They are already teaching it
around our area and many line dance studios are already offering it.
There was a second performance by the Pop Shop and the Show closed
with the Joy Luck Club Dancers doing an umbrella dance that was lovely.
Thanks, everyone, for entertaining us. I loved it.
I just want to thank Arline and Jen Cameron (who is due any moment)
and all the people who helped with everything from blowing up balloons
to laying the floor to decorating to participating in this terrific
line dance event for making it better and better each year. It means
a lot to all of us who live in this area and it's great to see so
many Florida people support this event and to see the guests from
so many places coming once and then continuing to come and bring their
friends because they had such a great time. There were many people
who stayed over after the event this year to enjoy our area and to
go out dancing at our clubs . Remember I keep a list of places to
dance here and I also keep a list of all the tourist things to do
in our area that you might not know about. The weather is fabulous,
the hospitality is Southern so that should say it all, and you will
be guaranteed to have a great time dancing at the Tampa Bay Classic
next year so make your plans and join in the fun. Thank you, Arline,
and see you all in Tampa next year. Carol
*More Instructor pictures here: Photo
album
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