Dance Reviews with Noel Bradey

May 2006

              MIXED EMOTIONS

Choreographer: Carl Sullivan

Music: I Hate Myself In The Morning by Lee Anne Womack

Albums:"The Best Of Country Music Channel 2005'' or Strictly Hits #29"

 I am a huge Lee Ann Womack.  The first time I was introduced to her was by a tour escort who did our transfer from the airport to downtown Nashville.  Lee Ann is her sister in law and she was rushing off to see her at a showcase event.  At that stage Lee Ann Womack was a new comer without a record contract.  The following year as we traveled from the airport to our hotel there was a huge billboard announcing the release of new country star Lee Ann Womack’s first album.  Things sometimes happen fast in music city.  We saw Lee Ann perform that year and I have been a fan ever since.  Likewise I am a fan of Carl Sullivan’s work.  We teach a lot of his dances at Strictly Linedance, but I must say that “Mixed Emotions” has to be me favourite for a long time.  It has also proved an instant hit with our classes – and they prefer the longer version rather than the shorter version of the song!  Carl has created an interesting dance, a little tricky in the learning, yet because of its unique step combinations, an easy one to retain.  This dance will be around for a long time.  Well done Carl.

          TEQUILA BLUES

Choreographer: Noel Bradey

Music: Not Enough Tequila by Terri Clark                      

Albums: "Life Goes On" or Strictly Hits #29"

Nothing wrong with a bit of nepotism I say.  “Tequila Blues” is so named because the song is about a relationship breakup and the singer bemoans that there is not enough Tequila in Mexico to drown her sorrows.  I must say I prefer to find a name for a dance rather than just going with the title of the song.  This is an easy intermediate dance and I have taught it to both early intermediate and intermediate/advanced students and they all seem to be enjoying it.  The dance is 64 counts with no restarts or tags, which adds to its dancer friendly appeal.  I feel that I have added some unique combinations and have tried not to be too repetitive as I find it very easy to get lost in dances that repeat either steps or sequences (or both) too often.  I leave it up to you to make the final comments on my dance.        

Choreographer: Michael Vera-Lobos

Music: Mamma Mia by A-Teens

Albums:"Euro Dance Remix Volume 2" or Strictly Hits #29"

Michael has done a very good job with this dance.  It is a brisk version of the Abba Hit “Mamma Mia” so should keep everyone dancin’ and singin’ happily across the dance floor.  Although the dance contains lots of shuffles, coasters and pivots, there are some unique treatments that give this dance its own place on the dance floor.  It is a dancer friendly dance catering from easy intermediate through intermediate/advanced students.  All seem to enjoy having a good time with this dance.

Choreographer: Darren Bailey (Wales) and Liels B Poulsen (Denmark)

Music: With These Eyes by Roche Voisine

Albums: “Kissing Rain” or “Strictly Hits #29”

I saw this dance whilst at the UK Linedancer Awards in Blackpool in February this year and resolved immediately that I would learn and teach it.  The song is a great part of the appeal, but also I like the steps, especially the ‘half diamond fallaway’.  I am lucky that I have seen Niels dance this and have it on video, as it certainly is a lesson in step control.  Unless you put styling into this dance there really is no point and probably no enjoyment.  I have noted that the students that enjoy this dance most are those that are prepared to go the extra mile when it comes to styling.  This dance is quite slow (I actually pump it up 6%)and probably not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it as I really feel like I am dancing.  I love this song so much that I had to get the album and the only place I could get it was on Ebay – Michael had to do the final bidding (I was in a training course) and said that it was the most stressful thing he had done for a long time. We won the bid and it is now one of my most treasured albums. For those who don’t know Roche Voisine, he is a French Canadian pop singer with an amazing range to his voice.  The album was released in 1996.

              UNTIL FOREVER

Choreographer: Sandy Kerrigan

Music: Story of Love by Westlife

Album “Westlife (Japan Bonus Track)” or “Strictly Hits #29”

We teach a lot of Sandy’s dances at Strictly Linedance.  I think that I should call her “The Queen Of Turns”.  Sandy often features lots of turns in her dances, but she always finds a new way to do them.  “Until Forever” is no exception.  Sandy has a beautiful set of turns in the 3^rd set of 8 counts that I really love.  Sandy has created a dancer friendly dance, which flows beautifully to the music.  The dance is only 32 counts and there are a few restarts and tags, but don’t be put off by these as they are really easy to master and you can hear them in the music.  Another really nice dance from Sandy that should be around for quite a while. 

