Have I mentioned before that time seems to be going past so fast I can't keep up with it? Yes, I thought so - it's certainly seem to have shot by since January when we started our first beginner's class at the Phoenix Club. Of the 21 people who attended that first class, 12 are still dancing with us - as circumstances and injuries allow, which is an excellent proportion as these things go. And since that first class we have also been joined by several visiting dancers who have since headed home and four new dancers who are all keen and talented.
However, despite the undoubted facts above, we only had a class of 6 for this week's Monday class - and only two could be really classed as beginners. Not that it mattered, we still enjoyed an excellent class - slightly confused at times due to a distracted teacher (me :-( )- but luckily everyone else was on the ball and compensated. We successfully danced Shiftin' Bobbins; J B Milne; Margaret Parker's Strathspey & my 3 couple adaptation of Lady Lucy Ramsey - taking advantage of the class make up to aim high! Next week we have our last classes before the summer break but in the meantime I hope to see you at the class tomorrow, if you can make it, and even better at the June Jamboree on Friday (it's a slightly different layout to previous years so look for the signs). Luckily all the rain is forecast for the beginning of this week and not the end!
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It's partly the time of year, and partly just the law of ... but so many of our regular Tuesday dancers will be missing next week - for all sorts of good reasons -that I've made the difficult decision to cancel the session. Our Monday afternoon class will still be running though, so that will keep the dancing candle burning until next week, when hopefully everyone is back- and it gives me just a little more time to prepare for the June Jamboree. I can't believe it's less than 2 weeks away... so much to do! ahhhh (but it will be worth it ) :-)
Another excellent set of lessons. Learning to set, with the 2 types of setting steps, Strathspey and Pas de Basque, in 2 types of sets, longwise & square on Monday, we were well set up for setting in various different sorts of sets on Tuesday.
I'm not sure why the Scots use the word 'set' in so many settings, when they have so many excellent words for other things; it's confusing to teach, but our learners seemed to manage well. Despite the inevitable drop in numbers drop at this time of year on Monday we managed 4 couples - the ideal number for many dances and formations. I took the opportunity to teach the two wonderfully named dances - Johnnie Walker (Yes, named after the whisky) and Butterscotch & Honey both of which need 4 couples to dance - but are very different otherwise, and it was a great fun class. More than half the Monday class then came to the Tuesday session so that gave us another chance to practice and the teaching certainly paid off. Well done to all of them. Well done, in fact, to everyone, since it was a seriously warm night and our reducing numbers means we all have to dance most of the dances - but it's fun! What a manic few days. Our weekend has been packed; after a late night (for us) on Friday celebrating a birthday, Saturday was our usual early start but then an unusually late finish.
I'd been ask to photograph the ACP's Charity Variety Show, so we were required to attend, but we were glad we did since it was an excellent night's entertainment. We always go to our church's 8:15 morning service anyway, but last Sunday was Pentecost and I was asked, at very late notice, if I would act as an acolyte. It's not a very demanding role (basically carrying a candle around) but something I've never done before! Thanks to the existing team members it went very smoothly, but I can't say I'd ever imagined I'd be doing something like that for the first time at my age :-) And then it was Monday - there'd been no time to update the website or fully prepare a lesson and only 3 learners turned up, but despite that we had a really, really excellent class. Monday night I finally had time to update the website's Tuesday night programme- making sure it contained the dances we'd practiced at the beginner's session. Tuesday we had a fairly good number of dancers and we again had a super dance session. Irene joined us and reminded us all that we need to get organised with tickets for our June Jamboree (if she doesn't get enough money up front we can't go ahead - so there was a frantic scramble for tickets!) and except for having to say goodbye to some of our 'swallows', it was a lovely happy night. Well done everyone. A final reminder - Membership of the Phoenix Club is now due for renewal. Membership forms are available at the club and the bar ladies will help with completion and taking the money. Annual membership is €42 - joining supports the Phoenix Club, who are very good to us - and is also good financial sense if you are going to regularly attend the classes. (Note joining the Phoenix Club does not negate the requirement to be a P3A member - see more about memberships HERE ) After such a good turn out last Monday it was almost inevitable that this week we'd be struggling for numbers. Unfortunately P had to leave us half way through too. Despite this we managed some useful work on 'hands across' & reels of 3, and with only 5 of us it was natural to resurrect 'Domino 5', a dance that many only have a vague childhood memory off - which is a shame since it's a very neat little dance, perfect for practicing 'hands across' and 'reels of 3'. We enjoyed it anyway.
Initially Tuesday seemed to be equally devoid of participants but, just as we were about to drag one of the bar ladies out to make up the first set she was saved by the bell - or in this case by the arrival of... multiple late arrivals. Eventually we even managed to get 2 sets up on the floor and we had plenty of laughs while getting plenty of dances done. Well done everyone, I hope you enjoyed it all as much as I did, see you next week. It's getting warmer, but we've located the switches for the fans and are easily managing to keep cool enough to dance. The last couple of classes have been really excellent. On Monday we had a very good turn out and spent a productive couple of hours learning the pretty Strathspey 'Lady Lucy Ramsay' which was then repeated at the Tuesday social dancing session. On Monday we also had quite a bit of fun with 'Highland Welcome', danced to the very aptly named tune 'Nice to meet you' and, though by the time we got to Good Hearted Glasgow the brain cells were as exhausted as the bodies it was attempted with enthusiasm and everyone left with a smile.
