MAY 2017
DANCE NEWS AND REVIEWS LATEST DANCE SCRIPTS REVIEWS STORIES DANCE NEWS & MUCH MORE
Jannie Tofte Andersen
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Here at Love2Line we have put together another issue jam packed full of interesting articles, stories and club news. We are sure there is something for everyone. This month we have an exclusive interview with Jannie Tofte Andersen from Denmark. We have our regular features so you can sit back and relax with a cup of tea and biscuits and read our Coffee Break Fiction. Digest our Fascinating Facts to increase your knowledge to shock your fellow linedance friends. We have lots of step sheets this month with a variety of styles and levels so I'm sure you can find something that suits your taste.
Wow there is so much in our Love2Line magazine. We hope you enjoy it and don't forget, we would love to hear from you.
You can contact us with your stories, ideas and club news on love2line@hotmail.com
FASCINATING FACTS For all you trivia lovers, here are some more fascinating facts that, hopefully, will astound you. Whether you are a member of a pub quiz team, or just enjoy soaking up information, sit back and enjoy some weird and wonderful fascinating facts.
Mistletoe comes from the Anglo-Saxon word misteltan, which means ‘little dung twig.’ - (somehow it loses its romantic connection. Who would want to kiss under a dung twig?)
According to an old English superstition, putting a fruit cake under your pillow will make you dream about the person you will marry. -(That wouldn't work for me, the cake wouldn't even make it under my pillow) According to folklore, if you find a yellow feather it means that you are on the right path - (Or it could mean that a dog has just walked by)
The Fedora hat is named after a hatwearing character called Fedora played by 19th century actress Sarah Bernhardt - (and very stylish they are as well, being a hat lover myself)
Garden gnomes were introduced to England from Germany by Sir Charles Isham in 1847 - (Ah, so now we know who to blame)
You are 1% shorter in the evening than in the morning - (Ooops I can't afford to be any shorter than I am already) The smell of chocolate increases the beta brain waves, which triggers relaxation. - (It's even more relaxing when you eat it)
Cleopatra spoke at least eight languages - (Quite a feisty lady from all accounts and very popular with the gentlemen)
Petrichor is the fresh smell of rain hitting the ground. - (and, may I say, it is one of my top 10 favourite smells) Well there you have it, some more facts to tantalise your brain cells. Look out for more Fascinating Facts in our next issue of Love2Line
LOVE2LINE MEETS JANNIE TOFTE ANDERSEN
Hi Jannie it's great to meet you. Tell the readers a bit about yourself?
INTERNATIONAL CHOREOGRAPHER JANNIE TOFTE ANDERSEN FROM DENMARK
I was born in Slagelse, a smaller city on the island of Zealand, Denmark. Lived there until I was 21, that's when I moved to Odense, on the island of Funen (still Denmark) and I still live there today. I’ve always been into music and dancing, but started quite late. So my actual long term “dance career” didn’t start until I was 18. I attended gymnastics when I was a young kid, around the age of 4-10 I think. Unfortunately I had a minor accident that sort of scared me from going on. That and a lot of sprained ankles. After that I took a hip hop class but that only lasted for a year or so After that I didn’t really do any dancing until I started line dancing at the age of 18. From there I started competing and I took a lot of technique classes with Darren Bailey, Roy Verdonk, Raymond Sarlemijn, Rachael McEnaney, Paul McAdam & Niels Poulsen. I also took some west coast swing classes, funk and ballroom. I took part in choreography competitions and ProAm as well. When doing ProAm I had a year of winning pretty much any competition I entered, dancing with Pim van Grootel as my pro. I placed 3rd at the WCDF World Championships. Other than that it’s been a lot of prizes with choreography, within both Masters and WCDF. I don’t compete any more, as I’ve realized I’m far more of a social dancer. I love the technical aspect of dancing but I get so nervous walking onto the floor in a competition that it’s just not any fun.
