Dear dancers,
I have written a new dance called Secret Giggles to She Said by Take That! This is the hidden track in track 12 called 'Here' on their new album 'The Circus'....to get to the hidden track you have to forward 'Here' about 5 minutes and 25 seconds.....the song 'She Said' starts with Gary Barlow giggling! hence the name of the dance!
I will be teaching this dance over the next few weeks, when we get back to class - in the 7.30 classes on both Monday and Wednesdays....but if you are a beginner and would like to have a go at it too, then please go to Andy's YouTube site EasyAMD and watch either a video of myself demonstrating the dance, or a video of me teaching one wall.....!
Imagine that! Me in your living rooms! haha
I hope you enjoy learning the dance as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Take That forever!
Julie xxx
We start back in Oak Lodge on Monday 5th January 2009
and
We start back in Westergate on Wednesday 7th January!!
I look forward to seeing you all again very soon...!
The Katz Modern Line Dancers!
Tuesday 30 December 2008
Thursday 18 December 2008
Bournemouth - Christmas Parties - and Thank Yous!
Dear Dancers,
Well the Christmas season is upon us and we have now finished our classes for 2008!
I am going to end the year by saying how much I enjoyed teaching you all this year, you are quite simply the nicest line dancers around and I feel very privileged to have you in my classes.
Our weekend break to Bournemouth has received a huge amount of positive feedback, some of the comments received so far are below
“we had a lovely time and would love to come again”
“the food was great, our waitress was a lovely girl, and my friends and I cant wait for the next trip!”
“as always everything was perfectly organised and you took great care of us all”
Thank you for all you lovely comments, cards and presents everyone – I am very touched. Xxx
Thank you also to everyone that dressed up for our fancy dress on Saturday evening in Bournemouth – your costumes showed great imagination (as always!). Panto was a bit of a tricky theme to go with (but what else could we do at Christmas!?) and it was great to see Viv as Buttons, Theresa as Dick Wittington and Kellie as her cat!, Lisa was Peter Pan, Lin was also Dick Wittington (oh no! could we cope with two!?)…and as you will see from the photograph we had plenty of other panto characters too, including myself who came as the Snow Queen….how could you all think I looked good with that wig!!!???
Mondays Christmas party was loads of fun down in West Wickham – you truly are such a lovely group of people – warm, friendly, never complaining, great dancers and all very close to my heart. Will I ever leave you? No!!!!
Wednesdays Christmas party was our new beginners first ‘social’ and they did fantastically well with remembering all the dances they have been taught in the past four months – they coped really well with all the ‘split floors’ and as usual, were warm, friendly and just great company!
Our improvers and intermediates are becoming a very competent group of dancers, who are happy to ‘go with the flow’ and let me decide what to dance and when! Thank you for all coming along last night and helping the party go with a swing!
Well, I think that’s it for now – Oak Lodge returns on January 5th, and Westergate returns on January 7th!
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and I wish you all a peaceful and Happy New Year too.
Julie xxx
Well the Christmas season is upon us and we have now finished our classes for 2008!
I am going to end the year by saying how much I enjoyed teaching you all this year, you are quite simply the nicest line dancers around and I feel very privileged to have you in my classes.
Our weekend break to Bournemouth has received a huge amount of positive feedback, some of the comments received so far are below
“we had a lovely time and would love to come again”
“the food was great, our waitress was a lovely girl, and my friends and I cant wait for the next trip!”
“as always everything was perfectly organised and you took great care of us all”
Thank you for all you lovely comments, cards and presents everyone – I am very touched. Xxx
Thank you also to everyone that dressed up for our fancy dress on Saturday evening in Bournemouth – your costumes showed great imagination (as always!). Panto was a bit of a tricky theme to go with (but what else could we do at Christmas!?) and it was great to see Viv as Buttons, Theresa as Dick Wittington and Kellie as her cat!, Lisa was Peter Pan, Lin was also Dick Wittington (oh no! could we cope with two!?)…and as you will see from the photograph we had plenty of other panto characters too, including myself who came as the Snow Queen….how could you all think I looked good with that wig!!!???
