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Below are some of your thoughts about Beach Boogie 2002. Some from old hands, some from BBVs (see below!). A real mixture of the factual, impresionistic and the erm, poetic? raunchy?
Thanks to all of you that have contributed - as for the rest of you - where are your pieces??!
General impressions & thanks ...
"Hi there
Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know how much I enjoyed BB. I had never done it before and so had no real expectations as to what it would be like so entered it pretty blind if you know what I mean.
Well I had a fantastic time - it was all brilliant and was so relaxed I didn't even know what day it was. I have to say that the classes, evening parties and general atmosphere was extremely
encouraging and supportive and above all fun! I loved every minute of it so thank you very much for organising it and I hope you thought it was successful too. The only mild critism I have is on the
standard of the showers in the chalets - I was hallucinating about soaking in a tub by the end of the first splurge .. but hey - you don't go to these things for the showers.
I know it must have taken a huge amount of organising to do ... so wanted to give you my vote of thanks and apppreciation as one of your customers as it were. And the floor in the main dance
studio was brilliant.
Please pass on my comments to all the organisers and teachers and hope to come again next year."
Amanda Kremer
"I only went for Splurge 3.
As always, it got 10 stars for fun (out of 5) and 4 for dancing (more are possible, but you have to
leave the country. Jumping at the Woodside and to my great surprise this year the Swing Jam also get 4 stars. This is all measured on the Swingometer; having only done Splurge 3, I can't comment
on the Jive or Blues scales).
The big change is that it gets a good solid 2 stars for accomodation, rather than the half-star-plus-a-dead-rat-but-we-don't-mind-'cos-it's-so-much-fun rating usual for the old
Sandown venue. Biiiig dancefloor, cute little cafe, friendly staff, edible and uncomplicated food, (no, honestly; I liked it. You should have been at my school.) Clean and comfortable chalets, in no
immediate danger of falling to bits. Having the whole venue to ourselves, which was a major improvement. Even the weather was good.
The Swing teachers were out of this world. Hasse & Marie, 4 times Swedish Boogie-woogie champions, Daniel & Sandra 5th in the Lindy world championship (which is a serious serious thing),
A&R&N&N, and Gary and Sarah, and Dan and Christi turning up on the last day. Phew.
One measure of comparison is the number of people who put serious effort into dressing up for the theme nights. I've always been amazed and impressed that it's a good 50% or so, but I swear that
almost everyone on the Carnival night would have gone completely unrecognised by their maternal parent. By that measure, it was the best BB yet.
Oh yes, and less pieings - but better quality. ;-)
See you there next year."
Martin.Midgley
"Agree - it was fanTAStic. Great venue, FAB teaching, top decor from Tor, chill-out lounge (esp. splurge 3), PHAT tunes (from 5-times-a-night-JonB!), carnival costumes and floats to blow your
mind and give Rio a run for it's money, a unicycling emu, a headless Barnie, various cabaret displays with clothing accidentally coming adrift, mass pie-ing of Disco Derek, very swift replacing
of my bed when it collapsed (don't ask!!!) [- though not sure how wise it was to let Bart loose with a master key!]..... I could go on, but I'm far too zombied to think. Despite the luxury of more than
3 hours sleep in one stretch last night, am definitely struggling! Someone please remind me next year to book the Monday off work! HUGE thanks ... and RESPECT!... to all those involved in
organising, and all those helping out."
Marian Kendix
My time as a Beach Boogie Virgin
by Cheri Baster
Many questions cross the mind on such an occasion;
- Will I know anybody?
- Are they going to be friendly?
- Will I be out of my depth?
- Are there any hunky men on site?
Well, when I arrived all my fears were put to rest. I immediately got talking to several people and as a beach boogie virgin it was clear there was nothing to worry about. Everybody was keen to talk
and share experiences. As a lady who came by herself I was amazed at the consideration that went into the chalet arrangements. I couldn't have been placed with more suitable people.
I have to say the brochure itself sounded fun and indeed it was. I made so many friends and danced with many wonderful people that I have to return next year.
