Newsletter no. 2, October 2010
Dancewarehouse Newsletter, No. 2 October 2010.
It cannot have been a month since I put finger to keyboard and wrote the last newsletter. I distinctly feel that someone, somewhere has stolen at least 14 days just to see if I can dream up another preamble like last months reminiscing.
I cannot presume to be able to do that again, but I need to let you all know that the series regarding the new studio has changed direction totally. The Chicken Sheds scenario is now, save for an absolute miracle or an incredibly rich benefactor ‘eggsterminated’ sorry for the pun but couldn’t think of anything better. Due to enlightening circumstances there will certainly not be any ‘chicken walks’ or ‘turkey trots’ going to be danced in Friday Lane and we are now looking for a possible new site for the dream. Maybe this venture could create the series… with your help… we need a very large aircraft hanger at a very cheap price preferably in the centre of Solihull with a large car park and if it had a ready made sprung maple floor in situ, all the better, please let me know all of the sites.
Dancewarehouse will be continuing in our highly salubrious current surroundings within our recently redecorated ballroom. It may not be as big as we would like or have the numerous ballrooms we require to teach in but it’s a very atmospheric and friendly place to come and we have made arrangements to stay there at least for the foreseeable future.
It has been a very active month all round, with Charlotte and Stephen being chosen to represent Great Britain in Norway and in all probability representing Great Britain at The World Championships later this year, and then Jamie and Courtney being invited to represent the country in Germany in October. The studio being asked to provide expert classes at the new ‘Dance Show’ at the NEC, which is a very large part of The Clothes Show, December 3rd to 5th December. Charlotte will be instructing the Zumba classes whilst I have been asked to teach the Ballroom and Latin American classes.
On top of that the Studio have been asked to repeat a show, in the main arena at the ‘Dance Show’ that was produced as part of The Strictly Charity Event I organised at The Park Lane Hotel, London also,… hope you will all be able to get along at some time during the weekend.
And now October is even busier, with The Midlands Championships on Monday 11th October at The Tower Ballroom, Edgbaston. An English Amateur Dancers Association, team selection event where all of the top couples in the country compete for ranking points so that they will represent their country at official events all over the world. Why not come along and support Charlotte and Stephen, Jamie and Courtney and many of the other couples from the Studio who will be taking part. You can get tickets from Martin, but there are only a few left so get in touch urgently. There is also a fantastic demonstration by one of the Worlds leading Latin Professionals and also a top class Professional Ballroom event which was won last year by the reigning World Champions Arunas Bizokas and Katusha Demidova, not a bad night out!
Night of 100 Stars, that I help to organise in London, the International Championships at The Albert Hall, and then our very own Halloween Ball on Saturday 30th October, which you can dress up for if you feel a little bit evil or not if you want to be angelic, whatever you decide it will certainly be a great night.
Kate sent me information about a Dance Show that is to take place at Warwick Arts Centre in October which sounds very exciting called, Havana-Rakatan. A Show with lts of Latin American displays and rhythm.
You can find out more by visiting http://www.warwickartscentre.co.uk/events/dance/havana-rakatan
And for those of you who would like to practice the steps you are learning, don’t forget that we now have a Supervised Practice Session every Wednesday evening starting at 9.15 till 10.30, if you have any disputes with the partner, the teachers are on hand to help sort out the tiny problems, (and stop the divorces) and help you through humiliation of being the one in the wrong, then psychological trauma and fear of meeting anyone who witnessed your dancing demise!!. This is already very popular and well worthwhile for those of you who have a few problems and are 100% certain its ‘the partner’.
The Web Site, seems to have been a great success thanks 100% to Jamie, who has invented and produced everything you see on there. On one day alone last week the site had 1184 hits, wow. Kate (our in house proof reader) failed to point out any spelling or grammatical errors, which seems amazing knowing the English knowledge of Jamie and myself…. I can only say, ‘thank you spell check’.
However, we still need your response, your suggestions, your comments and criticisms and your news to ensure we have an interesting and vibrant information platform that all of you can benefit from. Apart from the praise foisted upon Jamie, we have had a grand total of NO articles or news items, which we will look through…….. surely someone out there has something!
There are countless ways for you to contact us on the site, please do so. If there is anything on there you want to know more about, or anything that isn’t on there you would like to hear about, let us know.
