Welcome to The Dancers Diary!!! Copy me the copy and I will post it!! Apologies to one and all for not being more up to date on the web page. The Scotland 07 Trip to Cowal looks like it will once again include the Three Kt?s (Katie Goodell, Kate DeGood and Katie Crombie) plus Alexa Gilbert . Christie.  Katie Goodell will be dancing with an extra spring in her step as she will be on her honeymoon (Congrats Kate) and will be accompanied by her new husband Jeff who is threatening to participate in the Oban hill run and the road run at Bute.  Kate Degood is about to enter medical school (Congrats Kate). 06  was a record breaker with the studio having 10 reps making it to the USIR competition in Saratoga Springs. 7 qualifying in the Mid-West competition in Alma, one coming from the South East, one from the North West and one from the West. 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.     The 06 Dance camp went well...a big thank-you to Julie and Steve Lehman, Barb Lowe, Arthur Faustmann, and all other parents who helped. The teachers were Christie, Sheena and Hannah. Next year, we would like to do a workshop at the studio in June for premier dancers prior to the US Championship and Dance Camp at School Section Lake in August for pre-premier dancers.   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 . Other News from Various Comps.     I don't have all the results from the St. andrew's games at the beginning of August  in Detroit, but I know that the following dancers from the studio won awards: Bethany Slater, Shannon DeGroot, Alina Crimmon, Michaela Slater(Trophy Winner), Lucia Hall(Trophy Winner) , Cody Hall, Laura Lowe(1st Runner up  trophy winner), Meghan Smoker, Lauren Rabine, Leda Starkweather (Trophy Winner), Alexa Gilbert, Kate Degood (Trophy Winner)   Trisha McConnell won the championship at Pleasonton in California, Labor day weekend.   Katie Crombie and Cody Hall both won 1st place Trophys at the Wisconsin Games.  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 Good Luck Christie Charles, (On right in picture above). Christie is leaving for Australia on a six month student exchange program. We love you Christie... Keep on dancing.  STOP PRESS!  Christie Charles is back home safe and sound after a fun filled six month trip the Australia.  Welcome Back Christie. Kira watched by Dad has fun at her reception. First Kiss Here comes the bride The newlyweds Kiras wedding party Kira Cogswell recently wed her beau,  Ray Vansteenkiste.. Congratulations Kira and Ray. We wish you much happiness and joy in your future together. May all your troubles be little ones. ;o).