North Cadbury Court 2021
Long caption alert!
Before I go on to express our thanks and gratitude, I want to tell you why this wasn't just any dancing holiday... We were in the depths of lockdown 3;
Lockdown 1 had been unkind, but we were all "in it" together, we had the most amazing support in our online group and classes - not to mention the wonderful weather and the blissful ignorance as to what was around the corner.
Lockdown 2, it was only a month and we were somewhat prepared both financially and mentally.
Then lockdown 3 hit, with no end in sight. It seemed like everyone around us had adapted to working from home, or allowed to work under the restrictions. Dancers (and the Arts in general) had been completely forgotten about.
We had zero government support, dwindling numbers on our online classes and we wondered whether we would ever return to The Piccadilly, and possibly even back to our career.
So, with the last of our savings we made the bold move to put a (sizeable) deposit down on a dancing holiday that we didn't know would even go ahead, at a venue that noone knew, at a place where there had never been a dancing holiday, and with overheads that could bankrupt us if we didn't fill the holiday.
We were given some temporary relief when the spaces filled up in a matter of weeks but the worry didn't stop there.
The media kept reminding us of a looming lockdown or restrictions as Covid figures continued to rise. Would the holiday even go ahead?
Even when we arrived on Monday at the venue the worries kept rolling in... broken radiators so one side of the house was arctic with the other side a sauna, and a dance floor that could double up as an ice rink
But to hear a house full of laughter from morning till night, to see happy, relaxed faces wander through the grounds, and to dance a last Waltz on a packed dance floor with Andrey and all of our students, my heart is overflowing with love & gratitude
A huge thank you to the following;
Rob Porter, your eye to catch a moment or a feeling is exactly why we wanted you there so we all could have lasting memories of a very special 3 days
Lauren and Louise. I'm so fortunate to have 2 epic best friends (and Greg!) who helped in every way behind the scenes and were on hand at every hour of the day to help us out with the not so glamorous jobs in the background
David J Leach & Janie Leach you made a gorgeous Ballroom look and sound even more gorgeous. Not only did you spend most of your time behind the decks, you both took the pressure off us helping with all those little clean up and set up jobs so we could catch our breathe
Gemma Fulbrook, sitting in the room next to the Ballroom it was so lovely to hear howling laughter throughout your class, and seeing excited dancers up on the floor giving the Sequence dances you taught a good go!
Oliver Beardmore & Caitlin "wriggle wriggle wriggle" might just be the catch phrase of the holiday! Your classes went down a storm and your beautiful demonstration was a highlight of the holiday.
And to everyone who took a chance on us and on this venture - THANK YOU!
When we did the sums for this we knew we were taking a risk, a holiday which was double the price of your average dance holiday
...But this wasn't your average dance holiday. And that wasn't just because of the stunning venue, its incredible facilities, the glorious weather we were blessed with, nor the sumptuous food and drink
It was down to all of you.
