March
May
2008
October
Loyal Pair
Peter and Millie Morris have attended every CBA since the very beginning and Millie talked to Linedancer to explain why. “…Peter and Millie Morris are two of the most recognised faces at the event. When you see them either in corridors or on the dance fl oor, they always seem to really enjoy the moment. The last CBA was our 12th event and surely, they must be a little bored by now, I ask ? “Absolutely not” says Millie “we have enjoyed every one of them and though the event has changed throughout the years, we just love it...” So 12 Crystal Boots under their belts,
Pete and Millie’s enthusiasm and loyalty for the even knows no abatement…. “It has got it all” Millie concludes in matter of fact way “the atmosphere, the fun, the dance, the shows, why wouldn’t anyone want to go?” Why indeed. (May 2008 – Page 28)
Crystal Boot forever
Most of the time, Linedancer Magazine’s readers feel like friends. When the phone rings and someone in the offi ce picks it up, it is invariably to hear sunny, friendly voices who before they tell us the reason for their call have a little natter with us. This, we believe, is one of the unique points that makes the relationships between readers and Linedancer so different.
The Crystal Boot weekend is without a doubt one of the most awaited event of the year for some people. Millie and Peter Maurice have never missed one and Laurent Saletto wanted to fi nd out more from Millie.
The Crystal Boots Awards are eagerly awaited by many and our guests mean a great deal to us here at Linedancer. Though the crew works at its hardest during that weekend, it nevertheless constantly surprises us as to how friendly those three days turn out for all of us. We recognise many faces year after year as they arrive at the Norbreck and as for us we can’t wait to meet up again with those long standing friends. Two of our guests have now become legends in their own right. They are Peter and Millie Morris who have been coming to the CBA since day one, never missing an event. I recently contacted them as I was curious fi nding out what the attraction was in coming year after year to Blackpool to be with us.
Peter and Millie Morris are two of the most recognised faces at the event. When you see them either in corridors or on the dance fl oor, they always seem to really enjoy the moment.
As Peter is a tad shy, he prefers Millie to talk to me.
She starts by saying: “We have danced all our lives. We used to do ballroom and we managed to go as far as International, winning medals and awards. But it did get over competitive and we discovered sequence dancing around 1995. Line dancing was a natural progression for us.” She adds: “You could say dance was always important.”
They both soon realised that Line dance was wonderfully friendly and from that point in time, they also discovered Country Music which they both came to love. Millie says: “We loved wearing Country clothes as well and to this day, we go to all the Country festivals in South Wales . We never ever miss those!”
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I am curious as to why this couple comes back to the Crystal Boot year after year. The last CBA was our 12th event and surely, they must be a little bored by now, I ask ? “Absolutely not” says Millie “we have enjoyed every one of them and though the event has changed throughout the years, we just love it. We always make sure we are free for the weekend and as for the good friends we have made throughout the years in Blackpool, we look forward to meet them again and again.”
She does admit that “Line dancing is more sophisticated today, more of a challenge” and that “We have got more choosey about the music and dances we do” but she adds with a laugh “We love every kind of music, every kind of dance.”
Looking back on the heady days of their fi rst visits, Millie remembers: “We started going with a crowd to the CBA. Then, slowly, it became just a few of us and way back then the event was not quite as sophisticated as today, that’s for sure.” Of the CBA today, she says: “Things have changed a great deal. The lighting is amazing now for example and people work so hard! The whole event has been upgraded so much, the atmosphere is just incredible.”
I ask Millie if she and Peter have highlights during the weekend to look forward to. She thinks for a moment and says: “We just love carnival night and the social times during the evenings. The parade is really great though and we are just happy being there.”
Peter and Millie dance locally (they live in Chester) about four times a week and Millie gives a special mention to her instructor. “Daniel Whittaker is really good. We love going to his classes.”
I also ask her if there is anything of the good old days she misses and again she pauses a while. “When things move on, you just have to move on with them”, adding “I suppose we did love the Country gear and it is nice to see the costumes now and again, but I don’t really miss those.” Referring to Tim Ruzgar’s
29 29
decision announced at the 12th CBA she confi des how “saddened” they both are and how much they will miss Tim.
So 12 Crystal Boots under their belts, Pete and Millie enthusiasm and loyalty for the event knows no abatement and Millie tells me that plans are already well underway for their 2009 weekend. She says: “We just love dancing. When music comes on the radio that we both like, we dance in our living room together.” And for these two dancers, not coming to a CBA will never be an option.
“It has got it all” Millie concludes in matter of fact way “the atmosphere, the fun, the dance, the shows, why wouldn’t anyone want to go?” Why indeed.
Cover 125 – October
This was a wonderful picture of a French Wheelchair dancer. Betty, Steve and Laurent had gone to a huge Country/Line dance event in France that year and had been bowled over by the sense of fun and enthusiasm prevailing there amongst dancers. This lady, raising her hat to our readers, gave our cover a great feeling of friendship and joy.
