"Ballroom with a Twist" July 22- August 3, 2013

At Cape Playhouse at the end of July, featuring Tristan McManus and Anna Trebunskaya of Dancing with the Stars, in fact a couple of favorites of mine. He is so pretty-boy-handsome, Irish and even tempered. She is the gorgeous red-head.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8Eqih3dtAhM#at=66
I watched the sales video, saw some singers from American Idol along with many of my favorite dancers - Gilles Marini, Sabrina, choreography by Louis Van Amstel. At some point, they invite dancers onto the stage - that would be the ones in front row orchestra $80.
The only ones promised are Tristan and Anna, so they put the show together for each location, depending on who is free. Not necessarily Gilles or Drew Lachey. "More Pros & Finalists will be announced closer to show date."
$40, $60 or $80 Yikes! Joe will Not Be Interested.
Also showing at North Shore Music Theater - the round stage like our Cape Cod Melody Tent, but only one night, $70 for the seats close to the stage, which are already sold out.
I have seen dancing like that at the Yankee Classic competition in Boston, seated at a table right beside the dance floor. Thrilling to be so close, but after going three times, it seemed too much the same, the performance level so International always, very high standards, but following the same rules always.

Music! & Dancing!

Spamalot! at Cotuit Center for the Arts - done without microphones or equity actors, well, we missed a few lines, but there was enough silliness to go around, and the plot was thin enough. Much better than being battered with amplified sound distorting the space.
The show's main theme was Art vs Fighting & Death. Michelle Colley, director and choreographer, capitalized on all the singing and dancing, filling the stage with dancing girls of every style, (lots of costumes) and lines of synchronized dancing knights. I'm sure her musical theater class this summer will be wonderful.
I expect they could have sold out for at least another week, if the cast wanted to give up the time. We reserved tickets two weeks ago after trying for that week, the usual lead time for a local theater production.

Stuff I know - versus

vs Stuff I think I know. Learning a step as a follower is not enough to teach it.
Anyway, I have ways to find things out so I'm three quarters there.
In the mean time, I refinished the portable dance floor and then the lovely kids came to visit, so I put off starting another TV show. The five-year-old promised to dance for it, another summer day, and I will get it out there by September. "Local Places for Social Ballroom Dance - Cape Cod"

More Arts Alive

Sunday on the Falmouth Library lawn, I started early, helping take down the dance floor before any acts needed the space. The tech lady said the youth enjoyed the floor at Teen Rock Fest, a battle of the bands Saturday night while we were watching Danny Banks.
At 2 PM, the Belly Dance Troupe, Isis, was fun and inclusive. The cheerful young woman in purple got the little girls to join them on stage. I like most of the music and enjoyed learning those skills in my thirties.
At 3 PM percussion with Lisa Esperson was another inclusive act, and I got to play clave on a bell and then practice my shakere.
Crafts were stunning. I do not buy jewelry any more, but wool manipilated by Irene Young continues to exhibit new creative twists. A necklacey stretchy neck warmer in multiple colors was irresistable, especially since I had already decided to buy stuff this year. Slumped glass in rainbow colors. People for Cats. A song with the MM Chorus bought me a chocolate snack. Dave's French teacher has made extremely chic gift boxes shaped as tiny women's purses.

Banks at Bog

Again too many choices - on Friday, down Cape, a big party I missed.
Last night, JP's first dance at Betsy's. Many turned out to welcome him, but not us.
Danny Banks Band was at the Bog at Cranberry's, doing their blues set, and I wanted to make contact personally since I hired them for the October big dance, the Mary French Scholarship Benefit.
Again, a lovely, if cool, moonlit night on that spacious deck, good music, excellent margaritas. We ate at home because my garden is doing so well, but will sample that chef's work again.

