Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Line Dance The Great Big Party June 23-25/06
Yesterday, I couldn't write about The Great Big Party in Toronto over the
weekend because I had PWD (Post Workshop Depression). It's that withdrawal
you feel after spending 3 days with two dance floors available with always
something playing or something being taught. So many familiar faces and
smiles as we sway, step, slide and bop to the music.
Adele Plantamura did an amazing job organising and decorating for the event.
The theme was cruise ship with the workshop rooms renamed the Lido and
Promenade deck; fake mooring posts, ropes, plastic fish and rafts. Looking
forward to next year theme of Toys. Judging by the winks and smiles from
people, I think they will be misbehaving more than average with toys that are
not so innocent. LOL.
Anyway, let me tell you about workshops. Most were repeats from JG2 except
for FIREFLY (John Robinson), SECRET (Johanna Barnes) and BAILA SALSA TONIGHT!
(Abby Mina) which were brand new for this event.
Personal Favourites are:
Taught by Gerard Murphy
ONLY YOU (already knew it)
PROBABLY ON THURSDAY (already knew it)
GET YOUR GROOVE ON. Got the body rolls going.
John Robinson
CHAMPAGNE ON ICE. I was told by others this was their favourite of the
weekend.
COLD HARD CASH. Popular from JG2.
BATTER UP. Easy and fun dance taught in 10 minutes.
EASIER TOUCH. Easy dance to Pointer Sisters' Slow Hand.
Scott Blevins.
HEY! PEOPLE. The Mundy dance that seems to have really taken off.
BREAK FREE CHA. Probably the most requested song during open dance time.
People still walk off the floor saying they need to dance it a few more times
to get it.
SOS now renamed BOOTY CHECK. Choreographed by Carole Daugherty who also
helped teach it. 32 count with lots of style options including Carole's
squiggle move.
I SCREAM. Played a number of times in open dance.
Johanna Barnes
GEEK IN THE PINK. A handful got a private lesson on this.
START TO SWAY. Easy dance Johanna added.
Junior Willis
HAPPY HOUR. Some people don't like the track but the dance is fun to do.
Debi Pancoast
PUMP IT. Becoming a favourite for many.
Nelson Clarke taught PROMISCUOUS that he co-choreographed with Guyton. I
didn't take but people seemed to like it. Other local instructors were Fred
Buckley, Zandra McCallum, Val Keller and Christine Mui. Other dances taught
are still listed at http://thegreatbigparty.com/ but I didn't take them. All
of them got played in open dance time. Popular ones included Venus, Mandolin
Dreams, Hips and Holding a Dream.
Open dance hit pretty much all of the latest popular dances like Bosa Nova,
Bomshel Stomp, Come Tomorrow, Upside Down, Heartbreaker, Simplemente,
Crabbuckit, The Way, Irish Stew, Go Greased Lightning, Kowboy Krazy, After
Party. DJ's Mike Bishop and Lynn Warden kept us hopping in both dance rooms
for as long as we could go.
A few of things made this weekend unique. For one workshop, Gerard Murphy
had 5 groups choreograph a dance in 25 minutes. Each group had 8 members who
each added 4 beats to a 32 count dance. It seemed to work really well.
Four of the groups presented and danced their creation during the show
Saturday evening. Gerard also did synchronised swimming each morning in the
pool. The midnight Chocolate Dessert Dream Buffet was way over the top:
fruit skewers, melted chocolate fountain, numerous rich cakes and tortes.
Sugar and chocolate overload.
The Great Big Party continues to be one of the premier line dance events in
the Toronto area. Adele moved it back to an airport hotel this year so it's
more accessible to those from out of town. The hotel has promised her larger
dance floors for next year. Looking forward to it.
Just to add something about The Great Big Party that hasn't been mentioned.
FOOD.
Adele had the hotel set up a sandwich shop inside the coatroom. This was
great to grab a sandwich, drink and chips while they did 15 minute re-teaches
over the lunch hour. The instructors went back through the schedule and
re-did all the dances they taught. You could go to the other "ship" deck and
try all the other dances. I prefer to re-do the same dances since I find it
burns into my head better. Those who missed Friday didn't miss much since
these these re-teaches were at lunch on Saturday.
