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Welcome to our fourth newsletter for 2024.
We have a new class starting at South Plympton on a Monday Afternoon starting on the 6th May (see below for details). There is also information below about some new terminology and socials as well.
Information below on:
- 2024 Regular Socials
- Class Changes
- Terminology Update
- Info for New Beginners
- Holiday Last Chance
See you on the dance floor,
Liz & Peter Heath and the Instructor Team
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2024 Regular Socials
The social dates are:
5th May, 30th June, 4th August, 29th September, 3rd November, 8th December
The Xmas social (8th Dec) is not confirmed yet but we will let you know when it is.
The Address is: West Croydon and Kilkenny RSL, 19 Rosetta St, West Croydon
Dancing Starts at 1.30pm and concludes at 5pm at a cost of $15 (cash only).
The last social was not well attended (so Ivy in the kitchen will try one more time), probably due to AFL "Gather Round" and other associated events (and the weather was lovely). For this reason, next year, we will not be running a social in April. With Easter in the mix as well, it is just not worth the risk.
NOTE: For the last couple of years, the resident cook/chef Ivy and her team have been providing meals available prior to the social. The prices are very reasonable and the food delicious. However the support for these meals is inconsistent and is not proving particularly viable for them. She will support the next social (5th May) and then re-assess the continuation of the service. If you want it to continue, please join us from midday.
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CLASS CHANGES
The following changes are happening as specified:
- South Plympton Monday Afternoon Easy level class is starting on 6th May. Runs from 1pm - 2.30pm for $12 per session, and will run for 6 weeks as a trial before becoming a permanent class. If you know anyone looking for a class, please let them know.
- West Croydon Tuesday Night Intermediate level class is now in the Vermont Uniting Church, 576 Cross Rd (Cnr New St). The new start time will be 7.30pm to allow for extra travel time for Peter.
- Marden Thursday Afternoon Crossover level class is now in the Payneham Masonic Hall, 393 Payneham Road.
All other classes are business as usual. |
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Terminology Update
As part of our development over 30 years, we have developed a suite of terminology to label the movements we are trying to get your body and mind to execute. It is important to do this so you, as a student, have consistent labels to put on each of the building blocks that you are attempting. This then helps when recycling parts of dances that you have already experienced. It is daunting to start with, but a great assistance as you become more experienced.
Every now and then, we experiment with new terminology to describe "parcels / clusters" of steps that happen frequently that may, as yet, not have a name (or that we haven't adopted yet). Some are names used elsewhere in the line dance community, sometimes in other dance forms, and occasionally are unique to our organisation as we are one of the leaders in the field internationally.
Why do we have terminology at all? Some clusters of steps are more difficult as a combination in practice than they seem initially in theory. By giving them a name and using it when appropriate, it helps dancers and instructors to be aware of the complication and prepare for it. It also allows us to properly rate the difficulty of a dance so we can place it into its appropriate class.
I am introducing early next month the following terminology new to our organisation:
EASY LEVEL MOVE
- Kay Step (8 Beats) - This is a sequence of Zigs and Zags that follow the diagonal shape of a letter "K" on the floor (minus the "straight bit") usually starting with the right foot. Prior to this we described it as "Zig, 2 Zags, Zig", but elsewhere in most of the international line dance community they have already adopted it.
- Kay 7 - Part of a Kay Step but minus the last touch.
This movement is in approx 30 of our Easy level Dances so you will come across it very soon
MAINSTREAM / INTERMEDIATE LEVEL MOVE
- Texan Tap - This is the 4 beat sequence: "Cross, Tap, Behind, Side". This occurs in many Mainstream and Intermediate dances, but as yet has not had a name given it anywhere in the world.
- Turning Texan Tap - If starting on the right foot, has a half turn to the right over the last two steps. If starting with the left foot, it will turn to the left. The amount of turn is 1/2 unless specified differently.
- Forward Texan Touch - This is a variant of the Texan Tap, but goes forward instead of across, and has a Touch instead of a Tap. So it is "Forward, Touch, Back, Side". Partial variants are also possible, i.e. Forward Texan Tap or Texan Touch, plus turning versions of these.
Variants of this movement are in around 15 Mainstream and 5 Intermediate dances, including Smokey Places, Take A Breather, 1000 Years and Single Life
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Info for New Beginners
If you are new to a beginners class, please consider the following:
- No one "gets it" the first week without some prior experience. You are attempting to learn a new language, new body mechanics and moving to music all at once, and it takes time and perseverance. Expertise does not happen in one class.
- Don't try to "learn" the dances, just try to learn some of the building blocks (terminology). The dances come and go and will always be refreshed before the music goes on. The building blocks are often recycled in different dances, so that knowledge is crucial to your continued enjoyment.
- Don't hide down the back (or worse, get in a corner), get somewhere where you have people all around you to assist your confidence.
- Don't assume everyone around you is perfect and therefor reliable to follow. The person alongside of you may be also new today, or last week, or last month.
- Don't assume you can find assistance on the internet. It is a madhouse of info there, with no organised terminology, teaching techniques or guarantee that the person you are watching is the choreographer, or even a knowledgeable dancer. Just learn at your own pace and you will get there.
You will get there... just persevere, smile and relax... you are not being judged, everyone is concentrating just as much as you are, which is why they look so serious.
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Holiday Last Chance
Final arrangements are being made for our amazing European River Cruise Holiday, and there is one cabin left that has to be released in less than a week. We already have 19 travellers itching to go, and can fit 2 more if you hurry. The dates are 17th August to 10th September, and the holiday includes:
- International Airfares Direct to / from Adelaide seated together
- Pre Cruise Viking Extension in Prague for 3 days
- 1 hour sightseeing river cruise round Prague on arrival
- Segway Tour through Prague / Or bus tour alternative
- Day trip to Cesky Krumlov castle
- 15 Day Grand European River Cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam through Hungary, Austria, Germany and Holland with Viking including all meals, drinks with meals, WiFi and a land tour each day
- Post Cruise Viking Extension in Amsterdam for 3 days
- Countryside and Windmills day tour in Holland
- Dinner sightseeing cruise round Amsterdam
- Eurostar Fast Train Trip from Amsterdam to Paris
- 3 Day Private Extension in Paris
- Day trip to Palace of Versailles
- Moulin Rouge Theatre tickets
- Fast Pass Eiffel Tower tickets (if we can get them)
- Final Dinner Cruise on the Seine River
All this for $15,500 per person (2 per cabin). But you have only 6 days to decide, book and pay, before we have to release the cabin and associated extensions. Ring Peter on 0407 970 418 for info.
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