Mondays Christmas party was loads of fun down in West Wickham – you truly are such a lovely group of people – warm, friendly, never complaining, great dancers and all very close to my heart. Will I ever leave you? No!!!!
Wednesdays Christmas party was our new beginners first ‘social’ and they did fantastically well with remembering all the dances they have been taught in the past four months – they coped really well with all the ‘split floors’ and as usual, were warm, friendly and just great company!
Our improvers and intermediates are becoming a very competent group of dancers, who are happy to ‘go with the flow’ and let me decide what to dance and when! Thank you for all coming along last night and helping the party go with a swing!
Well, I think that’s it for now – Oak Lodge returns on January 5th, and Westergate returns on January 7th!
Have a wonderful Christmas everyone and I wish you all a peaceful and Happy New Year too.
Julie xxx
Wednesday 17 December 2008
BOURNEMOUTH!!!
Dear dancers,
Well we had a fabby time in Bournemouth with 52 of our dancers friends and family (well, only my sister Susan this time but you know what I mean!). I will be saying lots lots more about the weekend away and this weeks Christmas parties later in the week when I get a little time to type more.....but in the meantime for a peek at a few of the great photos taken at the weekend please go to our website on www.linedancingevents.com and click on 'photos'!!!
Back soon!!
Oh dont forget that tomorrow is the last class of 2008 in Westergate - and its party night!! so please come along at 7 and stay til 10! Its gonna be fun fun fun! (Im sooo cheesy its just not true eh? hehe)
see you there!
Julie x
Well we had a fabby time in Bournemouth with 52 of our dancers friends and family (well, only my sister Susan this time but you know what I mean!). I will be saying lots lots more about the weekend away and this weeks Christmas parties later in the week when I get a little time to type more.....but in the meantime for a peek at a few of the great photos taken at the weekend please go to our website on www.linedancingevents.com and click on 'photos'!!!
Back soon!!
Oh dont forget that tomorrow is the last class of 2008 in Westergate - and its party night!! so please come along at 7 and stay til 10! Its gonna be fun fun fun! (Im sooo cheesy its just not true eh? hehe)
see you there!
Julie x
Sunday 23 November 2008
Last weeks classes.....Christmas Party Dates...and a new tricky dance coming up soon....
Dear Dancers and friends,
Dates for your diary first of all:
Wednesday December 10th - For one night only, the Westergate class will be using the 'drama studio' instead of the main hall as the school are using it for their Christmas production. Please drive around the back of the school to the 'Sports Centre' and they will direct you to the drama studio. Class times are as normal. Thank You.
7 - 10 p.m. (IN BOTH VENUES) - please bring along a small plate of nibbles to share with the class. Lists will be on the desk from this week, for you to write down what you would like to bring for the evening. Please also feel free to bring along your own alcoholic beverages for your own table.
These will be evenings of fun and dancing - with all levels mixed up all evening, we will play all your requests and I'll be there to help out on the dance floor as usual.
************************************************************************************
Last week was a very energetic week for everyone as I ran them through their paces of dances new and old!
Monday beginners did fanstastically well with County Line cha cha and danced it to 'Neon Moon', 'The way you make me feel' and also 'Tell me ma!' Well done everyone, I was very impressed! well done you lot!
The improvers and intemeidates worked hard too.......
Greystone, Heartbreak Express, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Galway Girls and Like a dream have now all been perfected and so it was week one of Doctor's Order by Maggie G...!
I was also handed a lovely poem by our winner of last weeks Charity Shop Chic evening, Mo which I have typed out for you below.......thanks Mo!
Wednesdays beginners are doing brilliantly as always - this weeks new rhythm was 'waltz' and we had lots of fun learning Rita's Waltz to Take That's Love ain't here anymore....as they are such an able group we went straight in with the three quarter turn and after only 20 minutes were dancing it very very well. Remember tho, this was only week ONE of this dance and practice makes perfect! They also learned Peaches & Cream to Ringo Starr's You're 16, you're beautiful and you're mine. Once again they coped brilliantly!
