Finally - have had enough sleep to think straight...
I've said before that Southport has never disappointed me, and that still stands true. I had an amazing time.
The combination of good company, great music, awesome weather and incredible dancers did it for me again.
A few of the highlights...
Meeting up with those people I only ever get the opportunity to see at SP, and meeting new people.
Baileys and choc cheesecake, half a dozen spoons and a free for all...
The JN's chalet block - you guys are awesome! First SP for many of you and you certainly made sure you enjoyed it.
The dancers who had so much to give in terms of their dancing, and who gave it so freely and generously. CJ, Raphael, PretzelMeister, DTS, Board-Rider, Gus, BlueShoes to name a few. You guys made a big difference to a lot of people I care about - and were at the heart of many of my memorable moments...
I had no idea that All that Jazz could be so fab! PM the word fun was invented for you... And the dance I had, late on Sunday afternoon in the Blues room with Christopher...
Line dancing - wow! How much fun was that!!!
John - You couldn't do more. You made what could have been quite a complicated and overwhelming task so simple and easy for me - I thank you.
The blues room - it never loses its magic.
Yes, there were different faces in there this time... I felt that those who were in the blues room this time added to the experience rather than detracted.
Yes, the marquee made things a little different on the decking. I couldn't see the stars unless I stepped outside, but I didn't have to worry about my heels or ankles on the dodgy floor either. We were lucky with the weather - it could have been a completely different scenario.
Yes, the music was varied, at times challenging, at times reassuringly familiar, at times it lifted my tired spirits and at times it mellowed me to my very core. I heard old favourites, I found new favourites, there were some tracks I hated and others I never thought I would enjoy but did. If some of the music didn't suit me - at times it was a relief... At least I could then grab a bite to eat and have a wander through the other rooms!
This is fast becoming an epic post for me so I will finish with my apologies...
For the most appalling singing of the weekend... To the 3 couples who had a deep and moving moment ruined by my "did I sing that out loud?" Black Velvet moment
To the guys who endured my extremely amateurish attempts at leading... I am taking the maxim 'must try harder' to heart and will attempt to have improved a little by September
And especially for my own version of 'I carried a watermelon...'
I can feel your Milky Way... Cringe....!
How many sleeps now til Southport??
He is lovely.... thank u for reminding me who he was!!!! He said i was a good b1tch! made my weekend
really enjoyed your sets LL - glad u liked my impromptu solo dance
glad the main room got going again after the power out.. shame we cudn't keep going on sunday night / monday morning tho
jamie is just too good isnt he
thank u so much for my dance in the blues room on sunday night too
all i can say is that i hope u r dj'ing the last slot next time at SP
yes I got cake, but dj'ing and eating cake is a lot easier than dancing & eating cake
The Northern Soul set lost it's momentum after the power failure - the room finaly got the buzz back when I played (very loud) 'insomnia' which I thought any track with lyrics "I can't get no sleep" was appropriate for Southport - I so nearly played 'house of pain - Jump around' but chickened out
LL
This was my 6th, and so far best, Southport.
Such a shame this will be my last one, maybe not for ever, but at least for a long time.
We were lucky in Feb there was not another event on Monday morning so J&W let the main hall continue
But this time the venue had to be ready for pontins early Monday Morning.
Jamie is so good - I hate him (not really mate )
The pleasure of the dance was all mine - Thank YOU
I DJ'd last slot in the Blues Room Friday plus Main Hall Sat & Sunday
i would love to do those slots again, I miss playing the real slow down blues room music slots.
But i also love playing high energy music in the main hall (although I did include some mellow tracks to give dancers a bit of a rest)
Sunday night was my first ever 100% video DJ'ing at Southport - every track was played on DVD up till the 'last track' sorry about dobie grey fletch
till the next one
LL
A big !
I loved the open space of the decking, but only ever had a handful of dances on it at any one weekender because of the surface. And of course if it was raining it was totally unusable and the blues room doors would need to be shut. A marquee, with open sides in sunny weather, a decent floor, and giving an extension to the blues room that can be used in all weathers, seems like a perfect compromise.
Reflections of Southport
Dances
Fantastic dances, memorable dances, enjoyable dances.
Dance den - fun
Blues Room - busy
Latin Room - variable
Ballroom - disastrous
Shoes vs. Clothes
Shoes on sale in large cupboard tucked away out of sight in cramped space.
Clothes on sale in main area, busy thoroughfare, masses of room in full view with constant passing trade.
Understandably there were a few grumbles from the shoe vendors. I know which location I would prefer.
WCS
Watched lots of WCSers in the Dance Den. I was inspired. I wanted to learn. Can I learn WCS and Tango? Can I devote enough time and attention to both? Yeah, why not. I’d made up my mind.
Sunday afternoon I watched one woman dancing WCS and it’s put me right off. Problem solved.
Tango
He asked me to dance, he gripped me, he pulled me, he pushed me, he shoved me.
A girl can only take so much without saying something, right?
He apologised, he’s only had two lessons. Really! Well he did ask me to dance and it was a milonga so did I expect to be hauled around? Nope.
Salsa
A guy led me in Salsa. The moment was short lived. He took delight in wrapping our arms into some manner of reef knot then tried to push my head through the middle. His forearm repeatedly scraping the top and back of my head as he tried to force me into position.
A girl can only take so much without saying something, right?
Well thank you for the lesson and I’m well aware of the name of this move but I gently pointed out that it’s called ‘a comb’ because it ‘represents’ a comb, it isn’t an 'actual' comb.
Believe me this whole scenario bears no resemblance to the slow, seductive, sensuous teasing and pulling of the lady’s hair as the leader lowers her into a gentle dip. While I’m in the fortunate position of having hair that doesn’t object too much to being disturbed, like many women I care about my appearance. More than a few of us would be pissed off with his lack of consideration.
Man or ?
I’m talking to a couple. I notice the man’s nails. He’s wearing nail varnish. I mention it. He smiles. He tells me he’s also wearing eye liner. I really don’t want to know. He tells me he’s wearing concealer to hide the bags under his eyes. I don’t want to know that either. I’ve heard enough. I’m traumatised. I walk away.
Fancy Dress
Dashing men in uniforms, crikey, who was that gorgeous guy in the hat and white uniform? Hundreds of people publicly living their sexual fantasies. Schools and hospitals being the clear favourite. Suffice to say, I’ve been a member of the medical profession for a while and I don’t know of any Healthcare Trust which provides a uniform which has even a passing resemblance to the costumes exhibited on Saturday night.
Cake
Never ending supply on Friday night, much appreciated
The Thong
Blues Room, Sunday afternoon, a stir is caused by the ‘lady’ in the short grey flared skirt, chunky bare legs, stumpy boots and black thong knickers.
Her dancing involved a lot of jumping, hip swinging and twirling. Looking around the room the amazement on peoples faces was a picture. Were they admiring the movement of her skirt? Were they assessing the definition of her glutes? I’ve never seen so many distracted people with mouths open, fingers pointing and jaws dropping.
Her desire for attention was clearly her motivation, I question why she desires that kind of attention. Is her mother to blame? Was she neglected as a child? Hours of therapy may not be enough to discover the route of her issue.
The Men
Watched two men dancing together. I know them, I’ve danced with them, yet, I was fascinated. He doesn’t lead women like that. He doesn’t concentrate on female followers with such attention, gentleness, care and consideration. Not for me to question why. Just nice to see dancers looking so… er... comfortable.
The Dance
I had The Dance. I’ve relived it a zillion times. I’m off to the Learning Tango thread to share the experience in print…
Agree about the extra floor space.
As someone who made one of the comments about the marquee I thought I would reply.
I loved the floor space and the quality of the floor (except when it was wet and truly dangerous as the marquee seemed to let water in).
I would love to see the flooring back each time.
The trouble is I also preferred to dance outdoors in the sunshine.
Its a typical case of a customer (me) asking for the best of both worlds. Often thats simply not possible to provide but its my duty as a customer to ask the question!
I'm guessing you are talking about the Jamie (yes again) and Roger C dance?
I was trying to dance next to them! It was very distracting!
At one time, I looked over in the Blues room and there were 3 sets of men dancing together in a row! No wonder it seemed like there was an inbalance of the sexes.
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