DanceAway Holiday at the Lakeside Hayling Island January 2012

Four members of Summertime Dancing, including Richard and Joyce,  decided to go on a DanceAway Holiday run by Julie Earnshaw at the Warner’s Resort; the Lakeside, Hayling Island.  It was our first visit there so it was a new experience.  Although primarily a Modern Sequence Holiday, there were also ballroom sessions in another ballroom every night and an Old Time hour.  Of course there was also Classical Old Time scattered through the main sequence sessions in the form of swings, blues, saunters, OT waltz and gavottes.  You were able to go dancing morning afternoon and evening if your feet were up to it.

The accommodation was spread throughout the site in the form of different styles of chalets.  We had booked a timber lodge which was set in its own area of woodland and was very comfortable.  All entertainment and dining facilities were within two or three hundred yards of our lodge.

The ballroom (Bowls Hall) for the modern sequence sessions was huge, I would estimate over 4 times the size of Normandy Village Hall.  The other ballroom for the 50/50 dancing was smaller.  The floor was excellent and fast.  I understand that 385 attended the event so the use of two ballrooms was essential to give us plenty of dancing space.  There was plenty of room to dance although lane discipline amongst the dancers in the large ballroom could have been better.

Music was provided throughout the week by the excellent Larry Green.  Julie Earnshaw was the main MC but was ably assisted in leading off  the sequence sessions by Barry Earnshaw,  her son Tyrone, Jayne Earnshaw and Bob & Dianne Smith.  Glen & Nikki Badham looked after the ballroom sessions but we stayed in the sequence sessions as I find ballroom dancing like being on the dodgems.

Food was excellent through the week with a carvery as well as menu items.  The service at our table was some of the fastest I have seen.  The Lakeside also hosts a wide range of activities during the day if you want a rest from dancing such as archery, shooting, card making, snooker, table tennis etc.

Other Wey Valley Clubs apart from Summertime were represented in strength e.g. Alton, Fairlands and Addlestone.

The following diary outlines our week:

Monday

Arrived around lunchtime on a bright sunny day and unpacked in our chalet before exploring the complex.  After dinner we went to our designated table in the main ballroom for the first sequence session.  With everyone having preset seating there was no scrum to grab a table - very civilised.  Summertime had its own table with the Alton table behind us.

The evening’s dancing consisted of 18 dances starting with the Mayfair Quickstep to get everyone on the floor.  Amongst the evening dances, which were a mixture of older and the latest sequence dances, were the Ava Rose Gavotte and the Shimmering Waltz which are both recent additions to Summertime Old Time’s Dance Programme.

Included in the evening’s entertainment was a superb display of dancing by Glenn Boyce and Lydia Hedges who are the reigning 4 times World Juvenile Ballroom & Latin Champions,  European Juvenile Ballroom & Latin Champions and British National and UK Juvenile Ballroom & Latin Champions.

The evening’s dancing finished off with the Watkin’s Waltz.

Tuesday

After breakfast we returned to the main ballroom for more dancing and the first teach of the week.  This was the Mistral Mambo which had just won the NCDTA Inventive Competition that week.  It was taught by Julie Earnshaw partnered by Barry Earnshaw.  The teaching was very easy to follow even for me.  It is a fairly simple mambo which is fun to dance and seemed to go down well with the dancers present.

After lunch Richard and I played truant from the dancing and went pistol shooting (photo left).  There were 5 entrants to the event.  I am pleased to report that Summertime came out on top with an outstanding display of accurate shooting.  The afternoon’s dancing consisted of many Golden Oldies of the sequence world such as the Emmerdale Waltz.

The evening’s dancing had the theme of Carnival and there were many outlandish colourful costumes including those worn by Julie and Barry Earnshaw (photo right).  How they danced wearing flip flops is beyond me.  The session started with the Portland Swing and included dances such as the Blue Angel Rumba, Amethyst Waltz, Shamar Saunter, September Foxtrot, and the Midnight Jive.  There were 18 dances in all including the new Mambo for us to practice.

A parade of all the costumes was held.  One group came as a Chinese Dragon.  Prizes were awarded to all entering. Julie came in disguise on very high stilts which must have been a challenge to walk on (photo left).

During the interval an excellent demonstration of Sequence Dancing was given by Tyrone Thiara and Lily Ploughman, All England Junior Champion, Amateur Modern Sequence Champions and ISTD 2009-10 winners.  The dances did not look anything like they do when I dance them!  As Richard tells me, I have a collapsing back leg, droopy elbow and lopsided shoulders.

Wednesday

A damp morning.  After breakfast Richard and Joyce decided to go for a trip on the Hayling Seaside Railway as it appears Richard is a bit of an train anorak with bits of old train in his toilet.  My wife went to the card making class before the morning dance session started.

During the morning’s dance session Julie accompanied by Barry taught the new Riverhead Foxtrot.  Because of the nature of the dance it was taught to the two halves of the ballroom separately.  The main challenge being a 1&3/8 outside spin turn in it.  However on the excellent floor this was relatively easy.  It may present a problem in some village halls used by clubs.  The dance flows well and we enjoyed learning and dancing it.  The teaching was superb.

After lunch there was an Old Time dance session which we of course attended.  Old favourites such as the Regis Waltz, Waverley Two Step and Wedgewood Blue Gavotte were danced.

The evening’s main dance session was formal dress.  Again it was a good mixture of 18 of the latest dances and old favourites such as the Glenroy Foxtrot, Saunter Shiraz etc.  The two new dances, the mambo and foxtrot, we had learnt in the morning sessions were also on the programme to give us more practice.  

The cabaret was a superb dance demonstration by George Hedges and Lucy Alner who were in the top three of the British National Juvenile Championship.  Although these children are probably less than half my height they covered the floor with steps twice as long as mine in a jaw dropping beautiful demonstration which held the audience spellbound.

Thursday

After breakfast we attended the morning dance session where we were taught another latest NCDTA winner - the Sheridan Saunter.  This is an easy saunter but having a lot of  quicks in it which I felt spoilt it.  My favourite saunter is still the Sanrio.

After lunch Richard and I entered the snooker competition.  There were only two other entrants, one of whom thought it was a table tennis competition and bought his own bat.  Summertime again came first and second with me just beating Richard on the last ball in the final (more by luck than judgement).  Richard said he was severely hampered by not having his own personal cue.  I was presented with a Warner’s 2012 diary as first prize.

The evening’s dancing was to the theme of Last Night of the Proms.  The hall was festooned with flags and balloons and many of the attendees dressed appropriately (photo top and right).

The dance programme consisted of another 18 dances with a mixture of old and new including the  Quando Quickstep, Cheviot Waltz, Balmoral Blues, Rumba Juliet, Waltz Classique and the three new dances we had learnt.

The evening’s cabaret was a flawless outstanding display of ballroom dancing by Warren and Kirsti Boyce who are the reigning undefeated British Professional Ballroom Champions (photo above left).  Between every dance Kirsti changed dresses in double quick time with a range of dazzling ball gowns.

The evening finished in chaos with Land of Hope and Glory, Rule Britannia, the Conga, 1812 Overture and masses of balloons and streamers.

Friday

Unfortunately the end of the holiday.  The drive home was uneventful apart from a two mile traffic jam on Hayling Island caused by minor roadworks!

In summary the holiday was 4 days of excellent organisation, dancing, teaching, entertainment and food and my wife and I have already booked for next year.  I wish we had discovered this holiday earlier.  I am now nursing blistered feet.  More photos can be found on a new photo page.