Next thing I know the music comes on, the instructor yells 5-6-7-8 and the entire class (close to 100 people) starts moving to the right. So I could either move with them or get run over (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but that’s how it felt). So how did you discover Line dancing? So in complete panic I tried to follow this group, moving around the floor, finally My mom started line dancing when I was getting it at the end of the song. I was 18. I had no idea what it was, so I was on a complete high, feeling rather obviously curious when she came home confident at that point. That was from that first class. When she failed to the very first dance I learnt (or faked) properly explain exactly what it was, we called The Freeze (similar to Electric agreed that I should join her the week after Slide) and we did it to Boot Scootin’ Boogie to see for myself. by Brooks & Dunn. I was clearly under the impression that I After that my mom offered to pay for would be standing (or sitting) on the side the first year of dancing and that’s now just watching! close to 16 years ago. When I moved to This was in 2001 and line dancing was very Odense I started taking classes with new in Denmark, however it did have the Niels Poulsen same boom as Zumba, when that emerged. So there must have been close to 100 people in that class. My mom placed me between her and her friend on the front row, and we were just hanging having a chat (keep in mind I had no idea what was gonna happen). The instructor came in, Kitty van der Western (originally from The Netherlands) and started getting the music ready.
I started taking classes with Niels in May 2004. In January 2005 he approached me and said he had a cancellation on one of his instructor courses, and if I’d be willing to take that spot. I had been teaching a little bit, but mostly in the comfort of my living room , so it was a bit scary. When I arrived at the course I was excited as I knew a lot of the dances we had to choose from. That was until Niels told me I could only chose a dance I didn’t know already!!. Which left me with Mini Mariana and Caught in the Act. Naturally I wanted to go with Mini Mariana, but again Niels pushed me into taking the harder option. He likes to know what we can and cannot do, so that he challenges us at these courses. So my exam was teaching Caught in the Act, which went well, and after that I was added as a co-instructor in an easy intermediate class. Since then I have taken other instructor courses to better myself, teaching harder dances, with more focus on technique. It’s a nice way to network and discuss with others how they run their classes. And there’s always something to learn.
When did you first start choreographing dances? In the beginning, when I heard a piece of music and thought, “oh this would make an awesome dance” I always wanted to send the music to someone, because I wasn’t a choreographer. But then I came across a piece of music that just really spoke to me, and I felt like it was telling the story of a close friend of mine, so I just had to do something for her. That was in 2008 or 2009. I’m not completely sure which one came first. I did some floor splits, among others to Craig Bennet’s Poker Face. But the first one I really remember is the one I did for my friend, called Lost, to a beautiful track Michael Bublé. I feel like I put my heart and soul into every dance, but there are a few that either I felt like came out just right, or that people connect to in the same way I did, and therefore have a special place in my heart. Lost – because it was the first one.
Sexy Silk – Because it was done just for me, the way I wanted, and it hit EVERYTHING I wanted (even if the stepsheet was horrible to write lol) Cruel Love – a piece of music (Just a Fool by Christina Aguilera & Blake Shelton) that really got under my skin, and people really connected to it. It was one of the most popular dances (on a higher level) for over a year, which I thought was quite the accomplishment in this fast paced, ever changing world of dancing. Far From the Tree – a newer dance that I did with Paul James of the UK. This song hits very close to home for me, and I actually had a hard time teaching it the first time. And to add to that the first couple of times I saw people dancing it I choked up. But we also got it right. I had people walk off the floor and when I checked up on them, they said it was because it hit close to home for them as well, so they got really emotional. And that’s what music and dancing does.
I love watching dance shows, like 'So you think you can dance' or 'Dancing with the stars'. I also love watching the people in our dance world, like Fred Whitehouse, Shane McKeever, Guyton Mundy, Roy Hadisubroto and Rachael McEnaney. All wonderful dancers that I could watch all day long. But in the end it’s ALL about the music. If the music speaks to me, the inspiration usually comes.
I have classes every Tuesday and Wednesday. My Tuesday classes are 2 classes, one intermediate and one advanced, based in Copenhagen. I have 25 wonderful dancers who take whatever I throw at them and let me challenge them, so that’s wonderful. My Wednesday class is a smaller improver class, that I had from the very beginning and I’m loving watching them grow as dancers.
