As expected it was quite a busy night, we welcomed back our missing ramblers, celebrating their return with The Highland Rambler as our first dance (well actually that was a coincidence but I was pleased when I noticed it). We also had a lovely collection of visitors who all behaved themselves well, and even got a toe on the dance floor - though I make it a policy never to drag anyone who is genuinely uncertain up to dance - I am always really pleased if visitors, who initially intended to just watch, are encouraged enough to give it a go. As everyone is very well aware we are having an unusually hot May and this week has been sweltering as well as dusty. Up until now we've done very well with just open windows and fans but we finally succumbed to the temptation of the Air Conditioning and we danced in wonderful coolness all evening. Ramadan-ce was again attempted with 2 sets willing to give it a try and it was really well done. We'll keep it on the programme for one more week and then give it a rest until I get the 'proper' music, (now on order, hopefully it'll be with us in a week or two) I'm sure we wont have forgotten how to do it in that time. See you soon Jx

I hope the people who are on their walking holiday in Crete are having a good time (I'm sure they are) but they missed another excellent night - this time with some serious brain work mixed into the fun. Two weeks ago the 'Advanced' class had a long session learning the really fun dance 'Ramadan-ce' and knowing that this was likely to be a slightly smaller class I thought it might be a good opportunity to pop it onto our general programme so that it was kept in people's minds. For those who were not at the Advanced class and gave it a try for the first time, an even bigger 'well done' has to be applied on top of the kudos heaped on the more experienced folks, because even with the tricky changes of direction on the repeats everyone kept going brilliantly and actually finished in the right place at the right time and with the right partner, and with big smiles on their faces - which is not a 'given' for this particular dance! Of course the even bigger acid test will be whether everyone will be willing to give it a go again next week when it will be on the programme again. The other 'new' dance was tame by comparison, but equally enjoyed (actually Scott Meikle isn't new to all the class but it's a long time since we've done it) and even though we hadn't enough confident people to have 2 sets up at the same time, we had plenty of time to dance it twice, which allowed everyone who wanted to, to dance it. Of course we also had lots of simpler dances on the program... there's only so much brain work that can be called fun and despite the warm evening most people were still dancing right up to the final dance. I include a couple of pictures to prove it. See you next week Jx

I wrote last week that Tuesday night is always the high spot of the week, even if I am in the bleakest mood when I arrive I finish the night feeling good; but of course even on Tuesdays there good nights, and then there are even better nights. This week the class wasn't even one of those better nights, it was brilliant. The energy in the class could have lit the town... and given the power cuts during the previous night's storm the authorities could have used some of it. Purists would have shuddered, some of the footwork was creative to say the least and on many occasions dancing prowess was demonstrated by the ability to 'recover and continue' rather than always being in right place at the right time but as the rain poured down outside we laughed and danced and helped each other through the tricky bits and got all the way through the programme with seconds to spare. Everyone left on a high. And it was only afterwards that it really struck me that we had one of our top attendances of the year on the sort of stormy night that might normally encourage people to stay at home. So now I have the challenge of creating a programme for just as bright a night next week, no problem.... ! Jx

I had to read my last post to really convince myself that a week has passed; so much happens in our lives that time truly flies by ... which presumably means we are having fun; considering some of my activities during the last week that's rather a dubious thought - but lets not go into that :-). Several things have been very enjoyable, the Monday class continues to be great fun - we cover many of the same dances we do on Tuesdays, but the time we have to teach them is doubled. In someways it's harder work because beginners have to think for themselves - rather than just being dragged around the set by more experienced dancers - but it's far more satisfying (and less terrifying) to know what you are doing and why. I also won a couple of photography prizes this week, at the UKCA's annual print competition/exhibition. It never particularly bothers me if I don't win - there's always someone who likes my shots, (even if it's only me!) but it's satisfying if they happen to be a judge. 
The dance class on Tuesday is, however, always the high spot  of the week. As usual at this time of year we had a really good turn out, with 3 sets up for many of the dances and a great atmosphere, despite several of our dancers unavoidably missing.
It was good to welcome again a dancing friend who has been visiting us for years while on holiday - a good dancer is always welcome, but when they are as generous and gracious a dancing partner as Stuart it raises the whole class. Unfortunately his visit is only brief but hopefully we'll have more visitors over the next few weeks as the holiday season gets going. Jx