The winter calendar had a few differences this year at Johnsonville.

With tutor Rod Downey overseas for work from mid-May to the end of July, our regular mid-winter dinner became a pre-winter Spring into Autumn celebration in early May. There was no way we were missing out on dressing up, dinner, dancing and mulled wine, so we managed to find a time in amongst all the other May dancing events.

While Rod was absent over the winter months, guest tutors Catherine McCutcheon and Jeanette Watson took over teaching the club. They spent that time helping dancers consolidate their learning and prepare for the highlight of our dancing year – the annual dance. Many thanks to both for once again finding time in their busy lives to share their skills, knowledge and enthusiasm. We do appreciate it.

President Kristin Downey joined Rod overseas in June, and committee and club members all did their part in keeping the club running smoothly and supporting our guest tutors. As always, it was a nice opportunity for dancers to see different styles of tutoring, and enjoy different ways of learning. Maureen Sullivan did a great job of coordinating the team who had hall set-up and pack-up running like clockwork in Rod and Kristin’s absence.

Cadgers in the Canongate at the annual dance

However, our biggest difference this winter was deciding to get together with Island Bay club to organise a combined annual dance. This is the first time Johnsonville has combined with another club and we hope it will not be the last.

It was such a fun night with a festive atmosphere and inspiring music from Strings Attached – thanks to Lynne Scott, Sharlene Penman, Heather Elder and Richard Hardie, also visiting musician André Nies.

Now that spring has arrived, the end of the year seems to be racing away, but we have two more club nights with live music still to enjoy. Wild Heather will play at our next tartan night on Monday 1 October, and we will see the year out once again with music from Peter Elmes and his merry troupe at our final night on Monday 26 November. Do join us.

From Kristin Downey. Originally published in Harbour City Happenings Volume 21 No. 2
September 2018