My first time “meeting” Guyton Mundy (I’m not sure he even knows this) was at the end of 2005. The UCWDC World Championships were being held in Stockholm, Sweden so we had all prepared and qualified to go. We had done some (easier) Guyton dances, but to be honest I had no idea which were his dances or who he was. I noticed him around the venue, thinking who is this A.J. lookalike (A.J. of the Backstreet Boys – 90's kids will understand lol) walking around wearing sunglasses, even when inside. Well, Niels told me to go take one of Guyton’s classes, with the exact words “it’s a funky one. You’ll like it”. Now at that time we did do funky dances, BUT it was 32 counts, loads of bounce NO arms. I walked in the room and realised it was the guy wearing sunglasses (cleared that up at least haha) and he was teaching SHAKE. 128 counts, phrased dance LOADS of arms. (Thanks Niels!)
Darren Bailey & Daniel Trepat were in the room, and I really felt like a beginner again. This was SO difficult. But I persevered, I learned the dance and I was in awe of the way Guyton taught this. Didn’t introduce myself at the time, but we’ve met several times since and he continues to push the boundaries for what we can do. It's such a shame he is retiring. Whats your most embarrassing moment? Hmmmm…. I’m sure there are plenty. but i remember back in 2005, when attending competitions to qualify for Worlds, I took a class in Norway learning Roy Hadisubroto’s Keep Up Don’t Lose Your Breath. Not an easy dance, but I got into it, which basically led to me falling on my bottom in front of the entire class.! What would you say was your biggest achievement to date? That’s a hard one. I’d say it’s not one single event, but more an accumulation of everything that’s happened over the years to make me who I am today. Meeting people who make me grow as a person, a dancer and a teacher.
Kirsten, who I do a lot of choreography with, started dancing a couple of years after me, in Næstved (also on Zealand) with the same instructor, Kitty. After I moved to Odense, she started dancing in Slagelse, and actually became friends with my mother, sleeping in my old room, when it was too late for her to go back to Næstved. In 2007 (I think) she started dancing in Odense, and only after becoming friends did we realize that we in many ways started the same way. Today she is one my closest friends, and we bounce off each other for inspiration.
Line Dancing has taken me all over the world. First with competitions travelling all over Europe and after that choreography and social events, in Europe and USA. Plenty more places I would love to go, but hopefully there’s still time. My favourite events in Europe are The Danish Line Dance Event, Swedish Dance Party, Strictly Line Dancing (Stoke), Dave’s Newline in Newcastle and Eurodance. As for the U.S. I really liked the Experience, and would love to try The Marathon, Windy City and Vegas..
I love that, when in this world, we get together because of the love of dancing, regardless of age, job, religious or political beliefs. I have so many great friends from all over, and to be honest I have no idea what they do or how old they are, if they are married or if they have kids. Granted Facebook has helped with that, but before I hardly knew what their last names were. But it doesn’t matter, because we get together because we love dancing. And these dancers are some of the most open-minded, openhearted helpful people you’ll ever meet. I’ve just been travelling the U.S. for a month with my boyfriend, and I wrote to a friend of mine, Jessie Chan, to get some advice on flights & hotel bookings. And she went above and beyond. She told us when the best time to book flights was, hooked us up to stay with Stella Kho and basically was our private tour guide all through San Fransisco. That is amazing!
If you weren't a dancer or what would you be doing now? Well since dancing isn’t paying my rent (unfortunately) I do have a fulltime job on the side, where I work as a Purchase & Finance Manager. What are your future aspirations in dance? To continue to grow and push people. I’ve been told that most of my dances are really hard (Sorry about that), but it’s not something I aim for. On a positive note, the dancers also tell me that it’s good to be challenged and they feel really accomplished once they master that dance, which is awesome. I’d love to see more places and meet more people, and just share that love that we have. I've already mentioned Niels as a person who got me to where i am today and taught me a lot the things i know, but i need to direct a Thank you to Dee Musk as well who's been my mama bear, and always ready to help and offer me advice (even when i don't want to hear it lol) She's one of those people who's been doing this for ages and really knows what she's talking about, and i can't thank her enough! Tell us something about yourself no one else knows. The people closest to me know this, but I am really shy deep down. It’s very hard for me to approach people I haven’t met before. And also I’m not sure if they know who I am. I mean why should they, I’m just me, a regular person. It’s quite a big line for me to cross, and unfortunately that comes across, or is being perceived, as arrogance. This couldn’t be farther from the truth. It is something I’m working on, but it’s a work in progress lol, so it might take some time before I get there.
