IMPORTANT MESSAGE REGARDING TICKETS FOR CHRISTMAS BALL
Less than a week to go now but I wanted to raise a couple of points.
The first is, as you can imagine I’m mad keen that you will be there next Thursday. But I’m also very aware of the flu virus which is now circulating and so I don’t want you to go home from next week’s Jive with a nasty Christmas present.
To reduce the risk we will
- Have alcohol gel on all of the tables that are next to the dance floor so that should you wish you can easily access it between dances.
- Welcome you wearing face masks or gloves or any personal protection that makes you feel comfortable. Just to be clear this isn’t a requirement at all, but I want you to know that should you wish to, it is totally acceptable.
- Should you have any symptoms at all of the flu, please, as an act of kindness, don’t attend. Although the usual return period is up to 7 days before the event, on this occasion, I’m very happy to refund anyone at any time right up until the night of the event. So if you decide not to attend, you will certainly not be losing out financially on top of not having the missing the pleasure of being there.
Just to repeat something that I’ve also said several times before, if you think you can’t attend for any reason do let me know. I still have a large number of people on the waiting list. If you are one of the people on the waiting list, I most certainly haven’t forgotten you. You haven’t heard from me because there has been a lower number of returns than usual.
The second general point is that some people are concerned that there are a number of mini events happening in the course of the evening, things such as the mystery Dancer and linedances, which could stop the flow of Jive dancing. Please know that all of these events totally accommodate people continuing to dance around the periphery. Nothing that is happening at any point in the evening will actually stop the dancing, other than when I announce the winner of the mystery dancer. Most of you will already know this from previous events, but I just wanted to reassure everyone.
Welcome to a fantastic night of dancing from 8pm to midnight! You will be in the best dance venue in the South. A purpose built Art Deco ballroom, and always a sell out.
I and my wonderful team, together with Paul Walker our fabulous DJ and singing artist, are already planning how to give you a fantastic Christmas evening. These events are run by a great group of volunteers and this sense of community is reflected in the open and fun atmosphere of the evening. This is a Ball, so where possible Ball gowns, colourful dresses, plenty of sparkle! The theme is simply Christmas, maybe red, Green, gold/silver. And guys you need to compliment the women! Bow ties, jackets, make the women proud to be in your company.
Hi all,
Only two weeks to go now!
As you know we’re totally sold out and I have a significant waiting list. So first of all big apologies to anyone receiving this who is still waiting for a ticket. I’m really sorry but I still can’t make any promises. Equally I would really appreciate it if people who do have tickets would let me know ASAP if they or somebody that they have bought for is unable to make the evening. As you know, I’ll refund the money but I’m very keen to pass tickets on to people on the waiting list.
If there are tracks that you would like played on the night, particularly those with a Christmas theme it’s not too late to email Paul, our DJ, and give him advanced warning.
Theswingthing@outlook.com
Regarding the night, I’ve put at the end of this email the program for the evening which is essentially the things that most of you will already know; mystery Dancer, Charleston stroll. But also a new stroll that we are introducing called the Jerusalema. If you want to learn it, here is a demonstration from Paul Walker. It is a variation on the one that you may also find on YouTube but not so different so that either will work perfectly well.
Just to reinforce about the parking. The car parks near the pavilion are quite expensive. The next less expensive is Bournemouth Central car park. There, up to 4 hours costs £5.70. However, the best place to park is on East Overcliffe Drive, Bh1 3pj. It’s only a five minute pleasant walk to the pavilion. It’s free after 8 pm or arrive before eight and pay £2.60 for one hour.
At the end of the evening, if you don’t like walking back to your car in the dark, we are happy to provide an escort system. If you would like to avail yourself of this, please let us know when you arrive. In particular we need to know roughly where you’ve parked and then we can plan for this at the end of the evening. We might also operate a “Get a lift, Give a lift“ relay system. i.e. we will give you a lift to your car, but then in return you drive back to the pavilion to give somebody else a lift to theirs. This may be particularly important if it’s pouring with rain!
Only If you can spare any time at the end of the evening, five or 10 minutes, it would make an enormous difference if you could give us a hand. Like you we are always tired out and yet we’ve got the task of clearing the tables and packing up.
Thank you so much for your raffle prize Donations. There’s definitely no expectation on my part that you donate. It’s only if you happen to have something. But thank you so much!
Out of interest if you win a prize and don’t really want it, we operate a swap table. Keep your ticket, instead of handing it in, and your prize can go on the swap table. Later on you can offer your ticket in return for something that you see that you would rather have.
Happy Christmas and looking forward to seeing you on the night.
Love
John.Xxx
Christmas Charity Ball
Program
8 pm Dancing begins
( please note it is continuous dancing until midnight. All events listed below can accommodate dancing around them)
9 pm Mystery Dancer
9.30 Charleston Line Dance
1030 Jerusalema Line Dance
11pm Strangers in the Night… Dance with a partner that you have never danced with before.
