I am late updating the Tuesday Dance Programme this week but the huge numbers at class calmed down briefly and seemed to take in the fact that this week's programme is the same as last week's programme so hopefully no-one has really been waiting for it. Next week is a DIY night with intrepid amateur leaders trying to keep control while P & I are dancing our socks of at Winter School in Pitlochry, Scotland. Typing this from the comfort of the hotel foyer, all leather sofa's, brocade curtains and oak panelling it is very hard to imagine myself back at last week's class; after a quite night on Valentine's day we had half the island descend on us (that's what it felt like). It was a great night with 3 or 4 sets up for most dances, some very promising newcomers joined us and hopefully managed to make sense of some of it, and there were excellent attempts at even the more complicated dances. Sugar Candie proved a challenge initially - I'd forgotten how long it was since we'd last danced it... and it didn't help that I initially confussing it with another dance - bad marks for teacher but this weeki J & A will be teaching it and they are experts so I know you will be fine.
Over here in Scotland we are having a brilliant but very busy time so I have to stop now and get on with it! More news later .... Jx

I knew we would be a little down in numbers at the Tuesday class this week, because of Valentine's day, but we still had enough people to manage 2 sets, in fact at one point we even managed 3, and everyone danced even the 'brand new' dances very well, which was gratifying for all of us. I had a bit of a disaster over the weekend when my Sunday 'advanced' class found themselves locked out of our normal super studio resulting in a rather chilly session held on our patio; it will have been memorable for our visitors from the East Midland's group however, at least they got to see a bit of a Cypriot mountain village which they wouldn't have done otherwise. There is a silver lining to that embarrassing event because it has at least convinced the studio owner to part with the key a little earlier so  - though on investigation it wasn't actually her fault - it won't happen again. I've not got any more time to write because our practice session for Saturday is on tonight, lots to do - see everyone soon I hope Jx

The hard act to follow was, of course, last week's class... but we had a pretty good try; spontaneous hilarity can never be recreated but we made up for it with massive senses of achievement when both 'the Valentine' and 'Glasgow Highlanders' were performed almost perfectly by most people - except me - but that's par for the course :-) !
Next week I am expecting a smaller class than we've been having recently; to be honest I hadn't realised we would be clashing with St Valentine's day itself; if I had realised I may have set a costume theme for the night, but never mind - I'll blame P for not reminding me. I have introduced a few new (to us) dances because a smaller class is always easier and quicker to teach and therefore it's the ideal time to try out new dances - 2 are very easy. 1 is more challenging but is a Strathspey; there are also 2 dances that may be unfamiliar to some people because we haven't done them recently.
Cranberry Tart, Singing Sands and the Best Set in the Hall  which are on the 2nd half of the programme all appear on the Dance programme for Sat 18th Feb - this is the night that members of our Society have been very kindly invited to join with dancers from the East Midlands who are coming out to Paphos to enjoy a dancing holiday based at the Athena Beach Hotel. Anybody who would like to attend please e-mail me and let me know (if you haven't already told me) - as the organisers would like to know approximate numbers.
The dance programme is a super but challenging selection and consists of ... The Falls of Rogie; The Bonnie Lass of Bon Accord; the first Rain of Spring; The Fireworks Reel; Linnea's Strathspey; The Best Set in the Hall; Maureen & Paddy; the Byron Strathspey;  The Cranberry Tart; The Singing Sands; Father Connelly's Jig, plus, Midnight Oil; Mr Ian Stuart Robertson and Neidpath Castle... virtually all of them have a video example if you look on YouTube - remember not to panic but just look at one dancer and work out what they are doing! 
See you next week if not before