Hoy @ Arts Alive - Falmouth Town Dance

An unusual start time for the Bluefish, 7 PM, meaning they could get the last boat home to the Vineyard at 9:30. Arts Alive only provides music until  9 PM as agreed with town.
 Excellent turn-out: a full dance floor and chairs set up wide around the tent under an almost full moon.
Perfect temperature for dancing, a bit cool, as Johnny Hoy said, "Late spring weather" though many protested - "It's summer, today!"
He thanked the organizers, and the organizers thanked me and Joe, for the suggestion of the band, and for the dance floor provided for the price of labor. Teen Rock Fest tonight. I hope they like the floor.
Many students, music lovers, old friends and new gathered around. Aftterwards, the line was too long at Ben & Bill's, so we went for Ghelfi's ice cream. Was the night over? No, other friends walked by and we had excellent margaritas at Stone L'Oven.

Betsy's Ballroom Meeting

Dance 2014 was the agenda for the meeting at Betsy's Ballroom yesterday.  Lestyn, DeeDee Burke, Deb Israel, Kathy who schedules for the facility, Ellen Moran, me, and Doug McHugh with Sabrina who is 17 months and good as gold. Her mother picked her up after a half hour.
DeeDee and Steve aren't holding dances, and she convinced me to come, though I only hold the Mary French Benefit Dance there. It was good to meet with my colleagues.
Lestyn is cutting back and only took four Saturdays.
CCBD continues the First Friday lessons, and the Kathy agreed to close the ballroom to dancing on those Saturdays rather than splitting the pool of dancers. My First Saturdays are considered too far to be make a difference in local attendance. I think it's good for my Falmouth dancers to travel sometimes.
Deb and Doug filled in the rest of the weeks between them, leaving open a very few weeks, like Thanksgiving.
At the end of the meeting, we teachers made a pact to attend each other's dances. I have actually gone to everyone's dances already, but I picked Doug's name, so I can try to get a group together sometime. Lestyn picked CCBD, but she hears bands too much at Roseland on Sundays, so all agreed she could go where ever, and I invited her. Doug picked me, and I hope one of them will come to St. Barnabas. Must find out about the fall!

Revision to WCS outdoors

Rain hardly made it to Falmouth, but it poured in Providence, and as Jennifer Lyons cancelled it on the facebook page. "See you next Tuesday June 25."  Hummm..
Joe came yesterday, not that interested in the dance, but Providence also has Ian whose second birthday is Friday (Falmouth Town Dance). Joe bought the little boy a whrr-whrr, cordless screwdriver, tool box and screws as well as a little boom-boom and plastic nails. Amazing how long three AAA batteries can last. He took it to bed with him. We swear we didn't force him into the gender role!
So we shall see about that West Coast Swing group.

Nights out this coming week

Tonight Classes at the CCDC,
Tomorrow, West Coast Swing outdoors in Providence.
Wednesday CCDC
Thursday, Midsummer Woods Hole Silliness.
Friday, Falmouth Town Dance with Johnny Hoy - our dance floor
Saturday, Danny Banks at the Bog at Cranberry's, Macarthur Blvd, Bourne

Gatsby Season

I had fun with the Mashpee Women's Club at the Poponesset Inn - the Gatsby Luncheon.
Baz Luhrman's movie is a qualified success in the theaters - the MTV version, is this a good thing?
A lively bunch dressed with fringe, headbands and feathers stood up for my twenties music.
I taught the Charleston Line Dance after a Foxtrot sequence and the old favorite, the Alley Cat, as done by Lillian Roma. Yvonne Courtney, my devoted dancer friend, was a star, as usual.
Perhaps they will enjoy the Shim Sham if they ever show up for my exercise class.

The Bog at Cranberry's

I hope that restaurant is going to do well. Such a funny location, MacArthur Boulevard. Their first anniversary party was last night and Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish sounded great - outdoors on a deck.
The little family came down so we played with babies mosty of the day and the parents stayed in since we already had plans.