Between the hours of 7.30 and 9.50 they perfected Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Galway Girls, Like a dream and also learned a new dance entitled 'cabo san lucas'. Now not being able to get hold of the correct version of this dance (which is by Toby Keith) I found an alternative version by someone with the lovely name of 'Lee Beanpot Dodge' (what a fabulous name!) and we danced to his somewhat 'marmite' twangy voice instead! haha!! Personally Im fast becoming a fan of Mr. Beanpot Dodge but one or two of the dancers (you know who you are Mick and Liz) were slightly less than taken with his dulcet tones.......and I was told to 'dispose' of that copy!! Well really! Have no fear tho folks, as I do believe Toby Keiths version is possibly going to arrive someday soon.......!! (poor ol Beanpot eh?).
It was also week two of 'Am I?' which appears to be a hit with the intermediates! Its growing on me I have to admit.....
NEW INTERMEDIATE DANCE THIS WEEK!
The intermediates are going to be challenged with the Funky dance called 'Turn Me Loose' by Simon Ward.....nothing toooooo tricky, and as it's a very popular dance with the funky linedance community accross the world - why should we miss out!?
And finally.....(thank goodness I hear you cry!).......this week I have been hard at work on preparations for our Christmas Weekend to Bournemouth and hope you are looking forward to this as much as I am! And as part of our preparation for Bournemouth I will be reviewing lots of the popular dances of this year in the classes over the next couple of weeks to prepare you for it!
Take care everyone, and see you all soon!
Julie x
Dates for your diary first of all:
Wednesday December 10th - For one night only, the Westergate class will be using the 'drama studio' instead of the main hall as the school are using it for their Christmas production. Please drive around the back of the school to the 'Sports Centre' and they will direct you to the drama studio. Class times are as normal. Thank You.
THE KATZ CHRISTMAS PARTIES!
Wednesday December 17th - Westergate - West Sussex
and Monday December 15th - West Wickham - Kent
7 - 10 p.m. (IN BOTH VENUES) - please bring along a small plate of nibbles to share with the class. Lists will be on the desk from this week, for you to write down what you would like to bring for the evening. Please also feel free to bring along your own alcoholic beverages for your own table.
These will be evenings of fun and dancing - with all levels mixed up all evening, we will play all your requests and I'll be there to help out on the dance floor as usual.
************************************************************************************
Last week was a very energetic week for everyone as I ran them through their paces of dances new and old!
Monday beginners did fanstastically well with County Line cha cha and danced it to 'Neon Moon', 'The way you make me feel' and also 'Tell me ma!' Well done everyone, I was very impressed! well done you lot!
The improvers and intemeidates worked hard too.......
Greystone, Heartbreak Express, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Galway Girls and Like a dream have now all been perfected and so it was week one of Doctor's Order by Maggie G...!
I was also handed a lovely poem by our winner of last weeks Charity Shop Chic evening, Mo which I have typed out for you below.......thanks Mo!
The Cat's Whiskers
There was a lady called Mo
always willing to have a go
fancy dress was required
to be bought and not hired
she shopped til she dropped
then finally stopped
when the gear she acquired
was dull, old and shady,
she cried out, inspired
"I'll be a bag lady!"
With this disguise
to her great surprise
and to surmise
she won FIRST prize!
******
Wednesdays beginners are doing brilliantly as always - this weeks new rhythm was 'waltz' and we had lots of fun learning Rita's Waltz to Take That's Love ain't here anymore....as they are such an able group we went straight in with the three quarter turn and after only 20 minutes were dancing it very very well. Remember tho, this was only week ONE of this dance and practice makes perfect! They also learned Peaches & Cream to Ringo Starr's You're 16, you're beautiful and you're mine. Once again they coped brilliantly!
Between the hours of 7.30 and 9.50 they perfected Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Galway Girls, Like a dream and also learned a new dance entitled 'cabo san lucas'. Now not being able to get hold of the correct version of this dance (which is by Toby Keith) I found an alternative version by someone with the lovely name of 'Lee Beanpot Dodge' (what a fabulous name!) and we danced to his somewhat 'marmite' twangy voice instead! haha!! Personally Im fast becoming a fan of Mr. Beanpot Dodge but one or two of the dancers (you know who you are Mick and Liz) were slightly less than taken with his dulcet tones.......and I was told to 'dispose' of that copy!! Well really! Have no fear tho folks, as I do believe Toby Keiths version is possibly going to arrive someday soon.......!! (poor ol Beanpot eh?).
