DESERT DANCE 2009 - TUCSON, AZ
June 4-7, 2009Just back from Tucson, Az where I was dancin' and teachin' and chillin'
with Dee Musk, Shaz Walton and Big Dave Baycroft at a brand new event, Desert
Dance 2009.
Personally, I had a great time. And I'm sure that the large group of
dancers in attendance did also. They were still busy learning even MORE dances
when I had to leave and catch our Sunday flight home.
We actually started Thursday evening with dozens of local as well as
dozens of out-of-town-er dancers who came in early for the event. Shaz, Dee and
I taught 3 lessons at the Cactus Moon, a local hot spot, thanks to Carolyn
who teaches there (and who also co-organized the event with Big Dave.) The
event proper started Friday with three days of great workshops that started
late morning and lasted into the evening with social dancing. That was
followed, for those more hearty, with smartly organized "field trips" to
colorful and rowdy local "pubs" where we ate and drank and had roaring good
time. Sometimes we danced, but mostly relaxed, laughed, ate wings and blew off
the world until we danced again the next day!
Dee, Shaz, Dave and myself taught a slew of dances in a range of levels.
Wonderful choreographers and fantastically good instructors, it felt great
to be part of this team. There was never a time that a dance was being
taught that there wasn't at least another, if not several instructors on the
floor with all the other dancers. We taught our own choreography as well as
dances from many other choreographers from the U.S. and abroad. There were so
many that without the step sheets in front of me, it's hard to name them (I
may have learned "Coochie Magic Hush Hush"). But trust me when I say that
those present were dancing their feet off! In addition we had an impromptu
teach from Sandy Albano and Diane who filled in the parts I was missing
from "Roomba" (why are they singing about a Vacuum cleaner?)
So...Big Shout Out to The Baycrofts (Big Dave and Pauline) who were
wonderful and generous hosts, not only to we, the instructors (who were guests in
his home), but also to all our guests whom he watched over and ensured
that everything was in good order.
Keep an eye out for a Next Desert Dance. You may not want to miss it.
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