21 August
We’ve practised the dances, the band has rehearsed the music, volunteers are lined up to help from both Johnsonville and Capital City Clubs, and Jeanette and Rod are poised to guide us through a great night’s dancing.
REMEMBER to bring 2 plates of finger food (at least one savoury) so we’ll have a spectacular supper to rejuvenate us half way through the night!!
Here are some helpful hints to make a great night even better
Come early to welcome our guests
That will also give you time to take your plates of finger food to the kitchen, get your shoes on, chat to fellow club members, warm up, and find a partner for the first dance. Plus, you’ll find it easier to get a park!
Register at the door – and make sure to get your name tag for the night
Entry for Johnsonville Club members is FREE, but we need to know who attends for our financial records.
Club members will get a sticky name label at the door, with an optional sticker for new dancers. The sticker will help experienced dancers buddy up with newer dancers, especially for less straightforward dances.
Most dances will be walked – for the top couple in each set
If you’d like to walk the dance, ask if you can be top couple in your set. You can then choose to stay at the top when the dance starts, or go to the bottom of the set where you can learn more by watching.
Not everyone can be “top couple”, but you can still benefit from listening, and watching the top couple closely so you can visualise what you will do when you get to top place.
Crib sheets – these give you a brief summary of the dance instructions
Download the crib sheet for Saturday’s dance here
You can use it ahead of time to remind yourself how the dances go.
You can also go to https://my.strathspey.org/dd/index/ to search for instructions and videos of dances you’re not quite sure of.
Dance floor conventions – so everyone’s on the same page
To make the evening flow smoothly, we:
- take our place in the set at the bottom of the lines that have already formed
- make straight lines by lining up with the very top couple
- rely on the couple at the very top of the line to count off the sets, making sure we know what number we are in the set
- are quiet when MCs are briefing the dances, so everyone can hear the briefing
- applaud musicians Aileen, Don and Hilary at the end of each dance – they’ll be working hard for our dancing and listening pleasure
- leave our crib sheets at home so we can socialise with our fellow dancers.
Acknowledging the band
How do you get there on the night?
Our dance is on at Ngaio Town Hall. Many of us will drive, and will be happy to give other club members a ride. If you need a ride, email Kristin and she can try to arrange a ride for you. If you need a ride home, talk to Kristin at the dance itself.
Click here for a map to Ngaio Town Hall
Parking is available in a variety of places:
- in the small parking lot next to the hall
- in a small parking lot across the road
- on the street in front of the hall and Ngaio Library
- further up the road at Ngaio station – go under the bridge and round the corner
Always a vexed question – what to wear?
This is our premiere event of the year, so it’s nice to dress up a little (but there is no dress code).
Men who have kilts will wear them, otherwise trousers and a shirt. Some women will wear tartan sashes or tartan skirts, otherwise smart casual with skirts and frocks being standard rather than trousers.
Wear something that will feel good to dance in, and that you won’t get too hot in. Layers are always good.
Volunteer roster
This is attached to this week’s club newsletter. You can check your time slot there. Thanks to everyone who’s volunteered to help on the day, and especially to volunteer co-ordinator Elizabeth Ngan who’s put in a lot of work drawing up the roster.
FINALLY – come along, have a good time and don’t worry if you make a mistake. They happen to us all!
Any questions, feel free to email Kristin
