Chance to Dance

IMHO - THE GREAT BIG PARTY - Toronto 2006

Have keyboard, will ramble...all In My Humble Opinion.

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The GREAT BIG PARTY 2006

The Great Big Party, Toronto, June 23-25, 2006

Cheers to Adele and her friendly, efficient staff for another Great Big Grand Cruise Party event! I've enjoyed all of the previous years and they just keep gettin' better! Attendance continues to grow, it's nice to see so many different local instructors out with their gangs having a good time.

Adele tends to each and every detail when pulling together a themed weekend event. She also packed in plenty of new features and perks this year, including a new hotel, the Holiday Inn Select, Toronto Airport.

Feed back on this venue was great! I never heard a negative word regarding service, staff, rooms etc. Guest cabins were nicely appointed and updated, (heated tile floors, Wi-Fi, luxury beds, recycle bin/coolers ;)

The restaurant, bar & cart lunch services were convenient and close to the action. This year we had side by side teach/evening ballrooms Lido & Promenade decks respectively which was the most notable and appreciated difference. That made for cruising between port & starboard smooth sailing for travelers. Guests also enjoyed tropical "Ports of Call" with the indoor and outdoor pools - along with the wet n wild "Swimmin with Gerard" early morning "excursions".

(That's prolly all the "Cruise theme lingo" I'm allowed through customs ;)

However, Adele brought a whole lot more. Registration was a breeze, travelers were supplied gob hats and GBP buttons (same promo as previous years) AND just like on cruise ships boarding pictures were taken - how clever!

Watch the GBP site and for word from Adele re pics.
(my pics didn't turn out, Kaz and others were taking lots, perhaps those will surface online?)

The vacation cruise mood was further enhanced by festive decorations and the ultimate in cruise staples feature - The Midnight Chocolate Dream Dessert Buffet!!!!

Oh - My - Gawd!

If it was chocolate, it was included, as was anything else you could desire, which set everyone into a feeding frenzy! (uhh as nautical of an expression I could think of ;) Anyhow folks just LOVED it! Cruisers floated around the lavish spread enjoying all sorts of tasty, chocolatey, gooey, treats.

Eventually the chocolate covered dancers made their way back to the ballrooms, all hyped with renewed energy ready to keep the floor rockin' into the wee hours. Lots of us enjoyed the sunrise both mornings. Thanks to the DJs for riding out the chocolate wave!


Speaking of, Lynn Warden, was on Promenade and Mike & Deb Levesque, were on Lido doing the music. They did a nice job mixing it up over the weekend. A few other folks pitched in from time to time too like Debi Pancoast, I think I even saw Scott up there once. Thanks to them for sittin' behind the helm while we played!

The single disappointment I heard over the course of the weekend was that Wildman Louie was unable to attend, most folks have heard the story, but naturally he was missed by many...

Capt. Adele & Crew

The Instructor "Crew"

On board were plenty of big names sharing a variety of nice dances, for instructors and dancers alike, over the weekend. (I've already taught or plan to teach/dance those typed in all caps) In no particular order, scheduled dances included:

John Robinson: Cold Hard Cash, Talk about it, Firefly, KOWBOY KRAZY, CHAMPAGNE ON ICE, BATTER UP! Mamacita, Easier Touch

Gerard Murphy: Get Your Groove On, ONLY YOU, Probably On Thursday, Go Crazy, *Choreograph a dance* see below

Scott Blevins: HEY! PEOPLE, Together Forever, BREAK FREE CHA, I Scream, *BOOTY CHECK AKA SOS* see below

Junior Willis: Run It, Happy Hour, I Will Be, Flying Scot, La Tortura, GET A LITTLE

Fred Buckley: Down On The Corner, Heartbreak Express, HOLDING A DREAM, Language of Love

Debi Pancoast: PUMP IT, Mandolin Dreams

Johanna Barnes: GEEK IN THE PINK, Secret

Nelson Clarke: PROMISCUOUS

Zandra McCallum: Together We Are One, Rockafella

Abby Mina: Bachata Shake

Christine Mui: Eclipse, HIPS

Val Keller: TICKET TO HEAVEN, Louisiana Strut

* Notes:

Gerard had a session that divided dancers into groups who then came up with different choreography to a Paula Abdul track, all the groups, 5 in total did a super job and created nice doable unique dances, most of all it was just lots of fun! Contact Gerard or team leaders if interested in steps (Kathy K, Carmen Mah, Rosie & Jenn, Me & Frank, one more I don't have the name for. This is a clever idea that can be used many ways, see bottom of my choreography page for basic directions. (I've used this as a game calling it "On the Spot" when teaching at kids summer camps etc it's always gone well.)



