I just got back from the DANCE CAMP (before the cruise) in Orlando,
hosted by Barry Durand. We, of course, had a good time dancing and everyone
is always in a festive mood at this event right before going on a cruise.
There was quite a group there from California this year and I'm going
to be thinking about them having fun on the cruise. The weather was
GORGEOUS this weekend. It was like the perfect nights and days for visitors
from everywhere. I like this hotel, too. I hadn't been there in awhile
and it has been totally remodeled since the last time I was there. The
floor were a good size for the weekend and this is the same hotel that
the FLORIDA MASTERS will be held at in July. It's easy to get to from
the freeway and there are lots of places to eat close by. The hotel
has a bar and restaurant so everything was accessible. I hope when you
come to this event next year or go to the Florida Masters that you will
extend your stay and visit some of the area attractions because Orlando
is just a great family or getaway place to visit with Universal and
Disney close by and the entertainment districts for these two parks
are really fun places to visit. You wouldn't even have to change hotels
if you wanted to stay extra days because it is very close to all the
attractions.
This is a line and couples event and I would say the crowd was pretty
evenly split but that was all that was split. The line dancers visited
the swing room and the swing dancers joined us in the line dance room
and I even got to do a couple of West Coast Swing dances, which I miss
doing, from time to time. There were some awesome swing dancers there
and I always enjoy watching them do things that are so difficult but
look so easy when they do them. Thanks, Raymond, for being so patient
with me!!! I think the nicest thing about this event in the times I've
been is that there is totally no feeling of "Them" and "Us"
and I think this is a very positive thing for dancing. I had one very
good couples dancer tell me he couldn't believe how line dancing has
progressed and is really interested in getting back into line dancing
because of that reason. The rooms were right next door to each other
and so it was easy to go back and forth and many of the line dancers
took advantage of some of the exellent swing classes as well as line.
There was an excellent turnout of Florida dancers there. We are so lucky
to have so many enthusiastic dancers and teachers in Florida. They just
really turn out for the events if at all possible and it's always like
a big family reunion. We see each other lots during the year because
we have so many events to attend and it's just so neat to have everyone
out on the floor doing the very latest dances or to be able to ask almost
anyone to show you a dance you want to learn and they can just teach
it to you in about two seconds. It's a great place to visit and it's
also a great place to dance so if you're coming to an event or just
coming to Florida be sure and ask me and I'll let you know where to
go on the site to find places to dance. If Florida weren't so crowded
I would tell you all to move here!! It is dancing heaven, you know.
The show on Saturday was very entertaining and SHORT (my favorite kind
of show. LOL). We had dance performances by both line and couples and
they were great. I have to say that Guyton's group of young people called
POP SHOP are such a joy to watch and they are so professional they could
easily be on any music video I've ever seen. Guyton said they not only
dance but sing but can't really perform the singing portion at events
because of the logistics of getting them hooked up to microphones but
he said they are all excellent musicians as well as dancers and perform
at Disney, Universal and lots of places around Orlando. I hope you get
to see them at the next event in Orlando. He said it would be nice if
they could compete but it's too expensive to take the whole gang on
trips and pay all the expenses. I know they would be a hit anywhere
they go so if you have a huge fortune and would like to bring them all
to your next event, I'm sure they would love to come. LOL.
THE STAFF WAS EXCELLENT AND BUSY!! I loved seeing George Winnegar's
smiling face (Marge's husband) at the reception desk. You guys should
beg him to and Debbie Pancoast to work at your events. They were great
and they were the first smiling faces we saw in the morning. Zach Detweiller
and Barry's daughter were busy getting the videos done and Jody was
working hard along with Ray Crum being everywhere he was needed and
a bunch of other people and I'm sorry I didn't get the names.
Louie, as always, kept the floor full and hopping. Thanks, Louie.
