2022 Annual Dance: Well worth the wait!

After two years of our Annual Dance being cancelled due to covid, it was third time lucky this year.

As Johnsonville President, it was my turn to give the speech, and it was wonderful to be able to welcome six sets of dancers to the 2022 Johnsonville-Capital City Combined Annual Dance on 20 August.

Many thanks to those who joined us from Linden, Lower Hutt (a full set), Ngaio, Tawa – and one very enthusiastic visitor from out of town.

John Markham in the centre of the set enjoying John Markham’s Rant devised by Johnsonville Tutor Rod Downey. Photo: Loralee Hyde

Looking at the weather across the preceding week, we did at times wonder if cancellations due to ‘plague’ would be followed by cancellation due to ‘flood’! But despite endless days of rain, and many slips across the Wellington region, our dance went ahead.

MCs Jeanette and Rod did a fantastic job of putting together a programme for everyone to enjoy, preparing us well, and keeping us on track on the night. It was a lovely, friendly and relaxed atmosphere, with experienced dancers supporting ‘red dot’ newer dancers.

Wonderful covering during the more challenging dance, City of Wisteria. Photo: Loralee Hyde

This was the first time we’d held the annual dance at Newtown School hall, Capital City club’s home venue. A new venue is always a bit of an experiment, but it turned out to be excellent.

At a club night, the hall capacity and ambiance are diminished by stacks of chairs, random items of furniture, the school BBQ and sometimes bicycles. But once we had all those stowed away, there was plenty of space, even with a portable stage in place for the night.

The hall set-up team did a marvellous job, bringing colour and a festive atmosphere to the hall. The walls were decorated with tartan rugs, tartan bunting and Scottish shields, with a very tall ladder needed to pin up a backdrop of Scottish flags on the stage curtains – and our very tallest member for the highest bunting.

Johnsonville and Capital City members working together to set up the tartan rugs and bunting. Photo: Kristin Downey

Despite recent weather, club members delivered an abundance of greenery and flowers from their gardens. Although perhaps a little overwhelmed initially, Aline Homes took up the challenge, her beautiful arrangements creating a splendid setting for the band.

Musicians Lynne Scott, Sharlene Penman and Richard Hardie were also splendid, playing fantastic music for us. Thank you for such a great night’s dancing, and thanks to Duncan McDonald for the staging and James Scott on sound.

Lynne Scott, Sharlene Penman and Richard Hardie playing toe-tapping music on the stage beautifully decorated with floral arrangements created by Aline Homes. Photo: Loralee Hyde

There are of course lots of other people to thank, including all those who helped with supper and hall pack-up. Johnsonville’s tartan tablecloths were on display at supper time, and members from both clubs ensured there was a more-than-we-could-possibly-eat supper spread.

Special thanks to Allison Kay (for all that shopping and chopping to make fruit salad), and Elizabeth Ngan (for overseeing everything supper-related, including two recce visits to the hall). I hear the newly renovated hall kitchen was a pleasure to use.

A sumptuous supper catered for all, laid out on Johnsonville’s long-standing tartan tablecloths Photo: Loralee Hyde

Members of the Annual Dance sub-committee deserve recognition for all the work they’ve put in – three years of organisation finally came to fruition in this year’s dance. Members from Capital City this year were Jeanette Watson, John Jowett and Peter Beaumont (plus Neil Bromley in 2020 and 2021).

Johnsonville members were Allison Kay, Kristin and Rod Downey, and Maura Beattie. I am very grateful to John Jowett, who has chaired the committee for all of those three years, and to Johnsonville club members Loralee Hyde and Robert Vale for their contributions.

The musicians have also been working towards this for three years, and were also delighted to see it all come together this year.

Sadly, some people did still miss out. Quite a few club members planned to be there, but were prevented by illness. We look forward to next year’s dance being one that everyone can attend.

Click on the gallery below to see more of Loralee and Kristin’s photos.

Watch Pat Reesby’s videos:
Andrew and Gordon’s jig
The Shores of Solway

Watch Aline Homes’ video:
Catch the Wind

Kristin Downey
25 August 2022

Download the 2022 Annual Dance Programme

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