9 771366 650031 Brave Jo
When news of Jo Thompson Szymanski’s poor health reached Line dancers it was a world wide shock. “…When I was right in the midst of the worst parts, Line dancers everywhere would leave comments on the blog saying they were dancing “This Little Light” and praying for my family and me. Some days that was what kept me going. There were literally thousands of people all over the world doing this. … For the past almost four years I have concentrated on taking it “one day at a time”. “I was motivated to get healthy by knowing that I wanted to be the best mom and wife that I could be. Now, the future is an unknown. Because my life is so different than it was I know that I will never go back to travelling the world like I used to. I am so glad I had the opportunity to do that while I could. ….. Even though I may never see some of you again, I am still a better person for having known you, danced beside you on the dance fl oor and laughed with you along the way. I am thankful for every moment. (September 2008 – Page 6)
ASIA WITH LOVE
TO
I left from LA on a 12 hour fl ight to Tokyo. Because I cannot sleep on a plane, I lost one whole day and got to Tokyo exhausted. Hiro Suzuki met me at my hotel in the Shinagawa area. The Prince Hotel has movie theaters , a bowling alley, an aquarium - and many many shops. There were lots of people and all were very well dressed. I went to bed for a good, long sleep. Few people speak English in Tokyo so Hiro helped me out during the teaches. Everyone seemed to enjoy Fire On Ice by Kate Sala which I taught at all of my stops. Everyone everywhere was so kind they could not do enough for me. I was taken to see all the sights and was shown the ‘REAL’ Asia.
One of USA’s great Line dance ambassadors Arline Winnerman recently went on a tour in Asia and in this report she reveals how she fell in love with a fantastic country and its wonderful folks.
Hi guys,
I may be back in St. Petersburg, Florida (USA) but my mind and memories are still in Asia. To be able to experience another culture and another part of the world was truly extraordinary.
The weather was much like Florida as Singapore is very close to the equator. However - you will not believe this. A strong typhoon made a direct hit on Hong Kong while I was there. The city was completely closed - things were falling off of buildings and stuff blowing everywhere. The hotel was boarded up - sand bags placed by the front
doors. Not what I had planned to do for that day in Hong Kong!
The classes there are often in buildings with no air con and sometimes we danced outdoors. Not many have lovely facilities with nice, wood fl oors like we do . Yet no one complains and everyone smiles all the time and has tremendous fun dancing.
I made ten stops and taught at nine classes during my fi ve week trip. And though I was sad to leave everyone behind, I am so glad to be able to report, that many of the wonderful people I met will be coming to my Tampa event in November 2009.
When I got to Hong Kong, Lillian Lo met me and took me to see the incredible laser/ music show on Hong Kong Harbor. After that, we went up to the Peak - highest point for a gorgeous view of the city and a nice photograph. I had to be up early the next morning to teach a class and had lunch with Lena Choi and her dancers.
There are huge shopping Malls everywhere - with all the high end stores that you could imagine. Transportation everywhere was excellent and easy to fi gure out - prices in Malaysia were really cheap. You could have a fabulous meal for $3.00. I was also able to understand the money exchange and got along OK with that.
I then fl ew to Kuala Lumpur and was met by Khim and her wonderful husband BC Lim - who escorted me everywhere and took good care of getting me to places I needed to be. Khim and Margaret took me for an exciting tour of the area.
I went to the other area of Malaysia - Kuching (used to be Borneo) and Yu Puay - Alice and Geok met me at the airport and guess what?
Yes - we went to eat! They drove me around to see the gorgeous homes and town and waterfront. The next day there was a social planned and a pot luck - more to eat! Visited the interesting Cultural Village and later to “dinner”. After shopping at the local stores and lunch at her club - Yu Puay took me to the airport for my fl ight to Penang.
Evelyn met me at the very late evening fl ight and insisted that I stay at her exquisite home. She took me all over Penang - we danced at her club and sat in on some Karaoke - which everyone over there loves. From there Evelyn got me on the plane to Subang, Malaysia. Margaret met me in a huge rainstorm and took me to her class (outdoors) the next day. A large group from the Line dance council took me to dinner later.
Khim and Robin met me in Singapore and we did not stop for a minute for the next four days. I saw all the areas - shops - Chinatown - Merlin - Chinese Lantern Festival (more coloured lights in one place than I have ever seen) and the beautiful waterfront and also colorful boats and fl oats. People drive really crazy - in Malaysia mostly - so don’t even think about renting a car. We went to Raffl e’s Hotel - where I had the famous Singapore Sling (it was originated at this sensational old Hotel). Went to Robin’s class and met up with friends Lee and Ginny and eventually it was time to go back home. It was a magnifi cent fi ve week journey --- everyone and everything was perfect. I have begun to realize what life is like outside of my small realm no matter where you live or visit - enjoy your dancing and be grateful for our wonderful and very special friends in this incredible world. I know for sure - that I am!
Luv - Arline 30 31
“Enjoy your dancing and be grateful for our wonderful and very special friends in this incredible world. I know for sure - that I am!”
November
From Asia with Love Linedancer had really started
being a much more international magazine by December 2008. reports from Europe, USA and Asia made their regular way into the publication. Here the wonderful Arline Winnerman (Tampa Bay USA) had gone to Asia to meet some well known dancers and we felt exhausted at the end of the report! “…I left from LA on a 12 hour fl ight to
The monthly magazine dedicated to Line dancing
Summertime Lazenby
Joie De Vivre
10 Continued on page 50
Tokyo. Because I cannot sleep on a plane, I lost one whole day and got to Tokyo exhausted. Hiro Suzuki met me at my hotel in the Shinagawa area. … Everyone seemed to enjoy Fire On Ice by Kate Sala which I taught at all of my stops. ... When I got to Hong Kong, Lillian Lo met me and took me to see the incredible laser/music show on Hong Kong Harbor… .I then fl ew to Kuala Lumpur and was met by Khim and her wonderful husband BC Lim - who escorted me everywhere and took good care of getting me to places I needed to be…. Khim and Robin met me in Singapore and we did not stop for a minute for the next four days. … It was a magnifi cent fi ve week journey --- everyone and everything was perfect. (Issue 151 – Page 30)
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