*SOS renamed Booty Check.
Scott Blevins has been teaching my dance SOS, written to The Sound of Sex by The Weather Girls, out n about in his worldwide workshop travels since January. THANKS SCOTT! As have others - I've gotten real nice feedback and response for it this weekend was great, thanks for giving it a go!

While at the GBP Scott explained that because of the title, he's noticed it's getting confused with the other SOS dances done to the Rihanna song.

SO to minimize the confusion, we've re-named the dance Booty Check, as that came up during the teach break down. Thanks to Scott for his suggestion and his invitation to co-teach it with him at the GBP. By the way Scott checks his booty right nicely too ;)

I've revised the sheet and John Robinson is stocking the music.


Ok back to the ship!

Most popular repeats of the weekend I heard were:
Hey People, and Break Free Cha, then Bosa Nova and Simplemente of the been around a while dances...
(Jim Harvey was there on Saturday, perhaps he did a survey check off list?)

Odds were good during open dance there was a song playing you knew/once knew going on in one of the rooms constantly - like I said earlier totally accessable dance space...just pick your floor - and DANCE!

A majority of dancers bopped back n forth all weekend long.

Workshops are a great way to verify dances you read about in the various lists etc... saw lots of 'em on the floor over the weekend.

I didn't take many classes - surprise surprise ;)

BUT I've got several "start off" teach picks from the weekend for the various class levels, plus the "virgins" have their wish lists too! All n all - lots of usable stuff!

Other weekend highlights included EVENING demos :)a nice but not too lengthy Saturday night show that included Johanna's medley, Michele Carver's group doing "Grease" and the rest of the crew in cruise or native islander costumes - perhaps some of the guys in grass skirts & shell bras won't make the travel brochure but were interestin' to look at, nice legs too!

One of the things that make this weekend stand out is the way Adele presents her workshop materials. Everything is beautifully produced!

For the most part all color printed and uniquely connected to the theme of the year, from the registration forms to the welcome brochure, the web site and e-promos, even the step disk was color labeled. The step book itself is a work of art, all adding a very professional touch that shows a lot of time and creativity in planning & preparation, just like the actual weekend itself.

You know with Adele if she's gonna do it, she'll do it right! Her and her staff were available all weekend and seemed to enjoy seeing people enjoy themselves, whilst they worked!

Locals and travlers assisted with the behind the scenes side of things - everything ran smoooooth as can be.
Thanks to all involved in showing us a fine time!


Be sure to make next year's event - see ya there! www.thegreatbigparty.com

Former virgins ;)

My Personal Top Ten!

10. Finding a prime parking spot - then returning to the exact same spot each time we left over the weekend! Amazing eh?

9. Just being there!!! I haven't been out to a workshop since Ft Wayne.

8. Adele confirming next year's GBP - YAY!

7. Death by Chocolate - that truly was exceptional!

6. Autographs??? must be a Toronto area thang - how cute!

5. "Neverdance" with John on Sunday, since we didn't get to it Thursday - dag it's been a LONG time!

4. Hangin' with the late nighters - always a riot!

3. Gerard, Fred, etal showing some skin! Woo hooo ;)

2. Booty Check/SOS with Scott! a floor full to boot! Wow!

1. Seeing friends from near & far I've not seen for ages! Any time there's music playing is too short for catching up but it's nice to know folks are well and DANCING!

SUBJECT: THE GREAT BIG PARTY
FROM: Jim Harvey(Tennessee) from Carol Cravens newsletter

This past weekend Adele Plantamura directed the THE GREAT BIG PARTY located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada with a cast of fun conscientious helpers. The dancing action started Friday June 23 with six line dance workshops in two ballrooms from 6 to 9 PM. This was followed by
an"Anything Goes Party" and a "Country, Classics dance party with a break at 11:30 PM for "Midnight Madness Demos" before open dancing continued from 12 PM to ?? with DJ's Mike Bishop and Lynn Warden handling dancer requests.

Due to my airline travel "standby method" I listened to other event attendees when they told me about the great friday night they had during the Friday event schedule listed above. I finally arrived on Saturday at about 11:30 AM which followed Gerard Murphy's Synchronized Pool Swim from 7:45 AM to 8:30 AM before six line dance workshops took place from 9 to 11:50 AM., and just in time for the scheduled 12 to 2 PM instructor reviews of the Friday evening and Saturday morning teaches.

The remainder of Saturday included eight more line dance workshops, a 6to 8 PM dinner break, a show and dance demo's which were followed by open dancing at approximately 9:20 PM. At midnight a free magnificent Venetian type CHOCOLATE DREAM DESERT BUFFET was presented to us while we continued dancing. Thanks Adele for such a fabulous treat while we
danced into Sunday morning.

Sunday was also a special event day as a large number of the dancers stayed for the 3 to about 5:30 PM dance review and open dancing Wrap-Up Party. The rest of Sunday consisted of Gerard back at it again with a wake up and warm up synchronized swim group while I slept, eight more
workshops, and an hour of dance review time with the instructors.

