Tuesday, 19 February 2013

Dancing to the Berkley Square Band

I haven't put up a post about dancing for a while so I thought I would tell you about Valentine's night.
 
My husband took me to the  Valentine Ball at the Corn Exchange in Brighton. It was a magical evening. The ten piece Berkley Square Society Band played all night and we danced our way around the room to their wonderful music. It was like being transported back in time to the wartime era. The men were dressed in black tie and the women in beautiful dresses.
 
Two years ago when we went there, we had only been learning ballroom a short while and found it hard to cope with the number of dancers on the dance floor - if someone stopped in front of us we'd stop dead unable to continue. This time round, and being more experienced dancers, my husband proved to be a dab hand at avoidance tactics!
 
What was especially nice was how happy everyone looked. There was a mix of abilities and also of ages - if this is what Strictly Come Dancing has done for ballroom then it can only be a good thing.
 
I was very excited to hear that the Berkley Square Band are the resident band at the tea dances in the Palm Court at the Waldorf Hotel in London so guess where I shall be going for my birthday in April!
 
Another bonus of the evening was an Argentine Tango display. We have been learning this for a few months now so it was great to see it properly done.
 
My good new this week is two sales to Fiction Feast and one to The People's Friend - a big thanks to both magazines.
 
 

14 comments:

  1. Hi Wendy, your evening sounded lovely, so swish and fun and healthy - and so uplifting to be with others who are being positive and upbeat. As it happens I saw a notice for Argentine Tango classes/lessons at our local church hall the other day - just minutes away from me, maybe I should check it out? Is it very energetic and do you need a partner because my husband has two left feet? Anyway, I digress, I also wanted to say that I think dancing sounds a brilliant way to get a break from your writing activities and let your creative energy recharge. Well done with the story sales! Brilliant! :)

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    1. As you know, I have been dancing various different styles for nearly twenty years now - it has seen me through a lot of troubled times. When you dance you forget about everything else. I really think you should try the Argentine Tango class. It's not energetic but you do need to concentrate as it's quite tricky! In my lessons you need a partner. I would also say that personally, this is not a dance I would want to do with anyone other than my husband. Some classes though are rotational and you don't need a partner (you would need to check). You might even find tht this is a dance that suits your husband.

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  2. ps - is there a photo, please, of the two of you all dressed up for the evening?

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    1. We haven't. Will try and remember to take one next time we go to a dressy dance - husband scrubs up particularly well in a bow tie!

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  3. Aw what a beautiful way to spend Valentine's Day! And a big congrats on your sales! double woots!

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    1. Thanks Angela from the other side of the pond! And yes, it is was a really romantic evening.

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  4. This sounds a truly magical Valentine's evening, what a romantic hubby to take you dancing! And CONGRATULATIONS on the sales to FF and PF - you are doing so WELL :)

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  5. Thank you, Tracy. It was a lovely evening.

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  6. Sounds like a lovely way to spend Valentine's (if you can dance - I can't)

    Congrats on those sales!

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  7. Sounds fantastic, Wendy - I adore all kinds of dancing and I'd love this kind of evening. Well done on more success!

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    1. The successes came just before a wodge of rejections, Rosemary! Hey Ho.

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  8. Well done on those acceptances, Wendy! I've sent loads of stories to Fiction Feast but never managed to crack it.
    The dancing sounds great too.

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    1. Thank you Sally - I know I have been very lucky.

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