Dinner break of 2 hours was ideal to relax a bit. You could have dinner at
the hotel but there was also a Lone Star and Keg Restaurant right next door
(3 minute walk). It's a great location for The Great Big Party. Hope to see
everyone next year.
weekend because I had PWD (Post Workshop Depression). It's that withdrawal
you feel after spending 3 days with two dance floors available with always
something playing or something being taught. So many familiar faces and
smiles as we sway, step, slide and bop to the music.
Adele Plantamura did an amazing job organising and decorating for the event.
The theme was cruise ship with the workshop rooms renamed the Lido and
Promenade deck; fake mooring posts, ropes, plastic fish and rafts. Looking
forward to next year theme of Toys. Judging by the winks and smiles from
people, I think they will be misbehaving more than average with toys that are
not so innocent. LOL.
Anyway, let me tell you about workshops. Most were repeats from JG2 except
for FIREFLY (John Robinson), SECRET (Johanna Barnes) and BAILA SALSA TONIGHT!
(Abby Mina) which were brand new for this event.
Personal Favourites are:
Taught by Gerard Murphy
ONLY YOU (already knew it)
PROBABLY ON THURSDAY (already knew it)
GET YOUR GROOVE ON. Got the body rolls going.
John Robinson
CHAMPAGNE ON ICE. I was told by others this was their favourite of the
weekend.
COLD HARD CASH. Popular from JG2.
BATTER UP. Easy and fun dance taught in 10 minutes.
EASIER TOUCH. Easy dance to Pointer Sisters' Slow Hand.
Scott Blevins.
HEY! PEOPLE. The Mundy dance that seems to have really taken off.
BREAK FREE CHA. Probably the most requested song during open dance time.
People still walk off the floor saying they need to dance it a few more times
to get it.
SOS now renamed BOOTY CHECK. Choreographed by Carole Daugherty who also
helped teach it. 32 count with lots of style options including Carole's
squiggle move.
I SCREAM. Played a number of times in open dance.
Johanna Barnes
GEEK IN THE PINK. A handful got a private lesson on this.
START TO SWAY. Easy dance Johanna added.
Junior Willis
HAPPY HOUR. Some people don't like the track but the dance is fun to do.
Debi Pancoast
PUMP IT. Becoming a favourite for many.
Nelson Clarke taught PROMISCUOUS that he co-choreographed with Guyton. I
didn't take but people seemed to like it. Other local instructors were Fred
Buckley, Zandra McCallum, Val Keller and Christine Mui. Other dances taught
are still listed at http://thegreatbigparty.com/ but I didn't take them. All
of them got played in open dance time. Popular ones included Venus, Mandolin
Dreams, Hips and Holding a Dream.
Open dance hit pretty much all of the latest popular dances like Bosa Nova,
Bomshel Stomp, Come Tomorrow, Upside Down, Heartbreaker, Simplemente,
Crabbuckit, The Way, Irish Stew, Go Greased Lightning, Kowboy Krazy, After
Party. DJ's Mike Bishop and Lynn Warden kept us hopping in both dance rooms
for as long as we could go.
A few of things made this weekend unique. For one workshop, Gerard Murphy
had 5 groups choreograph a dance in 25 minutes. Each group had 8 members who
each added 4 beats to a 32 count dance. It seemed to work really well.
Four of the groups presented and danced their creation during the show
Saturday evening. Gerard also did synchronised swimming each morning in the
pool. The midnight Chocolate Dessert Dream Buffet was way over the top:
fruit skewers, melted chocolate fountain, numerous rich cakes and tortes.
Sugar and chocolate overload.
The Great Big Party continues to be one of the premier line dance events in
the Toronto area. Adele moved it back to an airport hotel this year so it's
more accessible to those from out of town. The hotel has promised her larger
dance floors for next year. Looking forward to it.
Just to add something about The Great Big Party that hasn't been mentioned.
FOOD.
Adele had the hotel set up a sandwich shop inside the coatroom. This was
great to grab a sandwich, drink and chips while they did 15 minute re-teaches
over the lunch hour. The instructors went back through the schedule and
re-did all the dances they taught. You could go to the other "ship" deck and
try all the other dances. I prefer to re-do the same dances since I find it
burns into my head better. Those who missed Friday didn't miss much since
these these re-teaches were at lunch on Saturday.
Dinner break of 2 hours was ideal to relax a bit. You could have dinner at
the hotel but there was also a Lone Star and Keg Restaurant right next door
(3 minute walk). It's a great location for The Great Big Party. Hope to see
everyone next year.
Comments:
Post a Comment
