Origin & 1st 5 years
On 17 August 2003, 8 of
us got together to do dances with a little bit more
"zap" & not-so-dated.
We wanted to add Latin to our
repertoire of Modern Ballroom, Old Time/Classical Sequence Dancing.
In 2003, we called ourselves 1&3 group because
we were meeting on 1st & 3rd Sunday in Caversham Bowling
Club. As we were only meeting fortnightly Sunday & sometimes 3-weekly Sunday, we only
managed 8 sessions in the 4 months, but we learned 6 dances. By the new year,
some of us thought 2 sessions a month was not enough to get good. So, in Jan
2004, we started to meet on Fridays in Fairfield Hall, as well as continuing 1st
& 3rd Sundays in Caversham Bowling Club (for those who can't make
Fridays). Hence our new name : Fairsham Dancers.
By our 1st
birthday, we have a repertoire of 16 dances
& a membership of 17.
By our 2nd Birthday, we
have a repertoire of 31 dances & a membership of 17. 4 new members replaced 4
who left. And, 5 of the “pioneer 8” are still at the club.
Most important of all, we
are still open to trying new style of dancing. We continue to expand our
repertoire. We continue to enjoy our dancing, whether we do it elegantly or
not. (I am demanding “stately” in the Gavotte.) We continue to persevere with
the difficult dances.
During our 3rd year, 8 of us demonstrated Redforde Rumba in the QB workshop,
Ashburton, June 2006. Grasmere Waltz was voted most popular.
By our 3rd Birthday, we have a repertoire of 47 dances & a membership
of 20. 6 new members replaced 3 who left. And, 4 of the “pioneer 8” are still
at the club.
In our 4th year, 12 of us
demonstrated Halkadiki Cha Cha in LD workshop, Invercargill, November 2006. Our
Cha Cha was voted most popular. Cypress Swing was a close 2nd.
During our 4th year, 14 of
us demonstrated Lancastrian Gavotte in QB workshop, Dunedin, June 2007.
Tango Armadillo was voted most popular.
By our 4th Birthday, we have a repertoire of 61 dances & a membership
of 14. 6 members left. And, 4 of the “pioneer 8” are still
at the club. We have archived 10 dances cos 50 dances is a manageable
number to work with. At our parties & tea dances, the archived dances are
requested.
In our 5th year,
8 of us
demonstrated Abi's Jive in LD workshop, Christchurch, November 2007. White
Heather Waltz was voted most popular. Birmingham Blues was a close 2nd.
During our 5th year, 8 of us
demonstrated Mahonia Foxtrot in QB workshop, Ashburton, June 2008. Bamboo Blues
was voted most popular.
By our 5th
Birthday, we have a repertoire of 70 dances & a membership
of 12. 2 members left. 4 of the “pioneer 8” are still
at the club. We no longer dance on Fridays in Fairfield Hall.
Although we now only dance on Sundays in Caversham Bowling Club, we retain the
name "Fairsham Dancers".
The 2nd 5 years
In our 6th year,
6 of us
demonstrated Vallenato Marlia in LD workshop, Invercargill, November 2008.
Kim choreographed this dance. It has a lot of Argentine Tango terms in it.
It was not chosen. Strictlee Mambo was voted most popular. Ambleside
Saunter was 2nd.
During our 6th year, none of us went to QB workshop, Hokitika, June 2009.
Some of us were out of the country. It was a real pity as this would be
the last time Hokitika would host such an event. Madison Swing
was voted most popular. Saunter Shiraz was 2nd
By our 6th
Birthday, we have a repertoire of 78 dances & a membership
of 11. 1 member died, 4 left. 4 new members joined. Only 2 of the “pioneer 8” are still
at the club.
Dorothy Wilson
died in Feb 2009. She had been such a staunch & supportive member of this
club. She so loved her dancing. She was always game to have a go at new type
of dances. Never did she use her age as an excuse to avoid trying new dances.
As a result, she had enjoyed Jive, Cha Cha, Samba & even had a great time
wobbling through Vallenato. These days, when we dance Witches Waltz (Dorothy’s
favourite dance), our thoughts inevitably stray to thinking of her.
In our 7th year,
8 of us
demonstrated Salsa Chocolate in QB workshop, Ashburton, June 2010. Tayside
Tango was voted most popular
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Philosophy