The brochure promised custard pies, and there were many - some deserved more than others. We were promised that there wouldn't be an endless supply of chips; and yes that was also true. Oh, and the meetings!
The themed nights were amazing and the costumes were stunning. The teachers were fabulous and all staff worked so hard throughout. The midnight sugar fix provided by the 'Snack Shack' was a
useful tactic to help us keep dancing till the small hours. Please tell me where you found those delicious cakes from!
As for the hunky men, well the prize winner has to be Dan Baines! Sorry guys he pips you to the post with his perfectly formed buttocks!
I learnt a lot on this fun packed holiday; not all of it connected with dancing. My frame has improved and I have a lot more confidence to improvise (even if some men resist!) Most
importantly I discovered the effects of chocolate and lucozade, without which I would have been a bit of a light weight!
Roll on next year!
CB
Vidi, Vici, Veni. (not quite Caesars' quote...)
by Coquette
Beach Bog again. Available time means just the first splurge. Jive. Oh well, whatever. Circumstance has also seen to it that I don't dance much anymore, with long months in between. Not a good
combination with workshops all day, catching up on lost months of dance the evening, then trying to get some sleep between stealing moments of hard tenderness from my beau. Then to be able to
exploit the earlier classes... Breakfast became eggs boiled in the kettle, rather better than the alternative. The environ explored, I settled into the pace in this strange little island that time can't
quite remember.
As it dawned that the standard went beyond jive, I relaxed further, and smiled as I realized how
rapidly I was losing myself from the day world of male-eco-politic-bull into rhythms and routines, the days became daze, the dance became trance, speaking less and feeling more. Watching couples
spinning and swaying, having my hand taken into the sea of expressions, fixed regard going through and beyond me. Freedom... a beauty in front of me, disappearing to be against me, a groaning as in
some meditational ceremony, tantric by the forcefulness of the sexuality heaving and almost within me, and the rhythm and the routine carries on, faces become vague and speech became foreign.
Exhaustion is its' own narcotic. Add to that a few drinks and the real is all the more ethereal. I, who was that again? A series of memories flit past, the connection and communication by the faintest of
gest mirroring ripples and sweeps, Breast pushed to chest, slow heaving of breath, held tightly to taught muscles rippling, deliciously drawn out, nerves strung and squeezed as together we teased to
the merging of individuals (indivisible-dualities) to unions, sacred communion. My mind is now giddy, my feet not my own as new shapes I am shown. Snake energies unwind and rise, charmed
by the chants and the massage of writhing bodies to body, the uncoiling gives me energy to keep going.
On and on.
Don't ever stop
or indeed but to drop,
for then it is time for the sweet private dance,
seamlessly blending the beach boogie trance,
the music now gentle and slow
as my feelings are starting to grow
my bodyshape does speak
I hear a small squeak
as a hot deep embrace
makes me understand grace.
The rhythm and the routine goes on
in this beauty, my soul I have won
my spirit does soar, as the energies roar from the root of my core
flushed we battle this beast, not yet let it feast, a little more at least...
hot cherry red, bodies wed, naught said.
the rhythm has calmed
this soul deeply charmed
against all now dis-armed.
my hand taken again by an angel, our dance stirring me deeply. I wake slightly from my dream, was
I asleep? must have been, for my beau is warm and smooth beside me, a regular breath makes a rhyme of peace, so I bring myself close. Energies circle and rise lazily like eagles riding the currents
as someone I once knew moves though the realms of dreams charms and trance...
Epilogue
I sit here at work, a wage driven clerk, an unholy jerk
but I have this wee grin, for so giving in to this medley of sin
and at such little cost can my soul still be lost on that funny little island time can't quite remember. Next BB, oh will I be coming...
Thanks to all of you who took me there.
Coquette
Beach Boogie Blues
by Janie Miller
Supersoakers drained
of water again,
getting sleep
like I oughta, again.
Put away
my dancing shoes
I got them "I'm home from Beach Boogie" Blues.
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