DANCES:
Here's the schedule of dances taught: http://www.barrydurand.com/dancejam/workshops07.htm
I wasn't there Friday and I left on Sunday before taking any classes
but these are the dances I heard about and saw on the floor a lot. I
did take a few classes and really liked SOUL ENERGY, Michele Perron.
You're going to just love this music and I think the first 8 counts
are just so cool; GIVE IT TO ME, Maurice Rowe and Rob Glover - the first
of Maurice's dances with hands but they are easy and it's a feel-good
dance; BRING IT ON DOWN, Guyton Mundy (I didn't take this class but
saw it on the floor. I think this will be a well-attended class at the
next event and perhaps the next event after that one because it looks
like it might take more than one teach but it looks cool on the floor
and I can't wait to learn the part where you tap the front of your shoulders
and then flick your hands and do the clapping part.) HOW KUD U, Guyton
Mundy. I did take this class and liked the music and dance. Wasn't too
difficult. PHILADELPHIA, Neville Fitzgerald. I had already learned this
one but I like this dance a lot. SWEET ESCAPE, Barry Durand. I have
learned three dances to this song and like all three. I think this one
fits the music really well and would appeal to all levels. I also like
the other two that I've learned to it (Michele Jackson and Kathy Brown)
so take your pick. This one had some interesting moves that made it
fun for me even though it's a very easy dance. MADE 4 U, Todd Lescarbeau.
This won choreography in Boston and I really like this dance. It was
taught on Friday so I couldn't take the class but you should give it
a look. LAST MINUTE, Rachael McEnany. I LOVED this dance. The music
is beautiful and it's just a great dance. RUN THIS, Paul McAdam. All
the dancer-dancers really were buzzing about this dance. I think this
is going to be another hit for Paul. It's like 102 counts or something
like that but someone told me that Rachael did such a great job of teaching
it that it all made sense. I love to take her classes. Everything makes
sense in her classes and I always learn something new. AMERICAN THIGHS,
MIL. This is a pretty easy high-energy dance that I think any high beginner/int
class could do. It's fun and there's just a couple of little things
you haven't done before in a dance but they aren't hard - think Tush
Push on steroids. A GIGOLO. Marilyn McNeal taught this one on Friday
so I didn't get to take the class but I had seen the video before coming
and liked the dance and I know it's going to be taught at a couple of
upcoming events. DO IT, Gerard Murphy. Another one taught by Marilyn
and this one is steadily making it's way up the charts. Gerard's dances
sometime start the climb up the chart a little slow but you might as
well just teach them because I think he holds the record for getting
the most dances to the top.
Thanks so much Barry, for another great weekend and even the weather
was perfect for this one. Hope you are all having a ball on the cruise.
Maybe someday you'll see AJ on one of the cruises. He was here this
weekend and now works on a cruise ship performing in the show!!! Isn't
that exciting? I asked him to write us about his adventures and he promised
he would. I miss seeing AJ so it was a special treat to have him there.
I know I missed things but I have about three big transcripts hanging
over my head so I had to write this fast!!! See you at an event soon.
Oh, and I liked Zac's hair!!! You'll have to wait and see it for yourself
but I liked it.
MORE REPORTS FROM THE EVENT
Subject: LineDance Camp -Orlando
From : Marlene mgraul7@bellsouth.net
New Dance to watch that came out of the LineDance Camp in Orlando and
that was most impressive to me:
SOUL ENERGY--by Michele Perron and was taught by Scott Blevins (Intermediate)
Also cute one from newcomer to our area and I might also add a very
good instructor:
FIXED --by Raymond Crum Jr. (Beg./ Interm.)
*******************
Subject: 2 New Dances from Kathy Brown (USA)
From Marlene
Had the opportunity to also learn two nice dances choreographed and
taught by Kathy Brown at the LineDance Camp-Orlando--worth checking
out- both intermediate and goes to good music!
1. My Obsession - music `Because of You` by Ne-Yo
2. Dance Sumpthin`--music `Say it Right ` by Nelly Futado or `Sumthin,Sumthin,`
by Maxwell-- ( I like both songs).
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