Welcome to The Dancers Diary!!! Copy me the copy and I will post it!! (Hey guys, Check out Fling For Logan) Christie with her dancers at the Sue Competition. Image:  Image:  Alison Gibson Alison Gibson at her last practice before Graduation from Alma College.   Alison G,ibson Christie and Ashley Davidson Congratulations Judge Emma! Kira and Ray with new addition. On the Right we Have Christie pictured at the recent Harbor Springs Competition with one of her young dancers. Melissa Zakala-Downs. Melissa won the beginner 7 and under trophy and was also given the award of"Most promising Dancer" age 12 and under.  Well done Melissa! On the left we have the first picture of Claire Vansteenkiste . Born September 22nd 2008 at 7lb 1oz.   She is seen here with her proud parents, Kira and Ray. Melissa Zakala-Downs Megan Setterlund(L) and Melissa Zakala-Downs(R) at the recent Chelsea competition. Both dancers medaled and Megan graduated to Novice. Congratulations to them both. 2007 Regionals First some pictures of the regional competition in Alma... which this year was a combination bake out and fry fest. The competitors baked on stage while the audience were fried in the stands which had been converted into a solar oven for the event. For those of us who remember former years let us not complain and celebrate the fact that it did not rain!!. MidWest Regional Representatives Alma Studio Winners at Mid West Qualifyers Kate Degood with Christie Freestone Katie Goodell with Christie Freestone Alma Clean Sweep in the 16 and under 18 group Katherine Crombie (KT) with Christie Freestone Leda Starkweather with Christie Freestone Alexa Gilbert with Hannah Faustmann Aundria Fell with Hannah Faustmann who's a happy Dad then? A trip to the Ballet. NY Ballet, Watch out! Good times 3 hours before dinner was ready having fun at the banquet! Can you guess the owners? The girls snag their very own ballet dancer Lucky Shanden!! Christie Freestone with her Champion, Kate Degood A proud mom. Christie Freestone with Leda Starkweather Katie Crombie 1st runner up. Trish. Team Alma kicks up their heels On to Saratoga... The USIR competition was held in Saratoga Springs, New York this year and turned out to be a wonderfully run event in a wonderful location. Saratoga Springs is so called because of the numerous natural springs that occur in the area, some of which are naturally carbonated and surprisingly pleasant to the taste. This phenomenon made Saratoga the destination of choice for the elite in New York Society at the turn of the 19th century, causing many wonderful Victorian edifices to dot the architecture of the city. This years Banquet was held in just such a building, The magnificent old casino. A wonderful evening was had by all. This years outing was a visit to a performance of the NY ballet company a member of whom addressed the attendees at the banquet. Shopping, white water rafting, and touring the nearby Adirondack park were activities enjoyed between a busy dancing schedule. The Studio did very well at this years USIR. Kate Degood won the adult division with Elizabeth Fishback coming in 3rd runner up, Trisha MacConnell came in 4th .runner up and Katie Godell was 5th runner up. In the 16 and under 18 category Katie Crombie was first runner up. In the 14 and under 16 category Leda Starkweather was 3rd runner up. Congratulations to ALL the dancers. In the North American Championship held the day after the USIR competition results were as follows....(9 & under) Laura Lowe 4th runner up, (14 and under 16) Leda Starkweather- Champion, (16 & under 18) Katie Crombie 2nd runner up, Alexa Gilbert 4th runner up, (18 and under 21) Elizabeth Fishback- 1st runner up, Trisha McConnell- 4th runner up, (21 & over) Katie Goodell- 4th runner up and Hannah Faustmann won the FUSTA Academis Scholarship which was presented at the banquet.     Caitlin and KT at the British Overseas. The Perth Games World Pipe Band Comp. Glasgow Commonwealth comp. Stirling It aint that heavy! Dancers! Leave that sheep alone! Christie's famous potato soup Christie and her dancers at the Worlds Line outside beer tent at Cowal. Scotland trip 06. While sitting watching The British Overseas competition in Musselburgh, just outside of Edinburgh, I engaged the lady sitting beside me in conversation. The lady was a teacher from South Africa, over with a contingent of  45 South African highland dancers, one of whom was her grand daughter, Caitlin Boyes who was also dancing at the competition that day. This teacher was none other than Shonah Robinson who had jointly won the British overseas competition in its inaugural year. Her co-winner was none other than our own John Hynes who she sends out a great big "Hello" to. (Shonah teaches both Highland and Irish dancing in SA. Her mother, the late Jenny Jamieson (Nee McKean) was the second SA champion back in 1932. Shonah won the SA championship twice in 58/59. and the family dynasty continues today with Shonahs daughter Elinor winning the SA championship 6 times from 1979 thru 1984 and placing 6th at Cowal in 1983. Eliors daughters Caitln and Genevieve are currently SA champions. ). Katie Crombie and Caitlin Boyes are pictured after the British overseas competition in Musselburgh at which Katherine came in 1st runner up and Caitlin came in 4th runner up. Next day at the British open Katherine placed 4th runner up and Caitlin came in 5th runner up. Katherine next competed in the very scenic and fun games at Newtonmore where she won some cash and medals and I won a bottle of whisky (A miniature :o( ) in the hill run. We met up with the Katie Goodell, her mother, Jill and Kate and her boy friend Patrick at the World Pipe Band Championship in Glasgow. We all stayed at Piperdam outside of Dundee for a couple of days and the three Kates all danced at the games in Perth. Katie and Jill Goodell did a little touring, visited a few castles in the area and then we were all off to the West Coast and Cowal!! On the way to Cowal we picked Christie up at Glasgow Airport and she was able to watch all three of her dancers compete at the Commonwealth Games in Stirling. In the Qualifying competition for the World Highland Dance championship, all three of Christies Dancers qualified to dance in the worlds on Saturday!!! This was a major feather in both Christies cap and for Kate Kt and Katie. Kate Degood went on to win 2nd runner up in the adult World Championship. Go Kate!!! For a complete list of dancers placings in all the competitions, check out WWW.toeandheel.com . Some pictures From The St. Andrews Games. Don't do it Katie!!!! Christie is back!!! The Dancers At The Recent Ohio Championship show the Famous Alma "Tude Dude" Happy Hogmany