Nov 1. Welcome and Update email message to all participants in the Vintage Waltz Weekend, Nov. 2-4
Dear Vintage Waltzers,
It's Split Tree Waltz Time again. Richard and Angela have created a rich and
varied and unique weekend of dancing and workshops that will explore more than
two centuries of waltzing, based on selections from his waltz semester course at
Stanford University.
Each of you has been patient as we evolved from the burned Split Tree studio and
our familiar habits there to the historic Tivoli Theater in Chattanooga with the
chance to discover new patterns and opportunities...and to make new mistakes,
hopefully only minor ones. The Tivoli seems perfect to me for a romantic vintage
waltzing weekend and ball and we were lucky to have it become available for our
dates and needs. No doubt you're all looking forward Richard and Angela's
classes, seeing old friends, and the dancing this weekend as much as I am.
Something new for you is Richard's music for warm-up waltzing 6-8 pm on the
Tivoli Theater main stage, accompanied by Split Tree's first wine and cheese
bistro. Margaret will register you during this same time, provide weekend name
tags, and Chef Paul's Tivoli Bistro offers his tasty $5 buffet. So please check
in early at the motel, walk around town, and join us to start the party with old
and new friends, chat with Angela and Richard, drop your cares, and dance
yourself into the magical moment. You're also welcome to come early and help set
up starting at around 1 pm.
Remember, you get an "extra" hour of dancing on Sunday because the clocks fall
back to DST at 2 am; no excuses now for being late to the 9:30 Sunday class.
Below are a few additional things to share. Weather is perfect: 70 daytime and
50s evenings. I hope you too have your fancy duds ready for Saturday's Vintage
Waltz Ball. Dinner is at 6:45 and dancing from 8-11 or so pm. Now....
DIRECTIONS/ENTRANCE: From any direction, follow signs to downtown Chattanooga.
At I-24 just south of downtown's spaghetti junction, take Rt. 27 north at the
split off I-24 and go to exit 1A, MLK Blvd. and off. As you come off this
interstate, or Rt. 27, go to 2nd light and turn left on Broad St. Go to 2nd
light and left on 7th. The Tivoli address is 709 Broad Street for GPS devices.
However, our single entrance is the back stage entrance door at corner of 7th
and Chestnut, not the 709 Broad St. lobby doors under the marquee; these are
closed off.
PARKING: During the day, park on street or at lot at 7th and Chestnut, or other
nearby lots. Free parking on Fri/Sat nights from 6 pm to midnight is across 7th
at the Blue Cross garage. I don't think there are meter charges on the weekend
but am not certain; plenty of room however.
CAMPING AT SPLIT TREE: No one now is planning on camping at Split Tree due to
construction on the two cabins.
GENDER BALANCE: We now are gender balanced, or lead/follow balanced, with one
extra woman; we could use a single guy or two, and have room for a few more
couples. We close it out at 100 dancers.
PROGRAM: The program is on the web page at www.splittree.org/ww07.htm and copies
will be posted.
VINTAGE WALTZ BALL: Several have asked about attire for the Saturday night ball,
8-11 pm. Most men will be wearing tuxes or business suits and most women wearing
evening gowns, either historic reproductions or contemporary. But you will be
admired in normal evening clothes or even informal dress. Or anything eclectic
and colorful. Most of us enjoy being part of the show and adding to the feeling
of all jumping back in time to the vintage dancing era with clothes that help
the journey. See Bob Chapman's photos of vintage dress at examples of period
clothing at www.splittree.org/pages/vintageperiodfashion.htm. Elegant dress can
be from any of the past two hundred years, including 2007, for the Saturday
night ball and we encourage all to join in the time trip.
MORE SPACE: By renting the entire theater for the weekend, as of Nov. 1, we do
have room right now for more 8 dancers and please don't hesitate to register
your friends who'd like to learn waltzing and to be a part of our social dancing
community. We are gender balanced and have about 92 signed up now and could go
as high as 100 comfortably on the main stage at the Tivoli. Several dancers have
donated for the stage costs and are listed on the web page; more sponsors are
welcome. Also, assistance for dance educators and students and performers is
available by request. The cost of a half day is $50 and the evening ball is $25.
Payments can be made with a credit card via Paypal to sid@splittree.org or pay
at the door.
FOOD SIGN-UP by MONDAY: Chef Paul Schulz of Atlanta has closed the food signup.
His menu is posted at www.splittree.org/ww07menu.htm and promises to be as tasty
as the meals at his last two weekends at the farm. We will dine in the Tivoli's
elegant lobby to the music of Atlanta pianist Alan Dynin.
FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIALIZING: As noted, Friday night we're hosting a wine (bring a
bottle of your favorite if you wish) and cheese waltz party and warm-up dancing,
in addition to the chef's soup and salad for $5, on stage from 6-8 pm. Richard
himself will provide the warm-up music this time and he's hoping to bring a new
waltz CD to sell. We do not have any beginning waltz class planned because
Richard will cover the basics Friday night starting at 8 pm an all come
prepared. No doubt some of you more experienced waltzers will spot the less
experienced dancers and ask those lucky people to dance with you and to help
them realize that they are superb in every way and that there is no such thing
as a mistake in this social dance group, only traveling steps or the beginning
of a new type of move that may become the next new dance thing. So I hope to see
all of you there by 6 pm and ready to move. Then we'll be warm and ready for
Richard's first class at 8 pm; if it's like the one at Stanford two years ago,
this is all you'll ever need to know about the joy of waltzing. So warming up is
a good idea since he will move quickly with such good dancers. But if you miss
something, not to worry; he'll pick it up again during the weekend. Someone
should make a movie about him and his new "old" dances.
SHOES: You do not need special dance shoes on the Tivoli stage dance floor but
sticky soles do not work well and shoes with sharp edges, such as extreme high
heels, are not allowed. For waltzing, shoes that allow the foot to turn and spin
on the hard wood are best. Non-street shoes are preferred of course.
LODGING: Most downtown motels are sold out at reasonable rates. There is lodging
at the Knight's Inn, a motel several miles from downtown where Lookout Mtn meets
the Tennessee river, and that link and special rate are at the web flyer,
www.splittree.org/ww07.htm. It's a plain but clean motel that I checked myself.
Ask for the Tivoli dance weekend rate; you may need the manager I'm told. You
can get a kingsize bed room for $49.95 plus tax and a two beds for $54.95 plus
tax. It's about 10 minutes or so from the Tivoli and in fact Cummings Highway
into town becomes Broad Street; the theater is at 709 Broad Street. Or take the
interstate. The I-24 exit is #174; go toward the mountain (east) about 100 yards
and the entrance is on left past the BP station at the Hampton Inn with Knights
Inn just behind it.
THEATER FACILITIES: If you wish to change and clean up at the theater, there are
enough dressing rooms with showers and bathrooms to accommodate so you do not
have to return to your motel after Saturday afternoon classes. And mostly waltz
music will be playing on stage for practice waltzes or for requests during meals
and breaks, such as late Saturday afternoon. Someone might wish to lead
stretching and yoga after class Sat. afternoon or before classes start.
SECURITY/SAFETY: The Tivoli lobby doors will be closed to outside entrance and
only the stage door is open, where a guard must be present. We also have
volunteers assisting to make sure the lobby doors remain closed and ask that you
do not exit from the lobby. However, please leave your belongings around the
stage and not in the auditorium or dressing rooms, which are for all to share
(except two reserved ones). As usual, when parking put belongings in your trunk.
Our dance liability insurance is with the CDSS dance group but it does not cover
loss of possessions, theft, etc. The usual announcement will be made about safe
dancing practices and we mention this because waltzing is inherently risky, as
is any group and partner physical exercise, with couples moving together rapidly
around the floor and at times, such in in the redowa, leaping and hopping; keep
plenty of distance from other dancers and move to the middle if necessary or
just stand out and mention this to the instructor if it feels unsafe. No
acrobatics are allowed. The stage is 90 x 45 so there should be plenty of room.
And there are seats for resting on the raised orchestra pit lift floor. Sharp,
high heels are the most dangerous for this type of vigorous traveling social
dancing and are not allowed.
SPLIT TREE RESPONSIBILITIES: Advance registration/reservations are required and
the usual Split Tree admissions policies apply to this event at the Tivoli
Theater; see link at www.splittree.org/misc_pages/rules98.htm. No walk-ins will
be allowed at any time to maintain the teaching standards. The event is closed
to the general public after registration deadline of 7 pm Friday, Nov. 2, unless
the registrar or producer approves half day participation, which is $50 and $25
for the ball. No one has signed up for this yet and we strongly recommend the
entire weekend immersion in waltzing.
OBSERVERS/AUDIENCE: The theater is rented only for the stage and lobby and not
the auditorium, although there is no objection to its use by resting dancers.
Guests are allowed for short periods if permission is obtained from the
registrar, Margaret Frederick, or the event producer, Sid Hetzler. The rehearsal
room is available if needed for changing, practice, lessons, etc. Restrooms are
located in several locations near the stage.
PERFUME: Most social dancers appreciate very light or no perfume or fragrances.
There is no smoking in the theater, only outside the stage door.
DONATIONS: We appreciate Larry Larson's "Larry's Beans" donation that made
possible Friday night on the main stage and Doug and Stephanie's gift that
helped make Sunday's use of the main stage possible. I asked Larry to bring some
of his gourmet coffee beans for you to take home at modest prices.
Please check the latest update to the web page at www.splittree.org/ww07.htm for
Tivoli address, maps, photo links, Chattanooga links, etc. Some interesting
waltz history has been added. Downtown Chattanooga and the riverfront area are
very interesting for walking tours. The fall colors will be strong because only
this week did we get enough rain and cooler weather to start the autumn change.
Regards and safe trip,
Sid
Sid Hetzler
Spilt Tree Farm
sid@splittree.org
597 W Cove Rd
Chickamauga, GA 30707
Tel 706 539 2485
Fax 770 216 1596
Web www.splittree.org