Photos: Dixie Belles Line Dance Club

Photos

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Valentines Dance with Rob Childs, February 2024

If you are a line dancer and could have been anywhere two nights ago, then you couldn't have made a better choice than going to Barnham Community Centre for the Dixie Belles Valentine Dance featuring Rob Childs. Jenny Bembridge went through the complete gamut of emotions prior to the dance, which until late on could have been cancelled as Jenny did everything possible so the attendance made the dance worthwhile. Thankfully it was a sell-out and a fantastic night to boot.

If a week is said to be a long time in politics, then 5 months is a very long time in line dancing terms. When Rob Childs appeared at Dixie Belles last September, I reported an excellent night but I was also critical of the number of dancers who left before the event finished. Happily that was all forgotten last night as a rejuvenated Rob Childs took the collective Dixie Belles dancers under his spell at 7.30 pm with Missing and didn't relax his grip, with just about everybody still there, until the second encore of High Class Lady just before 10.45 pm. Between those times we enjoyed a sensational night with Rob fully in command and at the height of his powers musically, establishing an immediate rapport with the audience, some of whom were new enough dancers not to have seen him before.

On this occasion Rob's programme was topical reflecting new dances such as Three Tequila Floor, Five Leaf Clover, Memory Lane and Save It For A Sunny Day among others. Rob also drew on his vast repertoire of recordings to remind us of the danceability of I Saw The Light and Two Of A Kind Workin On A Full House for County Line Cha-Cha and Barn Dance respectively. Rob paid homage to Country music superstar Toby Keith, sadly lost recently, with You Can't Read My Mind (Telepathy) and A Little Less Talk And A Lot More Action (danced here to Got To Be Funky/Black Coffee). Dedicating Wrapped Around to his fiance Izzy (also in attendance) while also upping the tempo on Honky Tonk Highway and Seven Nights To Rock we had the chance to marvel yet again at his supreme musicianship. The big surprise was the introduction of The Night Has A Thousand Eyes for Ribbon Of Highway, which some readers might recall Bobby Vee taking this into the UK singles 60 years ago almost to the week. Not only did this work Rob received the accolade of a standing at the culmination of the numbered! Add in Last Living Cowboy (for Cowboy Charleston) and One Step Forward (for the elders, including me) we enjoyed the complete dance package.

It seemed too early when Rob ended things at 10.30 pm, but reflecting the heady party atmosphere, Jenny brought him back for two encores with things ending on High Class Lady. Rob Childs is once again at the pinnacle of his dance powers and on this evidence is crying out to be seen again!

Before I close, a mention here for the stunning backdrop on the stage behind Rob that was devised and installed by Lol Slater (step stool held by Sue Weston).

Red, White & Blue Party Night with Tony Rouse, July 2013

New Year's Eve Party with Cheyenne 2012

Xmas Party with Alan Gregory 2012

Red, White & Blue Party night with Tony Rouse July 2012

New Year's Eve Party 2011
Alan Gregory with the Rock and Roll Guys & Girls
Alan Gregory presenting Sandy with best prize for fancy dress costume	Alan Gregory

Xmas 2011
Dave, Jenny & Dot	Muddy Boots with Dixie Belles	Muddy Boots with more Dixie Belles

Red, White & Blue Party Night with Bobby D Sawyer 2011

Xmas 2010
Jenny, Dot & Wendy	Texas Tornados with Dixie Belles	Dixie Girls

Halloween 2010
The Assembly Hall - Halloween 2010	Jenny & Wendy - Halloween 2010

Red, White & Blue Party Night with Bobby D Sawyer July 2010

Dixie Belles with Bobby D Sawyer

Grand Charity Line Dance June 2009
Muddy Boots	The Village Idiots	Jenny & Lesley Anne

Halloween Party 2007
Dave, Dot, Gill, Bill, Jenny & Kath	Carol	Kath & Gill	Dot, Jenny, Dave, Gill, Bill, Pauline & Kath

Independence Day Party 6th July 2007 with John Permenter

Dixie Belles with John Permenter

Hi Jenny,
Thank you for hosting such a terrific evening last Friday. John was so good and that fiddle!! Just love that music! There is always such a good "family" atmosphere at your dances and that is to your credit. Look forward to seeing the digi photo of us all that evening - perhaps you could kindly e-mail it through. Thank you again for such a welcoming friendly club atmosphere.
Love Marion

Grand Charity Dance 23rd February 2007
Gill checking her raffle tickets	Lisa getting Mick ready	How dare you! No way to treat a lady?	Carol, John & Judy
Is this how it is done?	Or this way perhaps!	Bit cheeky!	Got it right at last

Halloween 2006
Carol, Helen, Jenny, Roger, Judy, Gill, Dave	M T Allan?	Mick, Liz, Jill, Norman, Sheila	Sandie & Chris
Just washed my hair	Colin, Linda, Natalie, Gill	Who let her out?	Dave, Gill & Dot
Dracula front	Dracula back	Little Devil Val	Natalie

4th July 2006, Red, White and Blue Party Night with Bobby D Sawyer
Bobby		Sandie, Bobby and Chris
Some of the gang at Dixie Belles with Bobby
John & Carol	Lisa and Mick	Sian	Bobby, Dave and Dot
Dot, Dave, Kathy, Faye, and Hazel	Jenny's corner	Bobby & Jenny	Group photo

Grand Charity Night in aid of The British Heart Foundation and Leukaemia Research, held at The Assembly Hall, Bognor Regis Campus of the University of Chichester 19th May 2006
John Permenter & Little Rock with Gill, Tracy, Mandy, Jenny & Sian	Dixie Belles, Marlene, Faye, Gill and Jenny singing "I Can't Be Bothered"