CHOREOGRAPHERS THAT HAD THEIR WORK PRESENTED: Paul & Karla Dornstedt,Peter Metelnick, Ann Wood, Bracken Ellis, Jamie Marshall, Liz Clarke,Guyton Mundy, Zac Detweiller, Phil Dennington, Betty Weeks, Linda & Maggie, Norm Gifford, Bob Sykes, Bryan McWherter, Masters In Line, Pete Harkness, Carol Daugherty, Joy Huggins, Rob Fowler, Geri Morrisson &
Karla Carter

WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS & DANCES:

Scott Blevins(Indiana) --- Break Free Cha, I Scream, Together Forever, Hey! People(Guyton), SOS(Carol)
NOTE: New name for Carol Daugherty's SOS dance is "BOOTY CHECK" to avoid current dance name confusion. This dance has been taught and recommended by both Scott Blevins and Joey Warren. It is one of those "great stuff" dances that have been overlooked.

Nelson Clarke(Ontario) --- Promiscuous(Nelson & Guyton) - This is a great funky dance

Johanna Barnes(Connecticut) --- (Geek) In The Pink, Secret - First time teach - This was a fun workshop for me. The Smooth just fast enough music, Secret by Marron 5 was well suited for Johanna's choreography style which hits the beats in a manner that encourages the dancer to experiment with different interesting movements that satisfy their
dancing abilities.

Gerard Murphy(Nova Scotia) --- Probably On Thursday, Venus, Only You, Get Your Groove On, Go Crazy(Gerard & Bracken)

Junior Willis(Tennessee) --- I Will Be, Run It, Happy Hour(Junior & Guyton), Get A Little(Junior & John), La Tortura(Junior, Betty, Linda & Maggie), Flying Sco(Liz) - A fun dance taught by Liz at JG2 - Junior's One Day Preparation to teach this turned out to be a "good time" fun class. Thank's Junior.

John Robinson(Kentucky) --- Cold Hard Cash, Mamacita, Easier Touch(Ann), Batter Up, Kowboy Krazy, Champagne On Ice(Paul & Karla), Talk About It(Joy), Firefly - First time teach - Looks like another winner for John, but watch out for a fast double turn during the last eight counts of the dance.

Zandra McCallum(Ontario) --- Rockafella(Pete), Together We Are One(Geri)

Debi Pancoast(Conneticut) --- Pump It(MIL), Mandolin Dreams(Bryan)

Christine Mui(Ontario) --- Hips(Zac), Eclipse(Jamie & Bracken)

Abby Mia(Toronto) --- Batchata Shake, Baila Salsa Tonight! -The enthusiasm for dancing by Abby and his class during open dancing made me know that I missed a fun time by not taking Abby's workshop

Van Keller(Ontario) --- Ticket To Heaven(Rob), Louisianna Strut(Bob)

Fred Buckly(Toronto) --- Heartbreak Express(Peter), Down On The Corner(Peter), Holding A dream(Phil), Language Of Love(Norm)

VERY APPROXIMATE PLAY LIST:
Following Carol's June 26 Newsletter Survey:
Bosa Nova, Heartbreaker, Simplemente, It's Up To You, Keep On Dancing, (Geek) In The Pink, Walk Back To Me, Hey! People, Come Tommorrow, After Party, Syncopated Love, Bop The B, Go Greased Lightning, Holding A Dream, The Way, Break Free Cha, I'm Moving On, Mandolin Dreams, Keep It
Burning, Soluna, Drop The Heat, No Regrets, Caught In The Act, Pump It, Syncopated Kiss, Bombshell Stomp, Hipps, Shake, Shake Yourself Loose, Trippin, Irish Stew, Jailhouse Creole, Kowboy Krazy, Promiscuous, Beep, Cold Hard Cash, Easier Touch, Feels So Good, Happy Hour, Meltdown,
Celtic Kittens, Feel My Vibe, Friction Addiction, Going All The Way, Home, I Scream, Talk About It, Backstreat Blues, Cha Cha Tonight, Champagne On Ice, Cocoa Puffs, East To West, Freaks To The Floor, Have Fun Go Mad, La Tortora, Now Or Never, On The Water, Replay, Suds In The Bucket, You Can Dance
Some Others Not On Current Survey:
Dangerous, Never Dance, Jukebox, Get It While It's Hot, Black Horse, Right To Be Wrong, Stop It, Up Side Down, Phloor Philla, Hot N' Sweaty, What It Is

Thanks to all of the instructors, the fantastic open dancers, the hard working DJ's, and event helpers that made my trip to Canada a "fun fun fun" time. Great Job Adele. See you all next year.

Jim Harvey(Tennessee)