Guernsey is one of the Channel Islands in the English Channel near the French coast, and is a self-governing British Crown dependency. It's known for beach resorts like Cobo Bay and the scenery of its coastal cliffs. Castle Cornet, a 13th-century harbor fortification in the capital of St. Peter Port, now contains history and military museums. Hauteville House is the lavish former home of French writer, Victor Hugo who during his exile from France lived there for 15 years and it is where he wrote Les Misérables. Guernsey is a unique place. Like the rest of the Channel Islands, it is not part of the UK, but nonetheless it feels resolutely British. Yet due to its proximity to France and its quirky laws and customs, it also feels like you're abroad when you come on holiday here. Guernsey is a great destination with lots to see and do whatever time of the year you choose to visit.
Whether you are in the market for an early spring break, a summer beach holiday or an autumn visit when the crowds have gone but the sun may still be shining, the island won’t disappoint. In the summer months, it's time to head off and enjoy Guernsey’s beach life, and the higher temperatures lend themselves to late-evening barbecues and alfresco dining. Throughout July and August, free outdoor music and theatre takes place every Friday night at Castle Cornet. One of the main attractions of an autumn visit is the Tennerfest Food Festival in October and early November, when dozens of restaurants offer value-for-money menus. The winter months lure hardier tourists, who enjoy bracing cliff walks. Hotel prices are lower in the winter, but not all cafés are open in the coastal areas during this period.
Guernsey in itself is a truly wonderful holiday destination, boasting fascinating heritage, breath-taking scenery and a restaurant scene to rival anywhere else in the British Isles. However, the island can also act as your launch pad to its sister isles of Herm, Sark, Alderney and Lihou, all of which can be accessed in less than an hour of travel time. 'Island hopping' is becoming increasingly more popular. If you have any spare time in your busy holiday schedule and you fancy a spot of dancing why not call on Roz, she will always give you a friendly welcome.
Her classes are based at The Cobo Community Centre, The Guet, Guernsey Wednesday 9:30am - 11:30am
Actually, she does have a point. I’ve always been a bit of a wild child. I’m the kind of person who sees a sign saying ‘wet paint,’ and touches it just to see if it is wet. If there’s a button I’ll press it, a bell and I’ll ring it. ‘Keep off the grass’ signs hold no fear for me and if there is a wall or a tree then it is there to be climbed. I spent so much time in A & E as a child; I think the local hospital had a bed with my name on it ready. Escalators are .COFFEE BREAK FICTION my playground and I will perform daring As you know, the coffee break fiction deeds whilst riding up or down much to stories are inspired by line dance the chagrin of my children and husband. titles. Suzi and I were having a chat recently about how I get my Alice is totally different; She seems to inspiration for the stories and she have inherited the sensible DNA from her decided to set me a challenge. She dad, thank goodness. I don’t think he found a line dance title that she could have coped with another one like thought I would find difficult to write me. I sometimes feel like our roles are about. The line dance she suggested reversed and she is the mum and me the is the very popular “Tongue Tied Up” child. A bit like that film Vice Versa. by Teresa and Vera. Yes, I did have to ponder a bit about this one and then this quirky little idea appeared. So make yourself a coffee, grab a biscuit and have a laugh at this crazy mother who gets her comeuppance.
TONGUE TIED UP “How could you? Honestly mum you’ve done some crazy stuff but really, this time you’ve gone too far. I’m soooooooooo embarrassed.” That is my daughter, Alice, giving me a good dressing down. She’s 14 going on 35, whereas I act my shoe size, which is 6. I can only gaze helplessly at her as she stands glaring at me, hopping from foot to foot trying to keep warm on this freezing cold day.