Choreographer: Tracie Lee

Music: It’s Only Make Believe by Collin Raye

Albums: “Twenty Years And Change” or “Strictly Hits #30”

I am a big Collin Raye fan and bought this album as soon as it was released.  I must say I was a little disappointed in the album, but Tracie has certainly chosen one of the better songs.  This is the first dance that I have taught of Tracies for a while and I think that it is her best since “I Remember” – or to put that more correctly the most dancer friendly to the most memorable piece of music.  Tracie certainly has come up with the goods as her dance flows beautifully to the song and there are some new moves in there as well.  The dance is a 48 count two wall intermediate line dance with only one easy to hear restart on wall three.  Well done Tracie.

         IT'S A BEAUTIFUL LIFE

Choreographer: Catherine Proudfoot

Music: Awful Beautiful Life by Darryl Worley

Albums: “Darryl Worley” or “Strictly Hits #30”

I learnt this dance from Cathryn in Tamworth and thought, yeh that a bit different, I’m going to teach that.  I have taught the dance in 3 classes as I write this and it is going pretty well.  A few students are still a little undecided but I think they will come around after they have mastered it.  A few others don’t like it because the song is a bit too country for them.  Me?  I like both the song and the dance.  I think that Cathryn has caught the essence of the music and provided interesting steps that flow well.  There are some very interesting combinations using sailors, coasters and Dorothy steps.  Cathryn’s step description does not identify the level of dance (5 points off Miss Proudfoot), but I would put it firmly in the upper intermediate category.  The dance is 64 counts and has 3 tags (easy) and 1 slow interlude (easy once you have got the music cues worked out in your head).  Yes, I like this one.

            SAY I LOVE YOU

Choreographer: Noel Bradey

Music: Say I Love You (Reggae Mix) by Renee Geyer

Album: “Strictly Hits #29”

I have been a Renee Geyer fan since I was 20 years old (about 15 years!!?? LOL) and together with some of my students we regularly attend one of her concerts.  Two of those students, Lucy Kenneth and Louisa Rzpecky, gave me a copy of this remix of one of Renee’s biggest hits and asked me to choreograph and dance to it.  I held on to it for over a year until I felt I had the steps in my head and this is the result.  As one of my students said, ‘there isn’t a line dance step that you missed putting into this routine’.  Yes, but there is only one of each and most students seem to like the dance.  When Michael first taught this dance in one of his classes he preferred to use the normal version of the song, but in my book, for a line dance, it is bit monotonous. In my humble opinion the reggae/rap version lifts the song to a new height lending the variety that creates a great line dance track. There was a student revolt and Michael is now using the correct version.  I won’t crit my own dance in case I am a little biased, and I hope that you will learn it and much your own judgment of it’s merits.   

                        SOME PEOPLE

Choreographer: Michael Vera-Lobos

Music: “Some People” by LeAnne Rimes

Albums: “This Woman” or “Strictly Hits #30”

Le Ann Rimes’ voice certainly has matured since the first time I saw her step onto the stage in Nashville many years ago making her debut in front of the crowd at Fan Fair.“Some People” is a beautiful song and Michael has done it justice fitting some very nice combinations to the music.  It is a four wall intermediate dance with 3 very easy restarts that are easily heard in the music.  This dance is perfect for those who like their line dancing a little on the slow side.  The step combinations are quite unique making it an easy dance to retain.  I find that very important as I get older, finding the hook that will make me remember a dance.  Once again a beautiful dance from Michael that our students are enjoying very much at the moment.

              TRAVELIN’ SOUL

Choreographer: Julie Dowse

Music: Travelin’ Soul by Terri Clark

Albums: “Life Goes On” or “Strictly Hits #30”

I just love this song and Julie has created a dance that suits the feel of the music.  It is a two wall intermediate dance with two tags and one restart.  I must admit I miss the 2^nd tag quite a lot, so it probably is one that you just need to know when it will happen – I am not good at that type of tag or restart!  That said, it is a very nice dance and Julie can always be relied upon to come up with some interesting and different combinations.  The dance is an average pace, so should not provide any problems for too many dancers. 

Choreographer: Noel Bradey

Music: Where The Poor Boys Dance by Lulu

Albums: “The Greatest Hits” or “Strictly Hits #29”

There I go again.  This is my latest dance so I will just tell you about it rather than giving it a crit.  I am a huge Lulu fan and was extremely disappointed when her concert at the Opera House was cancelled last year.  This song was a huge hit for Lulu and I have loved it for a long time.  Michael bought me a copy of the single on Ebay about two years ago and then Lulu released her Greatest Hits Album.  So, I have been thinking about using this song for a long time.  The song is basically about someone wishing to go back to their roots to find out what makes them tick – hence the name “Roots”.  The music has a disco feels to it and the dance moves along at a brisk pace.  I was looking to use familiar steps but in different combinations to keep the dancers interest.  I hope that I have achieved this.  It is a 64 count two wall intermediate line dance with one easy to hear tag after wall two. I hope that you will learn this dance and enjoy dancing to this wonderful song as much as I do.

Reviews by Noel Bradey

Thanks Noel for the great and  entertaining reviews!!!