The Spring Workshop 2013 had been sold out since before Christmas with a waiting list of dancers eager to attend should someone drop out.   They certainly weren't hoping one of the dancers would trip over and break their leg but if a dancer won the lottery and decided to go on a world cruise they wouldn't be too unhappy!   The big draws were Ria Vos from The Netherlands and Karl-Harry Winson from the UK.  Ria had won so many Crystal Boots that I was sure she would have to add an addition to her home to accommodate them!   Karl-Harry was a hot, very up and coming Choreographer who was already making a name for himself.   

They both came a little earlier so that we could head down to Niagara Falls.  Karl had visited Canada when he was ten years old and what he wanted more than anything was to have a Tim Horton's donuts!  After one bite he reckoned they tasted just as good as he remembered!   We drove to the Falls via Niagara on the Lake .  Neither of them had heard of ice wine so a tasting was in order and the sparkling ice wine came out on top!  Then the Falls and they were both sooo impressed!  They took so many photos that we just missed the last trip of the Maid Of The Mist so we took in Ripley's Believe It Or Not!  Believe it, we did!!

Back in Toronto we had a trip out to Nashville North which they thoroughly enjoyed and then they checked out the city itself.  Ria is not too keen on heights so standing at the base looking up to the top of the CN Tower was sufficient!  Hungry after that view they headed to China Town and ordered what they thought would be a small lunch but as massive platter after massive platter of food came along, out came the cameras again!  

Soon it was the day of the workshop.  The hall was full as Ria and Karl, both excellent instructors who became quite a comedy team together,  took turns at teaching something for everyone and also the Event dance that Fred and I had written with the two, 'From Latin With Love'.  Karl started with 'Mary Mary' (and dancer Mary was delighted to run up to the stage to get a kiss from Karl, just listen to the lyrics of the song!), 'Shake The Room' and 'Army of Two'.  Ria taught 'Just Go',  'The Other Side of Crazy' and 'Clap For the DJ'.  All the dances were very well received.   In between the teaching, dancers were eager to dance their favourite dances written by our guests and the list was lengthy.  

 A meal break and back for the presentation, all our guests are certified and Ria and Karl were no exception!!  Karl had already delighted our dancers with a singing performance at the end of the afternoon and he started the evening dance entertaining us again, what a multi-talented young man he is.   Both of our guests chatted to everyone and I even saw Ria giving private lessons in the corridor!!    With Fred at the DJ controls and Eddie backing him up there were dancers on the floor until the very last dance at 11:30 p.m.  

The dancers were generous as always and the winner of the 50/50 walked away with $165 in her pocket.   The other $165 was given to Valarie Keller to put in with the monies raised for Cancer at her fund-raising event,  'Dancin' For Miracles' held every September.   Many thanks to Valarie for the second prize of a free ticket to the event.   Lovely raffle baskets made by Dale McNeil resulted in $375 going to the Toronto Hospital for Sick Children.  

​But we weren't finished yet!!  The next day was Emily Woo's party.  It is held at a restaurant just north of the city that has a huge dance floor.  Emily and the charming and helpful members of her Raindrops group know how to throw a party!!   The food was excellent and the ambiance the best.   You can eat a ten course meal and dance for seven hours straight!!  How bad can that be?!!     Ria, Karl, Fred and I taught our event dance 'From Latin With Love' and Ria and Karl were up on the dance floor throughout the evening leading their own dances to the delight of the dancers.  Karl entertained the dancers as well with a delightful 'rose' routine, Emily and her dancers performed a beautiful fan dance (choreographed by Emily) and the gangnam style dance was hilarious!!   Emily told me she couldn't sleep that night as her legs hurt, and I am not surprised, she did not stop for one second!!   Many thanks to Emily for a really wonderful evening and a special memory for our guests to take home.

The next day we went for breakfast in High Park and then it was time to take our guest to the airport.   Boy did our house seem quiet.  Even my husband Michael commented on it!  Ria and Karl were delightful guests, fun-loving (lots of laughin'), thoughtful, considerate, warm and sincere individuals, the kind of people you want to have as friends.    When they left we felt like we had known them forever, hopefully it won't be too much longer until we can have fun together again.

I must add my thanks to our friends who are always there for us; Cynthia who does a wonderful job of decorating and anything else at hand, Lorraine and Sammy (Fred & Eddie's daughter) looked after the door;  Dale for the raffle baskets and kitchen duty, Donna and Chris for doing whatever was needed and others who responded to any requests with cheerful smiles.   We are very fortunate in our friends.   And many thanks to the dancers who came from near and far to attend the workshop, we couldn't do it without you and we very much appreciate your support.   The date for the next Spring Workshop has now been booked for MARCH 29, 2014.

EVENT DANCE:

"From Latin With Love'   written by Ria, Karl, Fred and Vivienne
Step Sheet: Click here

There were 14 videos at the last count and you can access them from Copperknob, 

SPRING WORKSHOP 2013
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Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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