June 15, 2013

The choices for today:
1) North Providence Monthly West Coast Swing Dance Party with national champion Arjay, a very nice guy - teaching 2 workshops first that Joe vetoed.  The dance doesn't start until 9 PM.
I need to get in touch with WCS showcase dancers for the dance in October. We can go to the studio promotion Tuesday for cheap, outdoors in Providence, visit the grandson who will be 2 on Friday. Hopefully, the rain/thunderstorm pattern will not lock in again.
2) Lestyn Gilmore at Occasions in Raynham - nice place I've never seen 40 minutes away.
3) Johnny Hoy at Cranberries in Pocasset, their first anniversary party 8-11 PM Good food, too.
4) Bruins 2nd game of finals, Joe doesn't have to watch the whole game. He can get updates on his phone.

Conflict

Well, I couldn't have held the Ron Gursky/Cape Cod Dance Center Summer Swing Party any other time this year, but I'm sorry to find out just today that George Gritzbach will be at the Beach House, just down the road, at the same time! Balboa will be a useful skill when we try to dance there - crowded floor.

Day of Portugal

DAY OF PORTUGAL at the Falmouth Navigator Club
Around the corner and up the street from my house, with a gorgeous unfinished upstairs that they just can't finish. Anyway.

Saturday, June 15, 2013
Time: 5p.m.    Flag Raising Ceremony & Scholarship Awards. Town Officials will attend
5:30-6 p.m.   Hors d'oeuvres
6 p.m. - 11:30 p.m. Dinner and dance. For your entertainment pleasure: "Rancho Folclorico de Alto Minho" a folkloric dance group, followed by dance music music by D.J. Paul Gavoni

MENU - this is where they shine Soup, Roast Pork Portuguese Style, Roasted Chicken, Bacalhau  (Codfish Navigator Style)
Roasted Potatoes, Rice, Vegetable, Dessert, Coffee

Tickets are $25.00 in advance and $30.00 at the door.
Call Maria (508) 495-4452 for tickets.

June 21 2013

Arts Alive Schedule of Performances

Friday Night - June 21
Performance Tent
5-6pm Bart Weisman Smooth Jazz Group
6-7pm Russ Wilcox Jazz Ensemble
7-9pm Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish
 TOWN DANCE with the Brodsky dance floor
and more
http://www.artsfalmouth.org/d7/arts-alive-schedule-performances

Pollen Count

An early allergy attack didn't happen this year - perhaps the oaks were stressed by the mini-drought. Now that pine pollen dust is everywhere for another few days, and I got a low level headache, almost just an irritation. You have to watch out for that feeling, not look for psychological reasons for irritation. Just allergies.
I still went out to find something. My Fair Lady had their last day yesterday. I remember when it was Cinderella's, a first vintage clothing shop. Nothing interesting was left there, but I went on to get a new bread box from St Vincent de Paul and a "silestone" outdoor table from Cape Cod Pickers.
Later, I also took an allergy pill and had an easy time running my dance.
I keep spiral bound notebooks for when I need to complain, and looked back to see that last year, I was quite irritated the first weekend in June. Maybe, there's a study of my allergies in there if I applied the scientific method. The great novel of my life was the original plan, based on a lifetime of observances mixed in with complaints not voiced to the general public or even my family.

Fallmouth Senior Center

I went to the Senior Center Meeting Wednesday at 2 PM - over a hundred people. That is a regular Senior Center Hour. The 5:30 session was not as well attended.
Seemingly there is talk again of a new larger building. They have been talking about it for 20 years, but they built a rec center and wastewater treatment instead. The seniors think since they are now such a large portion of the population, the numbers will help. Perhaps a corporate sponsor could be found as well, though the corporate sponsors want people who spend money. These seniors are used to their classes costing $1 to $5. The assisted living places being built try to keep the money in house, providing programs to their population and charging hefty fees.
Not much talk of dance. I didn't speak to the camera broadcasting for FCTV. One lady wanted line dancing, which there is at 11 AM Mondays. Margaret Rogers, age 93, is still teaching Tap Dance at 1 PM on Fridays. I was thinking of my dance fitness class, but not between 9 AM and 2 PM, which is a full schedule already.
I put my suggestion on an index card: "Large wood dance floor with partitions and a kitchen".
And I emailed the overworked director. No response yet.