2009 Harvest Holiday Festival Summary We are just now recuperating from a great 49th Harvest Holiday Festival week. Every year this is a fun-filled festival week - beginning with free pre-festival activities Monday thru Thursday and the Festival-proper taking place Friday thru Sunday Morning. The entire week takes place under one roof - the Sterling Hotel in Dallas, with an 11,600 sq. ft. parquet ballroom. Our featured clinicians this year were Curt & Tammy Worlock. Each night, Monday thru Thursday, free trail in dances were hosted at the hotel by local clubs and their instructors, after which (except for Thursday) were after-party gatherings hosted by the HH members in the Chairman's Suite (Thursday night is always a closed staff party). During the day Tuesday thru Thursday free "impromptu" teaches were conducted by both Harvest Holiday and visiting instructors. This year the dances taught and instructors were: Tues. AM - On My Journey (5 BL, Shibata) - Ron & Marilou Webb Wed. AM - A Moment Lost (6 WZ, Shibata) - Glen & Helen Arceneaux Thurs. AM - Para Esto (Classic, 4+2 RB, Roberts) - Christine & Theron Hixson Dances taught by the Worlocks on Saturday: My Sweet Catherine (6 WZ, Goss) and Angelina (5+2 CH) The Festival proper began Friday afternoon with a welcome/impromptu dance, followed by early rounds, a programmed evening dance, the Chairman’s Party (Taco salad with all the fixings and desserts) and then more dancing - a Die Hard dance. Saturday began early - at 9:00 with warm up rounds and then Curt & Tammy taught “My Sweet Catherine,” a 6 WZ by the Gosses. As always, they did a great job of teaching, and gave invaluable pointers on the execution of many figures, including Rudolph ronde, throwaway oversway, and big top. In the afternoon they taught their new 5 CH, “Angelina.” This is a fun, busy cha, and fits the music well. None of the figures are difficult, but the dance really keeps you on your toes and is lots of fun to do. Then came a well-deserved rest for a couple of hours. At 7:30 pm came the early rounds and the evening programmed dance, followed by a full breakfast buffet, and then Die Easy??? dancing until 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning came really early with coffee and donuts in the Chairman’s Suite, followed by a review by Curt & Tammy of the two dances they had taught. Then it was time for farewells and travel home. What a week and weekend!! AND IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN NEXT YEAR - SAME WEEK, SAME PLACE, BUT THE INSTRUCTORS WILL BE BILL AND CAROL GOSS. COME JOIN US FOR THE 50TH HARVEST HOLIDAY FESTIVAL. WE’LL BE SURE TO SHOW YOU A GRREAAT TIME!!! For more info/flyer for the 50TH HH Festival, go to: www.harvestholiday.com |