Pleasanton Games and Jean Patrick Memorial Dance

The Pleasanton Games are coming up at the end of August, the weekend of the 30-31. We will be participating with a set in the adjudication, and a tent in the Celtic Heritage area. If you are going to be at the games, come by to watch us dance, and staff the tent for a while. I will post again when I have a specific time we will be dancing.

The Jean Patrick Memorial Dance is the Saturday evening of the Games. Jean Patrick was the dancer/dance teacher most responsible for the founding of the Sacramento Branch. She was killed in a light plane accident before I started dancing. In fact I’m not sure any of us currently dancing in Sacramento knew her, but the event on Saturday night is a way to honor her, and her role in the founding of our branch. The program and information on location and registration are available here. Cost is $12.00 for youth, and $18.00 for adults if you get your registration in before 20 Aug. You can register and pay using PayPal at the above link. Several of us are getting a motel suite in Pleasanton for Friday and Saturday nights. Depending on how many people decide to join us, we may not be able to offer more than floor space to for your sleeping bag, but if you need crash space, let me know.

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Diagramer needed

At the AGM, Yvonne mentioned that she would like to pass on the dance diagram responsibilities to someone else.  She suggested summer would be a good time to do it since there aren’t many dance related things going on and it would be  good time to learn to use the program (which is a freeware application put out by Microsoft – the name is currently escaping me). 

Soooo…if you’ve always wanted  to learn all those dance diagrams, now’s your opportunity.  Please email Yvonne or one of the board members if you would be willing to take on this important responsibility.

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Membership Aps

Membership applications are now available for download on the branch website.

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My Unexpected Trip to Truckee

Saturday evening found me at the dance portion of the Truckee Weekend.  I had been called upon to be a last minute replacement (I saw the music for the first time at rehearsal that afternoon) for Sherryl, who was dealing with a kitty emergency.  I could certainly sympathize with this, and was happy, though a bit nervous, to step in and attempt to fill her very (metaphorically)large shoes.

We arrived just as dinner was in full swing, and after a quick trip through the buffet, it was time for sound check.  Before long, the first dance was called, and we launched into Pelorous Jack.

The hall was packed.  Neither the heat nor the gas prices nor the smoke seemed to have put a damper on things, as there was an abundance of dancers and no shortage of energy.  Sacramento was ably represented by Theresa, Rick Cervin, and Ed Johnston.  Janet created some super tune arrangements, and the promise of a fun, noisy evening was easily fulfilled. 

We were provided hospitality at the lovely home of Barbara, a local dancer.  First on the agenda: a step onto the balcony where the sight of the stars (including the Milky Way) kept us all enthralled despite the chill.  We gazed, chatted, and noshed until our respective beds called us in.  In the morning over breakfast we discussed our introduction to music and dance, and their relationship with each other. 

All too soon it was time to pack up the cars and head back into the smoke filled valley.  As the tree line was replaced by the blue/brown haze we’ve been living with for what feels like forever, I reflected on the incredible talent we have in our branch – from dancers, to musicians, to teachers.  We are so, so fortunate to be able to call these talented folks “ours”, and even more so to be able to call them “friends.”

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