Takes a little coordination to dance and play your Kazoo at the same time (I'm still working on it!).....especially when the floor is full of smiles and laughter! I should have recorded "Marilyn's Dancing Kazoo Band".......we were awesome! Just ask anybody there! I'm not sure how Marilyn will ever top that one.
The afternoon teaches included a great mix with "Remember, Fly Me to the Moon, What You Gonna Do with the Band, Tennessee Waltz Surprise, Smooth & Simple and Plum Blossom Waltz." Several open dance songs played between each teach and the floor stayed full all day. Christine Bass won both the 50/50 and the big Steppin' Out Dancer's Basket.....hope she stopped on the way home to buy a lottery ticket....it was definitely her lucky day. It was wonderful to catch up with some dance friends that I haven't seen in ages and to meet so many new instructors and dancers from all over Florida.
The day activities ended with quick reviews of all the dances......helped us all remember them and I'm sure many of the attending instructors will be picking out some favorites to teach in their classes soon.
A break for dinner and some time to rest our feet and a large group came back for the evening. Quick walk thrus on many of the dances taught that day and a special team teach of "Bad Influence" by Marilyn, Rosie and Darlene. What a great dance! Lots of fun on the floor....John and I stayed late and danced some of the old favorites that we hadn't done in years!
Kudos out to Marilyn, Ray, Rosie, Darlene and all the volunteers....I think you thought of every little detail to make this such a special day for everyone! Thanks to John for taking pics all day. (be sure to click that little link below to check them out!) I am honored that Marilyn had the first "Steppin' Out Florida Workshop" She really knows how to host a great event and this was one of those perrrrrrrrfect dance days! SHOUT IT FROM THE ROOFTOP NEWS - Marilyn will be holding another Steppin' Out workshop next year...watch for upcoming details!
Hope to see you on a Steppin' Out dance floor soon!
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Sept. 16, 2009
Workshop
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***Instructor Comments***
What a great day for our first Florida Steppin' Out Workshop. Thanks to Marilyn McNeal, Rosie Multari, and Darlene Miller for some great teaches that many of the Instructors/dancers attending can take back to their classes. Lots of open dancing to Soldier Boy Stroll, Would you be Vine, Zjozzy's Funk, Peaches & Cream, Duck Soup, Come Dance With Me, Turn Me Loose, Simplemente, Stealing the Best, and so many more. Kudos to Marilyn's hubby who served up a spectacular lunch with hamburgers, baked beans, pasta salad, salad, chips and two yummy cakes decorated with 5678 Dance. Marilyn also had many door prizes/50/50. The big winner of the day was Christine Bass who won the Steppin Out Basket donated by Linda & Terri as well as the 50/50. I hope she went out and bought a lottery ticket right away. Many of us returned for the dance in the evening where Marilyn, Rosie and Darlene reviewed many of the dances taught throughout the day as well as open dancing. They also team taught Bad Influence by the Kinsers/Furnell. It was certainly a full day. Thanks again ladies for a job well done.
Linda Heebner
It was pure pleasure for me to teach at a workshop with Rosie Multari and Marilyn McNeal. Some people get butterflies in their stomach, but this gal had dragon flies in hers, but calmed down as the day went on. This was quite the high-energy level workshop for improver/easy intermediate dancers. It was a sold out crowd and we had the best time. Marilyn and Ray McNeal are the most gracious hosts providing a warm and welcoming atmosphere for dancers and guests. Their staff did a terrific job getting Midnight Rodeo set up for an onslaught of eager dancers. The morning started out with coffee and donuts and a Zoomba warm-up by Rosie Multari. Then Rosie, Marilyn and I alternated our teaches with open dance in-between. When we needed to take a breath, Marilyn would start pulling numbers for numerous door prizes. Ray and his staff put together a delicious hamburger picnic lunch with all the fixings. Marilyn surprised us with kazoos. Have you ever tried to dance and play a kazoo? We did it to Peaches & Cream and Duck Soup. What a hoot! The day went by too fast. After recharging our batteries and resting our feet, we were back to Midnight Rodeo in the evening for some reviews, a team-teach of Bad Influence (so much fun) and more dancing. Thank you, Marilyn and Ray, for a wonderful and exhausting day.
There were 10 dances taught during the workshop and very well received:
Back in 63 (Sandra Speck), Back to the 80's (Gitte Ingberg-Jensen), Lay it on the Line (Guy Dube), On the Sunny Side of the Street (Lorraine Kurtel), Plum Blossom (Linda Kwan), Remember (Kay Greig), Smooth and Simple (Lynne Martino), Tennessee Waltz Surprise (Andy Chumbley), To The Moon (Rosie Multari), What You Gonna do With the Band (Wil Bos & Roy Verdonk)
Another special thank you goes out to Terri Alexander and Linda Heebner for initiating Steppin' Out, a way for instructors to share dances and ideas.
Darlene Miller
John and I arrived early to set up the table with "Steppin' Out" logo shirts and get the video camera ready. Marilyn had a great volunteer group getting all the last minute details in order. The extra floor was being laid, candles, mints and Hershey's kisses put on all the tables, registration table set, and the music playing, ready for the dancers.
Registration was smooth and quick as the dancers filed through the door. Donuts, coffee and a quick hello and everyone out to the floor.
Rosie started us with 9 minutes of Zumba warm-ups....march, Zumba march, travel, add those arms......soon we were all ready for a great day of dancing! (So glad I finally got to meet Rosie...she is a sweetheart)
The instructors for the day, Rosie Multari, Darlene MIller and Marilyn McNeal alternated teaching the new dances with a few open dances in between and lots of prize drawings. Did you win some Diamonds or Pearls?? The morning teaches included: On the Sunny Side of the Street, Oh What a Night, Back to the 80's and Lay it On the Line.
Marilyn surprised John with a package of peanut butter fudge....John is our DJ for the monthly Steppin' Out social dances and always starts the nights with a question, "Did anyone bring me some peanut butter fudge?"....Marilyn delivered and delivered big - A pound and a half of fudge!! I do think this will last him.....at least a couple of days. **grinning**
It seemed like the morning flew by and they were ready to serve lunch......what a meal. Ray and several friends had been hard at work grilling hamburgers for the crowd of dancers. I think they were the biggest burgers I had ever seen! There was also pasta salad, baked beans, salad, chips and cakes. They were quite organized and everyone was served and eating in approximately 15 minutes.
Soon we were ready to hit the floor and work those calories off!
Marilyn had a surprise for everyone.....KAZOOS!!
How much fun was that?!?!
Darlene, Rosie & Marilyn