She hasn’t finished berating me yet. “I hope you’re proud of yourself mum. What if some of my friends see us?” A look of horror crosses her face. “OMG, people are videoing you on their phones, you’ll be going viral. Oh this is too much.” She pulls her hood over her head trying to to remain incognito. I glance around and look at the crowd that has gathered, phones held up, people laughing and enjoying every minute of my discomfort.
What can I say? It’s not that I am usually tongue-tied. Normally I am very loud and vocal but at the moment I am helpless. I just look appealingly at my red-faced, angry daughter. This was meant to be a mother and daughterbonding day. With Alice at school and me working full time we don’t get many chances to do things together. I thought a day in town shopping, and then having a latte and cake at our favourite café would give us some quality time together. It started off so well. Alice found some trainers and a top that she liked and I treated myself to a lovely black dress and gold shoes that would do nicely for my forthcoming works do. Then we both had our faces made up professionally in the cosmetic department. We were on our way to have our coffee when things went pear shaped. I didn’t mean it to happen, I just thought it would be funny to take a selfie of me licking the giant ice cream cone outside the coffee shop. What I didn’t realise was that because the weather was freezing, my tongue stuck to the ice cream model and I can’t get it off. I am a prisoner. My own stupid fault, hoisted by own petard as my dear husband will no doubt delight in telling me.
So here I am with my tongue tied up, looking like a real idiot waiting for the fire brigade to come and rescue me. My daughter is furious with me, the crowd watching are in hysterics and to make matters worse, a reporter from the local paper has turned up so it looks as if I am going to be a minor celebrity for a while. I just wish a sinkhole would appear and swallow me up. Ellvie Wood 2017
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Fancy a trip back in time.
If you love your golden oldies, why not pop down to Karen & Gary's Social the last Friday of the month at Bessies in Whitefield. Here's a snapshot of what they are playing.
Pot of gold Smokey Places Sunshine Shuffle Heartbreak express Pretend Fly like a bird All day long Black coffee Just a kiss Feet don't fail me now Stop it Jump on a ride I just wanna dance with you Move a like Half past nothin Quarter after one Lamtarra Rumba T bone shuffle Caught in the act Vertical expressions Shakatak Mack the knife California blue Keep it burning Losin' the love Places ITs up to you
Poor boy shuffle Mexifest Islands in the stream First to last Wishful thinking seven nights to rock Tropicana parking lot Just for grins tempted somebody like you midnight waltz
LDF FUNDRAISING IN LYDIATE LDF (Line Dance Foundation) Fundraising day hosted in Lydiate by Paul O'Connor raised ÂŁ630. The charity day comprised of afternoon workshops by choreographers Suzi Beau, Pat Stott & Hayley Wheatley with guest DJ Diddy Dave Morgan keeping everyone dancing during the day and the evening social. Dances Taught on the day were: Its A Mistake Suzi Beau Dans Le Tango & Now and Forever Patricia Stotty Stott Grace Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris Don't Waste Another Day & No More Sad Songs Hayley Wheatley That's So Me & You Heather Barton & David Morgan. There was also a dance choreographed on the day called Man Alive by all the guest choreographers. The scripts for all these dances can be found online. If you would like to read more on the charity click here !
DJ Playlist for the event Ain't Misbehavin' About Feelings Shady Tango With Me Darling Love Remains Kiss The Sky Take Me To The River Maybe Tomorrow Human After All Don't Scared Of The Dark The Violin Tongue Tied Dy Na Mite Corazon Diamante Run Me Like A River Boom Pow Say It Again Poetry In Motion Forever & A Day 24K Magic Carry You Home Girls Like Have Fun Go Mad Wants & Needs Taking Off I Will Not Say Goodbye Nancy Mulligan Dig Your Heels Pot Of Gold The Queen Girl Crush Funky Sole Somebody Like You We're Alive Dear Friend Amazing Faith Italiano Sound Of Silence Drive Me Wild Missing
Deeply Completely Oops Baby Dans Le Tango Grace Let Me Love You Solo Amor MJ Moves Hold Your Horses Mirror Mirror Commitment The Anthem Chase That Dollar Stop It Funky Cha Syncopated Rhythm Chill Factor Electric Reel Shiver & Shake Switchblade USA Razor Sharp Do Your Thing Smooth Criminal Pretend Swingin R's Wild Wild West Swing Your Chains Blue Finger Lou New Thang and more ..
