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'Putting
on the Style'
Line & Country Western Dance Day
5th
May 2002
MORNING
REPORT
The workshop started bright and early with a group of enthusiastic teachers
who were welcomed by DFR Faculty Chairman, Yvonne Taylor-Hill. The day
was then handed over to Paul Streatfield, Chairman of the Country Western
Committee, and Jean Cantell.
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| (L-R):
Yvonne Taylor-Hill (Chairman of the DFR Faculty), Maggie Gallagher
(Celebrity Instructor), Paul Streatfield (Chairman of the Country
Western Committee), Jean Cantell (Country Western Committee), Territa
Corbett (Instructor), Rachel Wadey (Country Western Committee), Sarah
Fenn-Tye (Country Western Committee). All photographs: Helen Fearne |
To
warm up the teachers, Territa Corbett, from Jean Cantell's Studio, introduced
'Memories Are Made Of This'. Territa has a huge repertoire of dances
and helped to keep the programme going throughout the day.
Regular
teachers to the workshop, twins Andrew and Stephen Richards from Maidenhead,
taught two routines. Andrew introduced 'Balls', danced to 'Great Balls
of Fire' - a lively dance, and Stephen gave us 'Disco Baby' to the music
'Baby Come On'. Both routines were clearly taught and created enjoyment
amongst the teachers.
The
next lecture was by DFR Faculty Committee member, Rachel Wadey, who
introduced 'The Golden Waltz' which she choreographed herself - a very
appropriate title in Golden Jubilee year. An easy, flowing dance that
can be danced to any waltz, this was taught by Rachel using good inflection
and rhythm in her voice, which is always a good motivation to create
enthusiasm in pupils. A possible party dance for Jubilee parties?
Sarah Fenn-Tye, Committee member and Line Dance champion, was assisted
by her niece, Elizabeth Fenn-Tye, also a champion Line dancer. In two
half-hour slots Sarah gave us a look at the finer points of technique,
most important for the teachers training medallists and professionals.
She talked about different styles, the appreciation of music to involve
accents, light and shade, character and rhythm, plus the development
of line dance with the use of arms and body shaping and awareness of
different types of music/rhythms now being used. (See page 15 of the
revised Line and Country Western Dance Syllabus.)
Other
contributors to the morning were Liz Scholey, partnered by husband John,
who showed us a fun partner dance called 'Zeltand Western Mixer' with
music 'Playway Every Honky Tonk & Town' by Heather Myles (129 bpm) and
'These Boots Are Ready To Dance' by Dean Brothers (155 bpm). Lots of
clapping and laughter created a party atmosphere.
A
change of rhythm to Latin - 'Midnight Rendezvous' - a cha cha cha taught
to us by Country Western Committee member Charles Richman, an experienced
and popular lecturer who introduced another routine for our repertoire.
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| Instruction
Session with Maggie Gallager accompanied by CW Sub Committee Member
Charles Richman |
Guest
lecturer, Maggie Gallagher, top teacher and choreographer with her own
inimitable charm and personality, soon had the teachers dancing new
routines to interesting music. A well worthwhile hour and an interesting
and informative morning.
Betty Bouston
AFTERNOON
REPORT
Once again Territa Corbett, with her usual lively personality, had the
dance floor filled, warming up the eagerly awaiting crowd of both professional
and amateur dancers. It wasn't long before the colourful Maggie Gallagher
took the stage and expertly taught 'Suspicion'. With no time to rest,
Maggie went straight into her next dance 'Na Mara' (Irish for 'The Sea').
While
Maggie then took a well earned break, the Country Western Committee's
resident DJ, Jean Cantell, kept the music spinning.
The
third dance to be taught by Maggie was a flowing waltz called 'Between
the Dances'. The music for this waltz ('In Between Dances' by Nadine
Somers) was a fast and enjoyable Country Western waltz.
Maggie's
Irish charm kept everyone under her spell and on the dance floor learning
her new dance 'Dance With The Devil'. It didn't take her long to get
the dancers feeling the Latin flavour of Michael Bolton's 'Dance With
Me'.
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| Guest
lecturer, Maggie Gallagher |
The
magnetism of Maggie's personality created good audience participation,
to the extent that Paul Streatfield and Charles Richman from the Committee,
and Paul Johnson, an amateur dancer from the floor, danced on stage
alongside Maggie at her invitation.
The
finale was fantastic with Maggie and two of her Irish dancers, Jade
and Cery, both sixteen years of age, dancing a hard-shoe routine called
'Cry of the Celts'. As if that wasn't electrifying enough, they then
broke into an Irish band's version of 'Cotton Eye Joe' with each showing
great style, stamina and technique for this style of dance made popular
by Riverdance.
The
room was filled with everyone's appreciation. All had a great day that
seemed to fly past far too quickly.
Yvonne
Taylor-Hill thanked the Committee for their hard work in producing another
successful day and Paul Streatfield then thanked everyone for coming.
He wished them a safe journey home and announced that the Dance Spectacular
Event would be on Sunday 10th November 2002.
Rachel
Wadey
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