It was also week two of 'Am I?' which appears to be a hit with the intermediates! Its growing on me I have to admit.....
NEW INTERMEDIATE DANCE THIS WEEK!
The intermediates are going to be challenged with the Funky dance called 'Turn Me Loose' by Simon Ward.....nothing toooooo tricky, and as it's a very popular dance with the funky linedance community accross the world - why should we miss out!?
And finally.....(thank goodness I hear you cry!).......this week I have been hard at work on preparations for our Christmas Weekend to Bournemouth and hope you are looking forward to this as much as I am! And as part of our preparation for Bournemouth I will be reviewing lots of the popular dances of this year in the classes over the next couple of weeks to prepare you for it!
Take care everyone, and see you all soon!
Julie x
Tuesday 18 November 2008
As seen on T.V.........our appearance on Strictly Come Dancing!
Dear Dancers,
Well if you blinked you missed us, BUT we WERE on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing last Sunday! Hurray! Yes it was only 10 seconds long, but didn't you all look lovely!
If you missed the show you have a few days to view the programme on BBC.co.uk's website - go to their iplayer and you will find Sundays show.....our item is about 18 minutes into the show, we are featured along with several other dance classes all giving our views about the contestents (and judges!) on the show.
Almost everyone I have spoken to in the past two days has said 'I saw you on the telly!!!' which is pretty amazing! (considering my face was on it for all of two seconds!). I expected my dancers to know about it and to watch it, but the 'I saw you on the telly!' from the receptionist in the dentist was a bit of a surprise! haha!
Thank you to everyone down at the Viking for taking part in the filming - I too am sorry that they didn't show more footage of our club, but we have to remember that this filming was about Strictly and not about linedancing.....ah well - theres a BBC editor somewhere with four or five hours of footage of us talking about what linedancing is all about nowadays, so who knows, one day he may contact us again and want to do a show just about us! (well, I can dream can't I?)
Whilst Im here, this weeks new dance for Wednesday evening will be Turn Me Loose by Simon Ward, along with week two of 'Am I?' and hopefully something new for the improvers too....(still looking for that one!)
Monday evenings classes had County Line (the beginners did absolutely brilliantly with this one - I was very impressed!), Improvers are perfecting Twiddly Diddly Dee and Greystone, and the intermediates had Doctor's Orders which went down very well.......last night was really busy, you were all in a bouncy mood and loads of fun to be with! Thanks girlies - I can say girlies as John (our token male) wasn't there...!
See you all again very soon, take care everyone......Julie xxx
Well if you blinked you missed us, BUT we WERE on BBC1's Strictly Come Dancing last Sunday! Hurray! Yes it was only 10 seconds long, but didn't you all look lovely!
If you missed the show you have a few days to view the programme on BBC.co.uk's website - go to their iplayer and you will find Sundays show.....our item is about 18 minutes into the show, we are featured along with several other dance classes all giving our views about the contestents (and judges!) on the show.
Almost everyone I have spoken to in the past two days has said 'I saw you on the telly!!!' which is pretty amazing! (considering my face was on it for all of two seconds!). I expected my dancers to know about it and to watch it, but the 'I saw you on the telly!' from the receptionist in the dentist was a bit of a surprise! haha!
Thank you to everyone down at the Viking for taking part in the filming - I too am sorry that they didn't show more footage of our club, but we have to remember that this filming was about Strictly and not about linedancing.....ah well - theres a BBC editor somewhere with four or five hours of footage of us talking about what linedancing is all about nowadays, so who knows, one day he may contact us again and want to do a show just about us! (well, I can dream can't I?)
Whilst Im here, this weeks new dance for Wednesday evening will be Turn Me Loose by Simon Ward, along with week two of 'Am I?' and hopefully something new for the improvers too....(still looking for that one!)
Monday evenings classes had County Line (the beginners did absolutely brilliantly with this one - I was very impressed!), Improvers are perfecting Twiddly Diddly Dee and Greystone, and the intermediates had Doctor's Orders which went down very well.......last night was really busy, you were all in a bouncy mood and loads of fun to be with! Thanks girlies - I can say girlies as John (our token male) wasn't there...!