There was one item of news that will be appearing on the web site, when I get Jamie to sit down long enough. Roger Hanley one of our original pupils has made it into the Guinness Book of Records as catching the largest Common Carp (that’s a fish to most of us) in July of this year and he still has this record.
The members’ page with steps and maybe videos from the classes for you to practise, was welcomed as a great idea and this will be started in October, so keep visiting the web site to see it the first day it is up and running
Visit the site today, then contact us.
Dates for your Diary 2010.
The advertised Social Practice Session on October 16th, Saturday. Will no longer take place. Carol and I felt that now we have started the very successful Wednesday Night Practice (9.15 to 10.30) along with the special party night on October 30th, you would not want an additional Practice Night.
October 30th, Saturday. Halloween Party and American Supper. Come in costume if you want to, special prize for the most original!! An American Supper (bring your own food for a communal table) will ensure no one goes home hungry… being Halloween, be careful what you eat – spiders can be so ticklish in your stomach! Tickets will go on sale on September 25th. Just £7.50 each. On Sale NOW
November 7th, Sunday. Our next Medal Test. Because of Charlotte and Stephens selection to represent Great Britain in Norway, this date has had to be changed. But a new date is proving difficult to arrange because of commitments of all the staff. A new date will be advertised as soon as we can.
November 13th, Saturday. Adult Social Practice Night. Pay on the door. Just £6 each.
November 18, 19, 20, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Long weekend at Blackpool watching the British National Dance Championships where many of our own pupils are dancing, including Charlotte and Stephen, and Jamie and Courtney at The Winter Gardens. Lots of the Juveniles and Juniors are also taking part and hopes are high for many of them. They need your support, why not have a day in Blackpool?
November 27th, Saturday. Please note, there will be NO SOCIAL NIGHT, due to the Christmas Parties starting the following week.
December 4th, Saturday.Christmas Dinner and Dance, The best way to start the Christmas Month, A Fabulous Four Course Traditional Christmas Dinner, with all of the trimmings. Where the men are asked to wear Black Tie and the Ladies their very best (NEW) long dresses. A class night with superb food at just £29.50 per person. An application form will be added to the web site in the next couple of weeks for this and all of the Christmas Party Tickets, or just speak to a member of staff.
December 11th, Saturday. Children’s Christmas party and Medal Presentation Night. A Very Special Family Christmas Party with the kids, mums and dads, nans and granddads having a real party, with games, prizes, dancing and everything TOGETHER with all the family just like it should be at Christmas. Tickets will go on sale at the start of November.
December 18th, Saturday. Adult Christmas Party. THE Party for Christmas, when all of the Adults have the time of their lives, plenty of dancing with a smattering of party games, new dances, lots of Christmassy thingies, all of your friends and the spirit (or spirits) of what a good Christmas Party is all about. An application form will be added to the web site in the next couple of weeks for this and all of the Christmas Party Tickets, or just speak to a member of staff.
December 20th and 21st, Monday and Tuesday. Dancewarehouse Christmas pantomime (more info later)
FEEDBACK
This is vital for us,
- What do you think about the Newsletter,
- What would you like added to the October issue
- What do you think about your class, too slow, too fast, too difficult…. Please tell us
- Would you like more or less demonstrations
- Would you like more or less Theme Nights/Party Nights
- Would you like different styles of dance or dances
Please let us know, we want to give you what you want, NOT what we want……
www.dancewarehouse.biz
For those of you who like to post info and have a chat regularly, dancewarehouse can now be seen on its own ‘facebook’ page.
And if you want to have a look at Jamie and Courtney dancing with Ruth Lorenzo runner up in X Factor 2008, visit www.YouTube and just type in James Cutler and Courtney Taylor and see the show in London introduced by Len Goodman.
Plus, for those of you yet to try the greatest new fitness in disguise, Charlotte is now taking classes on Mondays and Thursday, morning sessions at 10 till 11 and the evening sessions at 7 till 8. No need to book, just come along and have a Fun workout, dancing to Latin Rhythms, and remember the first class is just £4.50 but any subsequent class taken in the same week is just £3.00.
And if you have got any friends who would like to start the New Beginners Classes, please let them know the Ballroom and Latin American Class is on Wednesdays at 8.15 and Just Latin on Thursdays at 9.15. People can still join this week…
Get in touch if you want to let us know ANYTHING, good or bad.
www.dancewarehouse.biz