THE SPRING WORKSHOP with MAGGIE G.:

What a dramatic start — an historic ice storm hits Ontario!!!! Unfortunately quite a few dancers from far afield couldn’t make the workshop and we did miss them. I was so sorry, if I could have negotiated with the weather to wait a day or so, I would have done so! However, as you will see from the photos a large group of dancers ventured out into that rotten weather determined not to miss the opportunity to dance and learn from superstar **Maggie Gallagher**. We have been dancing Maggie dances for many years and it was wonderful to have her join us as we worked our way through many of her dances on the dance play list.

Maggie also taught us some fantastic new dances:  Celtic Duo, What I Miss Most, Tightrope, Cards On The Table, Save Me Tonight

To give Maggie a break I taught ‘Home We’ll Go’

Maggie gave her all.  She is so immensely talented, in dance, choreography and instruction.   She was either on the dancefloor or socializing, she just didn’t stop!   Maggie brings such genuine warmth with her.  She is such a lovely personality, she had time for everyone, chatting, posing for photos and just generally being part of the gang.  This was the second time that Maggie has stayed with my family and most definitely what you see is what you get!  She is the genuine article and such a pleasure to be around.  Even my little grandchildren were soon under her spell!!   It was a real honour to have her at The Spring Workshop, I am sure no-one will forget this occasion.   Thank you so very much Maggie for flying over the pond to join us, you have left some wonderful memories behind.

CHANGES:

NEW HALL:  I was unable to book our usual venue but was excited when after looking at numerous halls I discovered Estonian Hall on Broadview Avenue.  It had key criteria:  Good size, smooth wooden floor, large stage, reasonable parking, easy access from the Don Valley and also transit.  I really liked the high wooden ceiling with the feel of Europe to it and the management was very helpful.  It did mean I had to limit numbers and it was sold out at 170 dancers.  There were some extras – a nice lobby for people to congregate when they wanted a break from the dancing and the bakery was a big hit!   Very clean toilets as well!!!

NEW DJ: Another big change was the DJ.  It was time for Fred and Eddie to be able to dance, socialize and enjoy The Spring Workshop which they did indeed.  I met Adam Collis at the Rotary Charity Fund Raising Dance which I have been doing for 4 years now.   He was very responsive as the DJ there so I asked if he would be willing to take on a line dance event and I was thrilled when he said “Yes”!  Comments I received about him were “The DJ was phenomenal”, “That DJ was amazing”, “He was so good” and so on and so forth.  Indeed Adam did a fantastic job.  As well as playing the music and moving the dances along, he was our MC and was very responsive to the crowd and to Maggie.  Adam came to look at the Hall in the Fall so he had some idea of what we needed and his equipment was excellent.   He worked at balancing the sound so that everyone would be happy, going out of his way to accommodate.    He also brought along lighting which brightened up our banner.   If anyone is looking for a DJ you can find him on facebook under Adam Collis and website www.kitcound.ca    Adam has also agreed to be the DJ for The Spring Workshop 2019 so you will see him again then.

MEAL:   For the first time dancers could book to have a meal at the hall.   This was provided by Toula of Oak Park Eli and I think she did a great job.

We spent a long time setting up, it takes a while to get to know a new hall and I want to thank Geri, Caroline (Caroline made all those wonderful flowers) and Sam,  Dale (who made the raffle baskets and the centre pieces on the tables), Penny & Ernie and Lorraine for their help on the Friday evening.

On the day my thanks go to the kitchen crew, Lorraine in charge, Dale, my non line dancing friends Chris, Claire and Irene, and everyone else who popped in to give them a hand.   Donna and Chris who did the check –in and helped in a multitude of other ways, Ruurd who did a great job with the raffle, Lavina who took over the Door Prizes, and Christopher who was on hand helping out everywhere including at the clean-up when his willingness was absolutely invaluable.   Cynthia did a terrific job helping Maggie with her T-shirts.  Everyone looked very smart in the new style T-shirt, I must say!!  Thanks also to Jim who brought the ice and videoed the dances, to my husband Michael who collected the welcome cake even though I sent him to the wrong Costco! and to all my other dancing friends who pitched in wherever they saw a need.   I have the best friends!

And, of course, my thanks and appreciation to all the dancers who came out in such terrible weather to join us at The Spring Workshop.  You brought such good energy and good humour with you, it was a real pleasure to walk around and see so many smiling faces.   I do hope you will join us next year when THE SPRING WORKSHOP will be on April 27 and hopefully the weather will cooperate with us then!   It will held back at the Thornhill Community Centre.

MY THANKS AGAIN TO YOU ALL, I COULDN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOU.  Xxxx

RAFFLE:   Many thanks to the event directors who donated complimentary passes, Valarie, Carolyn, Michele, Linda, Regina, the Sudbury Instructors, Bobby,  and to Dale for the baskets (and everyone who donated items for them) and Lorraine for the glass pedestal.  The generous dancers raised $750 for the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children and The Line Dance Foundation.

PS  My son and little grandsons, Royal and Bishop, came on a surprise visit from LA and little Royal even had a go on the dance floor!!  So nice to have them there to meet my line dance friends.

Click on the circle to see the full photo.  Check out the facebook page for more photos taken by dancers at the event.    The Spring Workshop Facebook Group