See you all again very soon, take care everyone......Julie xxx
Tuesday 11 November 2008
Oak Lodge Katz Charity Shop Chic Night!
Dear Dancers, Last night we had our Charity Shop Chic evening and Im pleased to say that despite the dreadful weather, the turnout was fab! Our winner was the lovely Mo (see photo left) who went the extra distance when trying to find her outfit in the first place and looked as if she had thrown herself into an Oxfam recycling container to find it! Well done Mo on making such a huge effort - you truly deserved to win! I only hope you didn't get arrested on the way home and sent to a hostel for the night....haha
Debbie looked fantastic in her full length beautiful blue evening dress and was a well deserved runner up! Well done Debbie! (see above right).
A big thank you to everyone else who dressed up too - Jeanette, Kelly, Diane and Clare did a good impression of the Wurzels (but Im not sure if they meant to?!), and Lucille looked like she had forgotton her surf board! Our 'second hand Rose' Theresa also doubled up as the paparazzi for the evening and I am really looking forward to seeing her photos (not!!!) haha
We also raised a good amount for our chosen charity St. Christophers Hospice in Sydenham - so thank you so much everyone for buying raffle tickets and joining in with the fun!
Great stuff! see you all next Monday....Julie x
Sunday 9 November 2008
Watch yourself dancing....
...by clicking on the link to Andys Youtube site on the right....recently added: The Locomotion, and an audition! Lol!!
Saturday 8 November 2008
The Viking Katz - smile please!
Group photo taken on the last Saturday of the season at the Viking - missing you already!
November 8th 2008 - Our first Saturday off!
Dear Dancers, Thank you for logging on to my blog! I aim to update this blog once a week with the latest news from the club, information about dances taught, and anything else I feel may be of interest to my lovely lovely dancers!
This week in Oak Lodge we are having a 'Charity Shop Chic!' fancy dress day - yes folks! On Monday 10th November, I am encouraging all my West Wickham dancers to search their local charity shops to find the most fabulous/outragous/glamourous/amusing outfit they can find. In addition we are having a Charity Shop Raffle with all prizes purchased from a variety of local Charity shops - therefore giving even more to those who are more in need than ourselves!
Mo has already shared her search for an outfit with me, last week she told me that she has already spent an absolute fortune on other items whilst searching for said elusive outfit and has also been encouraged to, how shall I put this? Eat a little more healthily as a result of trying on a few outfits that really 'should' have been her size....! I can't wait to see Mo's outfit on Monday!
What can I tell you about my outfit - NOTHING ITS A SECRET! Nosey devils....:P
Westergate Community School is the location of my Wednesday class - well what can I say about our new beginners - they are simply fabulous! Over 20 brand new linedancers began with us back in September and they are already dancing alongsideour more experienced dancers....brilliant! I must just say a special 'hello' to my younger dancers, especially little Josh who has shown a good sense of humour since I accidentally called him Damien during his first lesson....hehe!
Sadly our lessons in The Viking Music and Dance Club have now ended until Feb 28th next year - Andy and I however are thoroughly enjoying our first Saturday off since Feb this year! But we do miss you all very much - and hope to see some of you on Wednesdays if you can make it?
Our most exciting news of course is our impending appearance on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing on November 16th - we have NO idea how much they will show of the filming they did last week during our last session in the Viking but I can say this - I only hope they show Finn dancing Boo-taaay (way to go Finn!), Mick telling the cameraman this 'I am a linedancer, I am a couples dancer, I am a Western dancer, and sometimes, I am a butcher!!!!' LOL LOL!!! Mick you are a superstar!! *giggles....if they dont show you saying that I will complain to the Prime Minister!
And finally - blimey I can talk when I get going cant I!? finally.....here is a little list of the latest dances I am currently teaching and reviewing on Mondays and Wednesdays..
Monday Beginners are learning: Easy Come Easy Go, Texas Stomp, Lamtarra Rhumba.
Monday Improvers are learning: Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Heartbreak Express
Monday Intermediates are learning: Like A Dream, Galway Girls, Inside Out
This week they will be given a batch of oldies but goodies as part of our charity week (recycling dont you know!!) they are:-
Heels and Splits, Ribbon Of Highway, Fields of Gold and Seven Nights to Rock!