Tuesday night, in addition to the new 'Lady Lucy' we also reintroduced Margaret Parker's Strathspey - previously a staple on the program but unfamiliar to many of us now - once I'd worked out where I'd lost 4 bars of the dance we did it well - and it'll be a good addition to our repertoire now the temperature is increasing and a few extra strathspeys on the programme are appreciated. Both these 'new' dances are on next Tuesday's programme too so people become properly comfortable with them. I'm sure next week will be just as much fun as this week- and don't forget the June Jamboree is approaching - lots to look forward to. We can go for weeks without welcoming anyone new to our dancing sessions, then all of a sudden we are gladdened with multiple new faces. It was great to welcome some brand new dancers to the floor at both the Monday and Tuesday dancing sessions. All of them did really well too. Of course just because folk seem to pick up the moves quickly doesn't mean that they'll enjoy our style of dancing above others they may be more familiar with, however as long as they are prepared to give it a try, that's absolutely fine by us. Not everyone gets bitten by the SCD bug, but for those that do, it can actually be life changing. Not only does it supply a healthy dose of physical and mental exercise but it's something you can enjoy, hopefully, for the rest of your life. There are not many adult activities that can make you so happy, it ticks all the boxes for an antidepressant activity; music, exercise, focus, learning new skills, gaining a sense of achievement, working as a team, physical contact, social interaction, being needed and lots of laughter... and all without alcohol, lots of money or the need for a particular partner, what's not to love!
And we're off.... it felt like it has been weeks since I've been at a class - in fact I've missed 3 classes in 10 days. It was really good to get back to the fun. It was a lovely surprise to welcome back some of our 'swallows', as well as a fellow sufferer back from the sick bed to the dance floor. Despite the absence of several regulars we managed an excellent night of dancing - completing virtually all the program - even managing the fast and furious parts with no obvious injuries and lots of laughter. Well done to us all. I'm now really looking forward to Monday 'beginners' session - so many of the people now charging confidently around the dance floor on Tuesdays started off as exclusively 'Monday' dancers. It shows how valuable it is to have the two, very different, but equally fun classes.
If lurgified isn't a word, then it should be. It's finally happened, the COVID lurgy managed to get me. It was actually a bit of a surprise when I tested +ve because the symptoms I'd been having, though pretty horrible, were nothing like the symptoms everyone else I'd known with it had experienced - at least in the initial stages. However all that is now passed and I'm definitely on the mend and testing -ve (unless you are in a very, very good light!) so it's back to the grind stone. Monday is yet another Bank Holiday so that class is easy to leave till next week when I'm a bit more with it, but Tuesday I should be back in attendance. No I don't intend to be bouncing around much but I'm sure I can wave my arms around as much as normal and that will do for now. I hope I'll see everyone there - the brilliant stalwarts who turned up last week need to get the chance to show off their expertise if nothing else!
My last blether was less than 2 weeks ago, but feels like much more. We've been blessed with 2 Easters since then, the 'Western' one and the Orthodox one. Somehow we managed to limit our Easter egg consumption to the first event - but there's been a few tricky moments of temptation. We did do the 'proper' bit too and attended both the 'Western' Good Friday midday service, and the 8:15 a.m. Easter Sunday service of the Anglican Church here in Paphos. (At Ayia Kyriaki Church near the harbour - also known as the Church by St Paul's Pillar). Both were moving to attend, but the Sunday service was especially fabulous - there is nothing quite like traditional Easter Day hymns sung by a full church and accompanied by an amazing organist who was obviously enjoying himself too, you came out of church both shaken & stirred - and pretty well fumigated too, because Easter day is one of the few services they use incense - it certainly adds to the atmosphere in more ways than one!
Because we are lucky enough to live in a village that still celebrates in very traditional ways, the next weekend we also had the benefit of being woken by fire crackers at random times of the night (no, I have never managed to stay up for midnight despite always having my candle ready - one day), and then enjoying the children's games, music, entertainment and bingo in the village square to celebrate the Orthodox Easter with the villagers - though not, after the first year of experimentation, the food - definitely a cuisine you have to grow up with! Dancing has carried on throughout all this excitement, except for last Monday's beginner's class - a bank holiday for everyone meant our numbers would have been too low - and we are gradually mastering dances that once needed multiple walk-throughs. We also welcomed both returnees and a new and very talented dancer to our midst... they all enjoyed themselves at our last class, which meant it was great for the rest of us too - long may it continue! |
MeOriginated in Manchester, England: Worked almost 20 yrs in the United Arab Emirates: Lives in Cyprus. Teaches Scottish Country Dancing (RSCDS qualified 2015) -just the average life! Also loves Photography & Photoshop, Gardening, Music, Sewing, Design, Reading, computers, God, my husband & my cat (not necessarily in that order). Hates - crowds, hypocrisy, 'Reality' TV, corrupt politicians, cruelty and greed of any kind. Archives
April 2024
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