Several weeks ago I introduced the class to Hooper's Jig, first week was chaos, the second week they got it. This week we tried it again, and like that first time it was chaos! However it was obvious that even in the sets that broke down there was a fairly good understanding of what was supposed to be happening - so I fully expect life to repeat itself and next week we'll get it... and I'll sort out some slightly slower music which should help it along too. I also challenged the class with learning the beautiful, but slightly tricky Strathspey 'Culla Bay' - well done to all the newbie's who had a go - even if in the end you didn't feel confident enough to dance it, we will go through it again next week and gradually build it up until we all can do it. It was a challenging but fun week for me too. We had a great time hosting and showing around the International Branch's representative, Kate, as she checked out the facilities afforded by our lovely city for the IB's  Dancing weekend they may hold here next year - she seemed impressed - not only with Paphos but with the compitence of Doug and Irene as 'on the ground' organizors - now we have to see what their committee thinks. Unfortunately, while Kate was here, our elderly cat finally admitted she'd got tooth ache and had to be whisked to the vet and I had a previous organized lecture commitment to the UKCA's computer club as well  - however the sun shone and Kate managed to cope with everything, including the Tuesday class, and went home smiling and planning to be back soon. 

Last Tuesday was the largest class we've ever had at this time of year - and there could have been several more of us if holidays, illness, house moves etc. hadn't played a part. It was lovely to have so many visitors and newcomers and it immediately justified the committee's suggestion of moving the tables more to the side to make room for extra sets; another proposition - the idea of 'set monitors' - was also put to the test and seemed to work well. We were lucky to have Margaret, a teacher from the RSCDS Perth branch joining us too, because it was a bright and lively class willing to get up and give everything a go....... brilliant, and the reason why we were laughing together all night and everyone went home with big smiles on their faces; living on the edge of chaos is always exhilarating, but tiring!  Next week we will have at least one dancing visitor again since the our friend Kate is visiting from Scotland as representative for the RSCDS International Branch - hopefully she'll enjoy the class just as much as Margaret did - this is what Margaret e-mailed afterwards.... Hi Janine, I just wanted to thank you for a great evening at your dance class. You are doing a superb job  and your class members were so welcoming that I had a lovely time.  Pass on my regards to them all and if we come again to Paphos I know where to come!
Best wishes to all.   Margaret (Breckenridge)   Perth and Perthshire Branch
So well done to all of us - I was hoping to add some pictures to this but it's not going to work this time - so I'll just have to add them next week.

I was so keen to get back to dancing that the heart overcame the head... I was definitely not in the best shape for doing so, physically or mentally - blood sugar levels have a lot to answer for; having said that, it was still an excellent night, in fact it was so good I think I need to go away more often - everyone danced brilliantly - having to move furniture so we can get 4 sets up, yet again, well Wow!. We learnt / revised the poussette and then danced The Linton Ploughman in full 4 couple set form, which meant everyone got probably slightly more poussette practice than they were expecting... but by the end, even those who weren't quite perfect in performance had a good idea of how it was supposed to go, and that was the whole point. Well done! I'm still enthused by the committee meeting held today - I resist all requests to become a committee member but nevertheless I am regularly invited to attend in my capacity of dancing sorter outerer, web presence creator and designer of sundry posters, tickets etc. There are so many exciting things coming up, organization is ongoing for future events stretching as far ahead as this time next year, or happening a near as 3 weeks away - check out the Future Events page for information and dates for your diary, I'll be adding lots of updates as soon as I have time to put them up, hopefully some time over the weekend, so keep checking it out. See you next week

with a bump; having managed the whole of my time in the UK without a single cough or sneeze or any serious aches and pains I have finally succumbed to the results of not taking care of my diet and I'm now feeling pretty grotty: but hopefully it will be over quickly because I am looking forward to dancing back home again. I've heard that everything went well while I've been away and there's lots to look forward too. No time to be ill.