Dance Reviews ATTENTION!
32 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music: 'Attention by Charlie Puth
Choreographed by Karl Harry Winson
I was unsure about this dance when I initially saw it. The music has definitely grown on me but I think you have to dance the dance to really appreciate it. Karl has made the most of the timing of the track making the steps hit the varying beats and I especially like the Side-Drag. Touch. Point. Back Rock. 1/4 Turn of Section 2. I was a little surprised that Karl repeated the famous Superman step, (back rock, kick & behind side) but if you can tear your mind away from the fact you are not Saving the day you can really start to enjoy the dance. I've taught it at my classes and after the second dance most really liked it.
LIGHT IT UP
64 Count 4 Wall Intermediate Music - "Light It Up" by Marcus & Martinus (feat. Samantha J)
Choreographer: Gary O'Reilly
This dance is a favourite at all my classes and I think because there is nothing too tricky. My improvers have also managed to conquer this one. The music is upbeat and you can't help but sing along. The repeating routine with no tags or restarts lends itself to improvers and intermediates when sometimes they are crying out for a dance which isn't so challenging. This ticks most boxes. Steps which have enough variety to a nippy track but not too many that it's a long teach. Nice laid back dance and if you haven't already had a look, give it a go.
Send us your reviews love2line@writeme.com
PERFECT 32 Count 2 Wall Intermediate Music : Perfect Ed Sheeran
Choreographer: Alison Johnstone & 'Joshua Talbot
Perfect is a fabulous song by Ed Sheeran and I was looking for a dance that my classes would be able to accomplish whilst enjoying the music. Alison and Josh have choreographed 2 dances to this track an Improver level and Intermediate. I chose this one as the most appropriate for my classes and It was a big success with the classes who enjoy rolling 8 counts, waltzes and NC2.s. The steps aren't overly challenging but the double turns may be a little tricky for some albeit they could remove them but I guess the dance would lose something of its dramaticism. Only 32 counts and 2 wall and more than achievable for most imtermediate dancers with 2 easy restarts. It's definitely worth a try for such a great song!!
DANS LE TANGO 64 Count 4 wall Improver Music:: In-Tango by In-Grid
Choreographers: Pat Stott
This dance seems to have been a slow starter. Released in February by Pat and taught in and around various events, whilst not an immediate hit it seems to be creeping up the charts and being discussed widely on social media. So what was once a slow burner seems to be heating up somewhat and it deserves every success as it's a cracking little improver dance that has been enjoyed at all my classes by all levels. Even my intermediates love the fun steps and interesting music. Big thumbs up from me and I can't do enough to promote it, Well done Pat, keep them coming
DIARY OF A LINE DANCER Diary of a Line Dancer
Firstly I prepared a home for my fly, a luxury hotel, well it was a plastic bag with plenty of air holes plus I ensured there would be water and food for my new pet. I found my fly sunbathing on a window ledge, caught it and placed the enraged insect into its new home. I decided to name it Jude because I wasn’t sure if it was male or female so Jude seemed to fit either.
