Hyperreal

Not last weekend, but the weekend before that, I went down to Camber, for the JiveTime “24+” dance weekender.

I could write loads, but I don’t have the time at the moment, so instead, I’m going to copy my forum post to my blog.

Maybe if I find time during the week I’ll write more in detail…

I had a really great time in Camber – I’m really glad I came along (big thanks to Wittybird for persuading me to come along. :hug: )

Outside of the dancing, etc., the thing that makes a weekend is the company you have, and the company I had was second to none. All my roommates were great company – we had such a good laugh. Especially with Taz – she’s just lovely. :hug:

Was also good to meet lots of new folks, and all the familiar faces. (Shame there wasn’t more Scots there.) Special mention for Jamie, for being a top bloke, and an awesome dancer. :worthy:

As for the dancing… I had so many really fab dances with so many people – I ache so bad today!

One of the best bits of a weekender is making new discoveries – those really great dancers you just click with – and I made several rather fab discoveries this weekend… Not going to mention any names here, but perhaps if they read this they’ll know who they are. (Hope those that are on the forum will post their comments too.) Really loved dancing with you! :clap:

Music-wise, upstairs was all-right, though I think some of the DJs could have been a little bit more adventurous and thrown away that worn-out “modern jive hits of the 90’s” CD they own. Also, it appeared to a few of us that one of the sets on Saturday during the day was identical to the set played by that DJ on Friday. Most of the time I thought the sound system was too loud, and as someone else said, a bit dodgy at times.

Downstairs the latin room did exactly what it said on the tin. Feel sorry for the DJs there though that were too often playing to just a few couples. Though the floor really isn’t big enough for a big crowd anyway.

The “swing and blues” room music was good when it was that more chilled music that we call “blues”. The swing music would have been better somewhere else entirely – maybe in a latin and swing room.

On Sunday night I noticed we had a DJ who seemed to lack patience and would start the next song before the previous one had finished – while talking over both of them. (I can’t remember which room this was…) Please let songs finish before playing the next one, and it you have to talk, do so between or at the start of songs.

The one thing I disliked most about Camber was the temporary floors – they were simply awful. After the cabaret on Saturday we were told there would be new floors both upstairs and down next year, but it wasn’t clear whether than was the permanent dance floors (which I found alright) or the temporary ones.

I also found the heat in all the rooms to be, at times, unbearable – but if what woodface says is true, then hopefully will be better in the future.

I can’t compare it against previous or other events at Camber, but I can compare against Southport. I’m trying hard to think of things that are better at Camber compared to Southport – maybe the only thing is that the blues room is bigger (but it’s still not better in quality.)

Things which could be made better at Camber…

• The presentation – Southport has much slicker production values – e.g. glossy brochures and booklets, large colour timetable posters for each room. All the information you need together.
• A permanent blues room – one of the best things about Southport is the way that the blues room seems to run 24 hours a day over the weekend, playing chilled out music during the day.
• Bigger names – both on the teacher and DJ side. Camber doesn’t seem to make a big deal about the DJs it employs, maybe because there usually isn’t a big deal to be made. Also, a few exclusive or very high profile teachers would be an extra draw…

Over-all I enjoyed the weekend though. I enjoyed all the dancing, the two (and a bit) classes I did with Taz (lap-dancing :whistle: ) and Witty (WCS entertainingly taught by Scotland’s own Graham Fox with Christina), and everything else.

I missed the company of those who couldn’t make it though.

I was glad to catch Graham & Christina’s cabaret performance. Just shows you don’t have to be American to put a really entertaining WCS performance together. (Helps to be Scottish though. )

I enjoyed Witty’s birthday party, cake was lovely – as was Cruella’s birthday cake.

So, big thanks to everyone – for the dances, company, organisation, lifts, cake, laughs, hugs and cuddles. :cheers: