Well done to both Monday and Tuesday dancers, somehow, despite the heat, we are still managing to keep going. It was full on with some step practice on Monday, always hard work, but everyone kept at it and enjoyed doing something different from  grappling with formations. We then put some of the hard work into practice with Lamb Skinnit being the dance of choice -simple enough in theory but a challenge to the concentration at the end of a class! Tuesday's dancing was equally low in numbers but high in enthusiasm. We enjoyed some very well known dances - Dashing White Sergeant for example - as well as more challenging ones, especially for a mixed class, like 'The Bees of Maggieknockater and Anderson's Rant. We aren't getting through the whole programme but that's not a problem; it's great to be able to spend a reasonable amount of time on teaching the dance rather than just walking it through and firing the starting pistol!

Thank you everyone for the wonderful feedback on last Friday's June Jamboree - we are very very glad you enjoyed yourselves (and relieved!) The day dawned bright and fair and rather too early for those of us still tweaking last minute decorations and printing jobs until late the night before. By 10 a.m. we were down at the Elea prettying up the patio with bunting, lights, frilly flowers and the usual table decorations including programme fans. The sound system was plugged in and tested and the final 'order of the evening' discussed with the staff. Many thanks must go to Tony and Josephine and Sisera who were invaluable helpers despite not being able to attend the evening itself. Photo's of the preparations are included in the record of the evening you can find by clicking HERE. It was a lovely warm evening with only a light breeze, we were truly blessed by the weather because elsewhere on the island they were being pelted by thunder storms and both the days before, and after the winds were really strong. Although the plan was to do a couple of dances prior to the meal the food  arrived promptly so we happily tucked in without indulging in exercise. The menu was cleverly chosen and the food delicious, so much so that I was surprised when people did get up to dance because I for one had eaten so much I was less than bouncy! The dancing did get going however and was obviously enjoyed enormously. Well done to everyone who had a try, or were dragged out of their comfort zone, to get on the dance floor.
Both dance classes are running this week - details are found elsewhere on the site. I hope to see you there. 

It is inevitable that every year we enjoy welcoming people back to the island, and to the dancing, but then we have to say goodbye until they hopefully return again. In the past how long we continued dancing into the summer was entirely down to temperature, eventually open windows and fans were not enough. Now we have access to AC's the criteria for stopping has changed, it is entirely governed by how many dancers are available, and although the numbers are at critical - both for the Monday and Tuesday, the sessions are working well, and the people attending are keen to continue - so why not.
This week is the 3rd Tuesday of the month so there isn't a Tuesday dance class but Monday's class is running - and we are getting good numbers compared to previous years. It's the last session before the June Jamboree next Friday, so it's a good opportunity for people to have a go at a couple of the ceilidh dances that are on Friday's programme without the stress of thinking people are watching or being in an unfamiliar venue. The actual dance programme for Friday is still in production - there are so many great options - without being too ambitious about people's fitness and abilities ;-) - I will finalize it before Monday though so  people can try a few of them - then they can encourage others to give them a try on the night! Saturday 17th is the cut off date for booking a ticket so don't miss it - give Irene a call, her contact details are HERE - and I hope to see you there. Jx

I haven't added to this Blether blog for 2 weeks. It is impossible, as always, to understand where that time has gone, but thank God that this busy time has been both enjoyable and productive, though obviously not  productive from the blethering point of view. The last few dance classes have suffered, either from lack of numbers on Tuesdays, or from heat on Mondays ... but despite the challenges they've all been great fun and we're welcoming more people all the time. They are either new to dancing altogether, or returnees, so, despite many dancers returning back to the UK for the summer or having to miss their dancing 'fix' for other reasons we are managing to keep the sessions going and we are even considering continuing longer into the summer than usual  - why not, as long at there are people willing to dance. Preparation is going on apace for the June Jamboree. Despite the current damp weather the forecast is for a warm evening, 26°C (78°F) fairly humid with a light NW breeze. If it does get chilly the Elea staff have been known to wrap people in blankets - that's service - but  I don't think we'll be needing them this time. The menu is now available with the other information about the evening on the 'Future Events' page and the dance programme is undergoing it's final revision, I've analysed the previous programmes for the dances that were enjoyed the most, and also found one or two more that I think will fit the bill of either, familiar, or quick and easy to learn, and obviously enjoyable to do.  Although there's still loads more preparation to do I'm really looking forward to it. If anyone wants to help the 'committee' with the decoration meet us at the Elea at 10 a.m. in the morning - otherwise don't forget to get, or at least book, your ticket from Irene Tel: 96 48 4500 before this Saturday (18th June), at the very latest, because that is the cut off date for letting the venue know our numbers. I hope to see you tonight, next week or there!