Isn’t it strange how some smells can bring memories flooding back? After mowing the garden the other day, the smell of new mown grass took me back to my school days and the euphoric feeling we all had on the last day of term, the holidays stretching out before us. We could hardly wait for the bell to ring, heralding the end of Jude settled in really well and I ensured the last lesson. Six weeks seemed like there was plenty of marmalade toast on an eternity back then. the menu, as all the flies seemed to make One problem for me was, as I a dive for it whenever it was on our table. attended a boarding school, my My theory was simple, I reckoned that if friends lived too far away for me to Jude saw me every day and heard my voice be able to see them regularly. All the then gradually my trust would be gained children who did live nearby were boys and perhaps I could get Jude to land on my and avoided me like the plague. My shoulder or, at best, fly next to me when I older brother would have rather dived was out walking. I placed the fly on the hall in a bed of nettles than be seen dead table because I was always in and out and hanging around with his annoying little could have a chat whenever I passed by. sister. Luckily fields surrounded us My parents didn’t bat an eyelid to see a fly so my playmates were the animals. in a plastic bag on the hall table. They were Cows, sheep, horses, chickens, were quite used to the eccentric behaviour of my friends; I was a child of nature and their youngest child. My big brother was was able to run a little bit wild. Trees more of a problem, he said I was barmy became castles, adventure parks, and threatened to set Jude free or, even worse, swat my pet fly. The fuss I created anything I wanted them to be. was enough to bring the wrath of my However, one particular summer, I parents down on my brother and so Jude decided that I needed a project. After and I were left in peace. much deliberation I decided that I would try to tame a fly and make it into a pet. After all, I reckoned if people could tame, lions, tigers, elephants, then surely taming a fly should be easy. Were there not such things as flea circuses? Hadn’t our teacher told us about the remarkable feats carried out by ants?
Towards the end of that summer, we moved house. Along with our dog, budgerigar and tortoise, Jude was placed carefully on the back seat of the car. That the poor fly arrived in one piece at our new house was nothing short of a miracle and I really hoped that Jude was as excited as I was at this new life. I grabbed the plastic bag and showed my pet fly all round the house. As the summer holidays were coming to an end I realised that I was never going to be able to tame this fly. Jude flew around in the plastic castle buzzing angrily. I had pet ducks now so my attention was drawn elsewhere. Ducks seemed a bit more amenable to being trained, especially where food was concerned. I decided there and then that it was time to set Jude free. It was a wonderful place for flies, several small lodges, trees and shrubs galore. Water is very attractive to flies and I noticed that there were lots of them that Jude could make friends with. I cried when I set Jude free, my project had failed but my pet fly was ecstatic when freed and went flying off to join a swarm of flies in the distance. I am sure that my parents were relieved when I went back to school and at last didn’t have to share their house with a fly in a plastic bag!
Ellvie
Here are our Hot picks and recommended dances for the month. This month we have split the scripts into levels to make it easy for you to choose a dance.
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The One That Got Away Ellvie’s Escapees - Teacher & Dancer for over 20 years, she shares her passion for line dancing and finds hidden gems long since forgotten or never discovered.
The One That Got Away I must admit, I have a very soft spot for this 'one that got away.' From the moment I first learnt this dance I loved it but sadly it seems to have got lost and I haven't danced it for quite some time. The dance is Moonlight Kiss, a 4-wall, 64 count, intermediate line dance, choreographed by Maggie Gallagher to the music Moonlight Kiss by Raul Malo. First of all, the music is great, it really makes you want to dance and that is a great start. It is a very busy dance and there is quite a lot to learn so not for the faint hearted but as the dance is so good it is well worth persevering with.
Lot of interesting steps in this dance and I particularly like the first two sections. Section 1 has an extended grapevine with a side rock and section 2 has a grapevine, heel vine cross, grapevine, side rock. These sections always made me smile because I felt like a chorus girl. There is a 4-count tag at the end of walls 1, 4 and 6 and also on wall 3 there is one restart following the tag. This can be a little daunting at first but once you know the music then everything falls into place. What a shame that such a good dance seems to have disappeared. Come on teachers, why not get this dance out on the circuit again and give your dancers a treat. Until next time, happy dancing. Ellvie Wood
As with all new ventures it is a case of trial and error and ironing out teething problems. We hope that our magazine will entertain you and help maintain your passion for line dancing. We would love to hear from you about your line dancing experiences. Tell us how you got started. How do your family and friends feel about your dancing or do they share it with you? Have you been on any dancing holidays and would like to share your memories and adventures? Have you any questions that other line dancers may be able to help with?
This magazine is for you so don’t be shy, we would love to hear from you.