Midnight ….party concludes
Although most of the Dancing is jiving, please feel free to do solo dancing such as northern soul, disco or any other dance that just gives you fun and gets you up. That’s the main purpose of the evening
Bournemouth Pavilion
This Dance is big, up to 400 Dancers. It attracts dancers from across the south and brings together dancers from a wide variety of settings so you’re always likely to see people that you haven’t seen for a while. I try hard not to clash with regular jive providers and weekend events. Always a great atmospere and one or two fun dances, eg mystery dancer and a stroll (line dance) so as to encourage mixing. A bar and free water is available.
Buying Tickets
Tickets will be £ 18 booked in advance which you can cancel for a full refund up to a week before the event. Please forgive this price increase. The Pavilion have put up their charge and now, under Martins Law, I have to pay for additional security. I deliberately try to keep the price down so that no one is excluded. But do know all proceeds go to charity, no one makes a personal profit from this event. If you can afford more PLEASE buy raffle tickets on the night. Sorry but if you turn up on spec I definitely can’t assure you that you’ll get in.
Tickets Refunds
A full refund is available up to 7 days before the event you have purchased. Please email jjrynne@gmail.com for a refund.
Buying Tickets Offline
I very rarely sell tickets offline and because every event seems to be a sell out there are not often tickets available on the door on the night. So please buy tickets online using this website. In unusual situations you can text: 07788 787701 or email jjrynne@gmail.com if unable to purchase via the website!
Go Green
In order to make some small contribution to the awful problem of climate change, we are encouraging people to consider sharing transport. When booking you will be given the opportunity to indicate if you would be open to your contact, email or mobile, being shared with someone who lives near you. ONLY if you wish you can then link up to car share. This has been used by some at previous events.
Silent Raffle
On the night a fabulous group of helpers are running a silent raffle to raise additional funds for Citizens Advice. If you would like to contribute a prize bring it along on the night or please email me and I will pass the information on to them.
Covid safe
There will not be any covid monitoring. Alcohol gel will be widely available at the event and of course if you have any covid like symptoms please do not attend.
Parking
I know the cost of parking in Bournemouth puts people off, BUT there is FREE parking along the clifftop after 8pm that’s BH1 3AA It’s a five-minute walk, I’ve done it.
Cheaper Parking is available at Central car park, Upper Hinton Road, Bournemouth, BH1 2HH. £5.20 for all evening. Four minutes walk from the Pavilion.
The cost of parking is one of the biggest problems with putting events on at the pavilion.
Please strongly consider linking up with other people to Car Share. That way the party almost begins in the car! I will always try to discreetly link people up if you contact me.
I know that many people, particularly women, don’t like walking back to their cars at the end of the evening. I will be arranging an escort service so that groups of people going back to the same parking area can go together or to be walked to their car by somebody that I trust. Let me know at the beginning of the evening if you want to use this service so that I can plan in advance..
Other Pointers
You may remember the last time, and I think this applies to a lot of venues now, they may, sadly, want to check bags on arrival as they do not permit patrons to bring in their own alcohol. I don’t know how they are about water, which always seems ludicrous to me, but I think you know water is now provided for free.
Many people have asked me how they can learn the stroll in advance. if you can visit the following website https://youtu.be/eJ7k0Cchy1Y
and there are others, you will be able to see how it’s done. It’s called the Charleston stroll, It is fun and the more on the floor the better, getting it wrong is part of the fun. And remember it’s not meant to stop the jiving, you can watch if you want but also carry on dancing if that’s what you would prefer, there is plenty of room for both.
Thank you for your continuing support for the raffle but this relies on you bringing donations that you think might be suitable. It raises a significant amount of money for the charity each time which helps enormously.
Thank you for the way you always join in to make these parties such a success. Any help you can give, if you’re still there, at the end is always appreciated although I do have an amazing band of helpers too!
A worthy cause. Proceeds go to Citizens Advice – Registered Charity
All the jives organised by me are in my role as a member of The Friends of East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice. East Dorset and Purbeck Citizens Advice is a registered charity, no profit is made or taken by me and I am accountable to the Friends committee and ultimately to the Board of trustees. My role is entirely voluntary.
I think Citizens Advice is a great service. All it does is help people to access their legal rights which otherwise, through lack of knowledge, they might be denied or cheated out of.
The dances that I organise, generally three a year, give me a chance to combine my wish to support the Citizens Advice Service together with wanting to keep Jivers dancing in the wonderful setting of the Bournemouth Pavilion Ballroom. As far as I know it’s the only location, in the south, where we dance in an actual Ballroom! The groundswell of support that these events have generated, seems to indicate that it’s what people want too, as now virtually every one is sold out.
Why not join the fun over in our Facebook Group.
Thank You
In Support of:
