Well, another year has passed and another wonderful time was had by all. I really like the hotel where this event is held in Orlando. The service is excellent and the staff was friendly and accommodating. There was plenty of water out at all times and there's a restaurant with very good food with prices that are regular hotel prices. I liked that you could order breakfast in the morning without having to do a full buffet and it was beautiful sitting by the salt water pool. Many people used the pool and exercise room and sauna, a few of them didn't realize that you can get sunburned in Florida and you don't REALLY know it until sunset. The ballrooms are large and were perfect for this event. The only complaint I heard about the hotel was that for some reason the air conditioner doesn't seem to take the humidity out the way most air conditioners do but it was much cooler than the last time I went to an event at this hotel. Maybe some fans would be a good idea next year so help keep the place cool. I have to say the Saturday night buffet was EXCELLENT. In fact, it was one of the best buffets I have ever been to at a dance event. The service was fast and it was just a fun buffet. They always have the instructors assigned to tables so it's a nice way to meet the instructors and other people at your table that you don't get a chance to meet during the weekend. I sat next to a guy named Joseph who just happened to find out Thursday afternoon that the event was going on. He is from Tampa and decided to just come along for the weekend, not knowing a person, and I thought that was so neat. I think it was a little overwhelming to see all the dances but I gave him a bunch of information about where to find the dances and he signed up for the newsletter so I'm sure he'll be out there dancing many more dances the next time and said there would definitely be a next time.
There were many more young people at the event this year than I have seen at past events here in Florida. I'm hoping this is a new trend. There was a group of kids who dance at the Roundup in Tampa that came and they had never been to an event before. They have really only done the late night dances since most of the kids don't come to dance until after the lessons are over. Well, they learned BRING IT ON DOWN, Guyton's production number, and were in Scott's classes and hanging in there and learned BOARDROOM and I saw them out there dancing so many dances after one weekend at an event. I was so proud of them that they hung in there and didn't get discouraged and I think they had a great time. I was also happy that so many people and instructors made them feel welcome. I'm hoping they will write about their impressions of the event because I'm always interested to hear from people who attend their first event and get their perspective.
This event, as all of Jason and Jen's events, ran like clockwork with apparently no effort at all -- or they always make it seem that way. Both of them were out dancing and the volunteers just seemed to be everywhere they were needed and it is really just like a big party at a very large house. It always amazes me the lack of stress they seem to experience at all of their events. I think we need to bottle some of that.
The Thursday night party was a blast. I am so happy we now have this extra night at the events. It is just so much fun. Joey Warren wasn't there on Thursday because he was busy dancing in the new Trisha Yearwood video and was in Nashville doing the filming along with Barry and Dari Ann Amato. I will send you information about the video when it's released and we can all enjoy watching them hit the big time!!
The show on Saturday was really good and not long (my favorite length for a show). MIL performed their Phantom of the Opera routine flawlessly as usual with a brand new talent in the show, Gareth Mole. What a nice kid he is!!! I just loved him. I heard that he has been accepted by the Royal Ballet (not confirmed) but I can certainly understand why that would be true. He is so talented and told me what a great time he had. He's friends with my good friend from the UK, Dawn Sherlock, and she had told me I would really like him and she was right, as usual. Craig Bennet was here and we always love having Craig. His dances always feel good to do and are interesting and I liked all of the ones I took of his. I wanted to take the class on Sunday but left before he taught it so I hope to learn it somewhere else. Guyton's younger kids from the Pop Shop performed and they are just adorable and have so much attitude. We are so lucky to be able to have them at some of the Florida Events. Adam and Roberto were there. They are the kids (17 and 18, I think) who won choreography at the Showdown and people gave them a rousing round of applause after they performed their hip hop routine. I couldn't believe that Rachael just picked up their dance like it was nothing and it's not that easy!!! They are really fun to watch. Gareth ended the show with an interpretational dance that wowed the crowd. It was great!!
There were new and old friends from all over and the music mix was truly incredible. They were playing old dances like Black Ice and many others that we had to really dredge up but by the time the music was over we remembered at least parts of them. It's so much fun to do the old dances that are still great dances today. It makes you feel so good to be able to do a dance you loved and haven't done for ten years. That's one of my favorite things about going to events besides learning new dances that excite you to jump on the floor.
Speaking of dances!! I thought this was a great lineup of instructors and dances. Here's the link for all the dances that were taught and I will mention some that people told me about or that I took the class and I'm sure we'll be getting lots of reports from others. http://worldlinedancenewsletter.com/Sked_FlMaster200702.html
DANCES
BRING IT ON DOWN by Guyton Mundy. This one is quite a production but at each event I see more people clapping and slapping. Stacy said this dance was not as hard as she thought it would be. It looks great on the floor and people love doing it. Not me, but clappy slappy people. I just sit and do the snake with your arm part. LOL
UNFAITHFUL choreographed by Craig Bennett. This dance taught by John Robinson, was a super nice dance to beautiful music! I loved this dance. We have kept this video on our site because I've liked it since I first saw it quite awhile ago. Craig just puts dances together that flow and feel good to do and chooses just the right music for his dances. I still love I'm Moving On and it was done quite a bit this weekend.
