EVENTS - JUNE 2008

6th & 20th
Royal Selangor Golf Club - Social Dance Workshop Series
Dance : Off Beat Cha Cha
Organizer : RSGC Sports Division

7th
Daniel & Cindy Leong's Line Dance Farewell Party
Location : KGNS (Subang Golf Club), 4 pm
Organizer : Daniel Leong (012-386 0611)

7th
Sai Min's Social & Line Dance Party
Location : OUG Club, 5 pm
Organizer : Lim Sai Min

21st
Studio 33 Annual Line Dance Party
Location : Genting Highlands
Organizer : Teressa Liu (012-388 0135)

Line Dance Workshop - Kota Kinabalu, 3rd May

I was invited by a lovely lady named Beeda to conduct a technique & styling workshop for Line Dancers in Kota Kinabalu in Dec 2007. However, due to committments and festivities we only managed to get a date together this year and I'm sooooooo glad we did.

First of all Beeday herself is a wonderfully warm lady and a really keen dancer. Together with another teacher, Annie, they met me at the KK airport and gave me a light breakfast overlooking the Marina. What a beautiful place to enjoy breakfast.

I was then taken to the workshop venue and introduced to my first group of wonderfully enthusiastic dancers. They had already learnt the steps for the dances that I was going to elaborate on and we raring to learn how to make it technically sound and master some great styling. What a PLEASURE it was to have such a like minded crowd. I enjoyed every hot, sweaty second I had with them. With the first group I managed to cover a cuban (Guajira by Sebastian Holtland) and a funky (Dont Need a Man by Darren Bailey & Lana Williams). The second group covered a cuban too (Going All The Way by Teresa Lawrence & Vera Fisher) and a lilt (Cherry Poppin' by Neville Fitzgerald & Julie Harris).

We had a total of more then 60 people which was the reason we broke the workshop into two groups so I could give more attention to individuals. There was some real talent in the groups too. Unfortunately I had only managed to allocate one day for the workshop and therefore did not have time to socialize with the attendees. Never fear!!! Because I had such great fun with you all, I promise to make more time during my next visit. That way we'll all be able to chat a bit and possibly shake backsides more together.

Thank you ALL, especially Beeda and Annie for your efforts and warm welcome and keeping me hydrated :) I'm so looking forward to going back again.

RSGC Social Dance Workshop Series - Middle Eastern Dancing

There was a good turn out of ladies eager to learn how to shake their bodies. Sadly I couldn't get any of the men to join us in the workshop. I think this was due to the fact that the event was publicised as 'belly dancing' instead of 'middle eastern dancing' which would have been more neutral.

Anyway, we all had a great time. We spent the first day trying to tame our hips and get them to do our bidding. I worked in a simple routine which helped teach the ladies how to move while accenting the thrusts, rolls and lifts of the hips.

On our second day I worked the ladies' upper bodies, teaching them basic movements with the shoulders, arms, fingers and chest. Utilising the simple routine we had used on the first day, we added in the arms and had a great time laughing at the difficulty some had trying to make our stubborn bodies adhere to our directions.

It was a great introduction to the art of middle eastern dancing and we had quite a few new faces in this workshop series. Hope we'll see them back during the month of June too.

Events in May 2008

Here's whats happening in May. Check it out.

Royal Selangor Golf Club, Kuala Lumpur
2nd & 16th
Social Dance Workshop Series - Middle Eastern Dancing
Organizer : RSGC Sports Division

Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia
3rd
Technique & Characterization for Line Dance - Cuban, Lilt & Funky
Organizer : Beeda Gautier

Royal Lake Club, Kuala Lumpur
10th
Social Dance Dinner with Demonstrations
Organizer : RLC Dancesport Committee

Kuala Lumpur Dance Association, OCM, Kuala Lumpur
24th
Social Dance Night with Local Buffet Dinner

The Singapore Millennium 2008 - 27th April 2008

It was great being back in Singapore and working with John & Josephine Tan, the organizers of the championship. This was their 9th championship in a row despite the many problems they've had in the history of the championship e.g. SARS etc.

There were a great number of couples this year (almost 250) and a panel of 21 international adjudicators led by Chief Adjudicator - Mr David Roberts (UK). Together with the scrutineers, which were led by Ms Agnes Ang, it was a tightly run championship which ran smack on time with few problems as we had a well seasoned team.

The couples in the Amatuer levels were incredible with many very evenly matched couples on the floor at the same time. Here are the results -

Latin Grand Senior - Tommy Gunawan & Krista, Indonesia
Latin Senior - Vincent Law & Lydia Yung, Singapore
Latin Novice - Karrent TAsman & Barita Sinesa, Indonesia
Latin Amateur Rising Star Closed - Jefferson Pimentel & Virgianie Oyao, Philippines
Latin Pre-Amateur - Jack Goh & Aurelia Hong, Singapore
Latin Teacher/Student 4 dance - Denis Kozinov & Viktoryia Bogucharskaia, Russia
Latin Amateur Closed Asia-Pac - Arkady Bakenow & Rosa Filippello, New Zealand
Latin Amateur Open - Anton Karpov & Khrystyna Moshenska, Russia
Latin Juvenile Open - Huen Tak Kin & Mak Tsz Kwan, Hong Kong
Latin Teacher/Student 3 dance - Larry Iguidez Jr & Anna Periquet, Philippines
Latin Teacher/Student 2 dance - Denis Tsarev & Elena Dobashina, Russia
Latin Junior Open - Chan Hing Wei & Chan Chui Mei, China
Latin Youth Open - Jefferson Pimentel & Virgianie Oyao, Philippines
Latin Junior Closed SEA - Karrent Hasman & Narita Sinesa, Indonesia

Std. Junior Open - Roman Ishutin & Yuliya Motygina, Russia
Std. Pre-Amateur - Eric Labita & Lim Eng Ai, Singapore
Std. Grand Senior - Jaap & Marianne Willemstein, Netherlands
Std. Novice - Jonas Napoli & Carol Cheng, Philippines
Std. Senior - Leodegario Marante & Michelle Liem, Indonesia
Std. Amateur Closed Asia Pac - Li Wei Ping & Sun Jia, China
Std. Teacher/Student 3 dance - Antonio Micheli & Ong Lu Yi, Singapore
Std. Youth Open - Dariusz Mycka & Hanna Zudziewicz, Poland
Std. Teacher/Student 2 dance - Andrzej Sadecki & Catherine Kasim, Indonesia
Std. Teacher/Student 4 dance - Livanne Jo & Bianca Tonizzo, Australia
Std. Amateur Rising Star Closed SEA - Leodegario Marante & Michelle Liem, Indonesia
Std. Amateur Open - Benedetto Ferruggia & Cludia Koehler, Germany

Congratulations to all the winners and all the best in your next championship.