NJC 21/1/2012

Summertime’s Old Time Holiday In Bournemouth January 2012

Friday:  Arrival

After a week of storm force winds it was a pleasant surprise to arrive in Bournemouth to the sight of clear blue skies and mild temperatures.  Over 50 people made the journey to our holiday hotel, the Wessex, which is my favourite dance hotel because of the ease of parking, a rarity in many Bournemouth Hotels used for dance holidays whatever their adverts say!  

After a welcome sherry party we all filed in for a good filling dinner which was cooked very well especially the potatoes.  One lady on our table asked for an extra potato and was given a bowl of 15.  There was no Crumble on the menu unfortunately but there was apple pie.

Following dinner we all went to the ballroom for the evening's dancing to the music of David Last.  The 18 dances were a good mixture of old and new with dances such as the Kaymar Sway, Gainsborough Glide, Empress Mazurka, Waltz Debonair, Let’s Swing, Crystal Blues and Saunter Shiraz.  Helping Richard and Joyce in leading off the dances were Gerald and Joan, Joan and Dereck, Hilary and Nigel and Sylvian partnering Richard.  The progressive dances were the Rosetta and the Flirtation Two Steps.  The set dance was the Quadrilles with some five sets being formed.  David Last played some beautiful music for the dancing.

Saturday

Awoke to sunshine and blue skies.  After an excellent breakfast we had a morning’s teaching and general dancing.  Richard and Joyce taught a new Gavotte, the Glenfield Gavotte, which came out late last year at the Blackpool Inventive Competition.  Most of it is fairly straight forward apart from near the beginning where if you don’t get your weight distribution correct you can trip yourself up.  I of course failed miserably in this respect.  There was also a sale of ladies tops and skirts in the ballroom during the morning which many of the ladies present took advantage of.  There was nothing similar for the men present although Herbie tried on a skirt but they hadn’t got his size.

The afternoon was free so many hit the January Sales to restock their wardrobes.  Dinner was again very good but still no Crumble!!.

The colour theme for the evening’s dancing was Red White and Blue and most entered into the spirit of the event some more extreme than others (see photo above).  Again the evening’s 18 dances were a mixture of old and new such as the Kaybee Saunter, Waverley Two Step, Festival Glide, Doris Waltz and the Shimmering Waltz.  The progressive dance was the Mexican Swing and the set dance the Lancers.  Helping Richard and Joyce lead off were Gerald and Joan, Hilary and Chris, Hilary and Nigel and Sylvian partnering Richard.  The evening’s music was provided by the excellent Larry Green.

Margaret’s (Oxford) pet monkey had a fit of hysterics watching Richard leading off and rolled around the floor uncontrollably.

A large raffle was held in support of the Hounds for Heroes Charity and it raised £105.  The purpose of "Hounds for Heroes" is to provide specially trained assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women of both the UK armed forces and civilian emergency services.

Sunday

The weather was overcast and dry.  After another excellent breakfast we had a morning of request dances before lunch and returning home.  These included the Ragtime Swing, Idaho Foxtrot, Tango Solair, Crinoline Gavotte, Mayfair Quickstep, Viennese Sequence Waltz (with music provided by and led off by Chris and Hilary), Glenfield Gavotte, Milbrook Foxtrot, Helena Quickstep and Tango Fascination.  We ended with the Alison and Friendly Waltz and Auld Lang Syne.

The weekend’s quizz winners were Mike in the photo quizz and Angela in the Musical Quizz.  Barbara and Pamela won the elimination dance.

Lunch was a choice of carvery or for the healthy minded, a salad buffet.  I had the excellent carvery as I wasn’t feeling healthy minded.  Again an excellent meal was let down for me by the lack of a Crumble dessert.

Photos of the event can be found here.  My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend and look forward to the next Summertime Holiday from the 5th to 10th February in Bournemouth.  Spaces are still available if anyone would like to join us.

NJC 9/1/2012

Visit to DanceAway Holiday Lakeside Hayling Island January 2012

Summertime’s Old Time Holiday in Bournemouth January 2012

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