PUCKER UP by Scott Blevins. I liked all the dances Scott taught this weekend and I was glad to take this lesson again. It is just a great West Coast dance to great music. It really isn't difficult -- it's just long so you CAN do this dance.
WILD WILD WEST choreographed by Jerry Siebe & Jason Cameron. An Oldie but goodie dance taught by Jamie Marshall. I was really happy to see this one taught! What a great club dance and it filled the floor. My favorite part was watching the demo with Rachel holding Jason and Jen's baby, Jaden, who looked like he had been doing demos for years. So cute!!
MAKE YOU WANNA choreographed by Joey Warren & Paul McAdam. Joey Warren did a great job of teaching this totally cool dance. He even gave you options in case you don't want to do the jumps.
BOARDROOM choreographed by Maurice Rowe & Zac Detweiller. This was one of my favorites of the weekend. It is just so much fun. I thought it was going to be difficult to do but Maurice did such a great job of teaching it that it was just fun and filled the floor at night. I think this one is going to be a big hit for Maurice and Zac. It's a hit with me.
GET BIZZY by Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris taught by Arline Winerman. I love the music to this dance! This is a fun dance to do and we've been practicing it at Arline's so it's even more fun because I can do it. LOL
RUN THIS choreographed by Paul McAdam. I didn't take this class because I had just finished some hard dance but everyone loves this dance. All my friends rave about it.
BURNING choreographed by Cato Larsen. Beautiful dance taught by Marilyn McNeal. I took this lesson at the Marathon and wanted to take it again but it was taught later on Sunday. I WILL learn it before Chicago!! I'm hoping Marilyn will teach it somewhere again before then.
SUPERMODELZ choreographed by Kathy Hunyadi & Gerard Murphy. A crazy fun dance taught by Kathy Hunyadi. I always see in my mind the production they did for this dance at the Marathon. It is a darling dance and that presentation was totally hysterical.
HOW KUD U choreographed by Guyton Mundy & Rob Glover. Cool dance taught by Guyton Mundy
UNTITLED WALTZ by Maurice Rowe. I saw this one at Boston or the Marathon and really liked it then and still like it. Arline is teaching it this week and I'm glad since I didn't make it to the class. It's a very interesting waltz so can't wait to learn it.
IN IT TO WIN IT, Craig Bennett. This is a fast, fun dance that we are going to keep up so we can do it at the next event we go to. I really liked it.
NIMBY, Maggie Gallagher. This one is a floor split with Jukebox but both sides of the floor were full. Arline had a packed class for this one. It's fun and peppy.
AMERICAN THIGHS, MIL. This one was done a lot and is fun. It filled the floor when it was done. The music is rock. I think this is going to be a big dance with all levels. It's a little slow to take off but I think after this weekend it will be taught more and it should be.
AFTERGLOW CHA, Dee Musk. This one was taught by Bill McGee and I heard a lot of people say they liked this dance.
OCTAGOGO, Scott Blevins. I took this class and really like this dance.
DREAM IN COLOR, Max Perry. I was happy to see this dance. I keep seeing it show up on the surveys and had never seen it before.
CT GIRL, Maggie Gallagher, taught by Marilyn McNeal. This dance is very popular here in the U.S. and it filled the floor.
CRYSTAL CLEAR, Kate Sala. I had the bright idea to do two classes in one hour but didn't make it for this one but I really liked the looks of this dance in the demos.
MAJIK TOUCH, Jamie Marshall. This is an old one that people wanted to do again and the class was full. I don't think I had ever learned this one before.
NACHO DADDY, Scott Blevins. This is just such a fun, cute dance to FAST music. I love the ending.
NO MAN'S LAND, Craig Bennett. I didn't take the class but liked the demo.
SHE'S LIKE THE WIND, Craig Bennett. Excellent dance.
WALK THE DINOSAUR, MIL. This one was taught Sunday morning first thing so I missed the class but saw them do the dance. It's an old one that looks fun!!!
THIS WILL BE, Max Perry. I loved this one. It's a classic Max dance that I hope comes back again.
I also saw a couple of dances that I really like that weren't taught. One is BODY TO BODY. I had written about this dance before but then it went nowhere. I know this isn't new but it's a good dance that was taught very little.
CLOTHES OFF, Will Craig. This is a new dance that is so cool. I asked Will to send me the sheet as soon as he has it ready and we'll post it on the site. I REALLY liked this dance. It wasn't taught there but I saw a group doing it.
LISTEN, Neils Poulson. This is a lovely dance. It's on our video page.
WITH THESE EYES, Darren Bailey & Niels B Poulsen. Another one I've kept on the site because it's a really nice dance and even nicer when I saw it in person.
Well, that's it for this year. Thanks so much, Jen and Jason, for a great weekend. Can't wait to do it all over again. They have some big things in store for the LINE DANCE SHOWDOWN next year so mark your calendars. That's a NOT TO MISS event. I look forward to seeing lots of you at the next event for me which is Chicago and then Tampa and then Worlds!!!
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