Wednesdays beginners are learning: Fuzzy Duck Slide, Cowgirl Twist, Electric Slide, Easy Come Easy Go, Lindi Shuffle, Cheeseburger....and a few more besides!
Wednesdays improvers are learning: Come dance with me, Just a Memory, Little Red Book, Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee!
Wednesdays intermediates are learning: Like A Dream, Galway Girls, Eyes Wide Open...
This week I will be teaching 'Am I?' a fabulous 32 count dance that has been at the top of the Worldlinedance Newsletter for months and months and months - it may only be 32 counts but is most definately a fully fledged intermediate line dance....worth learning!
Ok folks, thats it for now - thank you for taking the time to read this, my first blog, and I look forward to seeing you all in class very soon.
Take care, Julie x
This week in Oak Lodge we are having a 'Charity Shop Chic!' fancy dress day - yes folks! On Monday 10th November, I am encouraging all my West Wickham dancers to search their local charity shops to find the most fabulous/outragous/glamourous/amusing outfit they can find. In addition we are having a Charity Shop Raffle with all prizes purchased from a variety of local Charity shops - therefore giving even more to those who are more in need than ourselves!
Mo has already shared her search for an outfit with me, last week she told me that she has already spent an absolute fortune on other items whilst searching for said elusive outfit and has also been encouraged to, how shall I put this? Eat a little more healthily as a result of trying on a few outfits that really 'should' have been her size....! I can't wait to see Mo's outfit on Monday!
What can I tell you about my outfit - NOTHING ITS A SECRET! Nosey devils....:P
Westergate Community School is the location of my Wednesday class - well what can I say about our new beginners - they are simply fabulous! Over 20 brand new linedancers began with us back in September and they are already dancing alongsideour more experienced dancers....brilliant! I must just say a special 'hello' to my younger dancers, especially little Josh who has shown a good sense of humour since I accidentally called him Damien during his first lesson....hehe!
Sadly our lessons in The Viking Music and Dance Club have now ended until Feb 28th next year - Andy and I however are thoroughly enjoying our first Saturday off since Feb this year! But we do miss you all very much - and hope to see some of you on Wednesdays if you can make it?
Our most exciting news of course is our impending appearance on BBC's Strictly Come Dancing on November 16th - we have NO idea how much they will show of the filming they did last week during our last session in the Viking but I can say this - I only hope they show Finn dancing Boo-taaay (way to go Finn!), Mick telling the cameraman this 'I am a linedancer, I am a couples dancer, I am a Western dancer, and sometimes, I am a butcher!!!!' LOL LOL!!! Mick you are a superstar!! *giggles....if they dont show you saying that I will complain to the Prime Minister!
And finally - blimey I can talk when I get going cant I!? finally.....here is a little list of the latest dances I am currently teaching and reviewing on Mondays and Wednesdays..
Monday Beginners are learning: Easy Come Easy Go, Texas Stomp, Lamtarra Rhumba.
Monday Improvers are learning: Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee, Heartbreak Express
Monday Intermediates are learning: Like A Dream, Galway Girls, Inside Out
This week they will be given a batch of oldies but goodies as part of our charity week (recycling dont you know!!) they are:-
Heels and Splits, Ribbon Of Highway, Fields of Gold and Seven Nights to Rock!
Wednesdays beginners are learning: Fuzzy Duck Slide, Cowgirl Twist, Electric Slide, Easy Come Easy Go, Lindi Shuffle, Cheeseburger....and a few more besides!
Wednesdays improvers are learning: Come dance with me, Just a Memory, Little Red Book, Greystone, Twiddly Diddly Dee!
Wednesdays intermediates are learning: Like A Dream, Galway Girls, Eyes Wide Open...
This week I will be teaching 'Am I?' a fabulous 32 count dance that has been at the top of the Worldlinedance Newsletter for months and months and months - it may only be 32 counts but is most definately a fully fledged intermediate line dance....worth learning!
Ok folks, thats it for now - thank you for taking the time to read this, my first blog, and I look forward to seeing you all in class very soon.
Take care, Julie x
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