Friday, July 6, 2012

The Guinness Book Record for Largest Tea Dance



This past Sunday, David and I took part in an attempt to break the World Record for Largest Tea Dance, as part of the Big Dance, a week-long dance festival in Edinburgh.  You may be asking, 'What is a Tea Dance'?  It's a term they use in the UK and it was meant for a summer or autumn dance (usually held between 4pm and 7pm around before you would be having your 'tea'--which also means 'dinner' here in Scotland).  They even served tea at the Tea Dance.

Expert friendly teachers Susan and Gary from the Fly Right Dance Company led us through the steps, and by half six, over six hundred of us were dancing the foxtrot. It's not official yet, but we may have broken the record! It was great fun, and the band (That Swing Sensation) was amazing. 


I wore a me-made dress from a 1940 McCall pattern (3638) with my matching Ness shoes and handbag.


The band was absolutely fantastic:


Gary and Susan were great fun!  David and I would love to check out one of their classes (especially the one on Lindy Hop).


Here's what it looked like as they were teaching us to dance the foxtrot.  You can see David and I over in the upper left hand corner of the crowd.  The foxtrot was pretty easy to learn (this doesn't mean I didn't step on David's feet...lol).  It's basically steps of slow-slow-quick-quick all while slowing moving in a dance line (i.e. large circle) around the floor.  It's the moving around the floor that makes it a bit more difficult.  It was great fun to learn alongside everyone!


And of course, they played some classic dance tunes like shake your tailfeather and the twist.  Isn't it great when dance can make you feel like this:


What a brilliant event.  Do you have any outdoor dance events where you live in the summer?  Any there any dances you want to learn?  And I'm curious, have you tried to be in the Guinness Book of World Records?
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43 comments

  1. Oh I'm so envious! I'd love to take part in something like that! It looks great fun :-)

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  2. I LOVE your McCall dress - so elegant! Plus I am more than a little green with envy over the tea dance - wish we has something like that round here. It looks like it was so much fun and you and David looked amazing in your outfits.

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  3. Looks like so much fun.  You looked so good in your dress.  I had fun finding you in the crowd picture.  I really hope you made it into the Guinness Book of World Records.  That would be so awesome.  I would love to do something like that but my hubby doesn't dance :( and he loathes big crowds.

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  4. CharlottepowellbrooksJuly 06, 2012 10:46 AM

    what fun! At a festival last year they had a tea dance with a wonderful band, ladies to assist with the moves so everyone could join in and then tea and cake!! I never tire of a good tea dance.

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  5. Looks so much fun! And you are beautiful in that dress, so nice :)

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  6. That looks totally amazing and YOU look totally amazing. What a handsome beau, also.

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  7. pincushiontreatsJuly 06, 2012 12:17 PM

    You guys look fabulous! My husband is a swing dancer (I just pretend!) and I've been wanting to making a swing dress and attend a Blitz party for ages now. 

    This tea party looks awesome. And you guys looked amazing. 

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  8. I'm a member of one of our downtown development associations and we've been talking about doing a dance festival for a year - I've passed on this post to our chair. We WILL do something like this - such fun!!

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  9. You two look fabulous and the event looks like a lot of fun! Good luck with breaking the record!

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  10. You two sure do make a stunning couple! What a lovely picture :)

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  11. How fun!  You guys look amazing!  I'm a terrible dancer and hubs doesn't dance at all, so we've never really done anything like this, but it looks like a great time!

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  12. What fun! 
    And your dress is beautiful.

    Do you have a source for vintage patterns in Edinburgh?

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  13. Christine NewtonJuly 06, 2012 4:56 PM

    How fun! I would love to take part in an event like that.  We have some summer music in the park activities, but I'm always hoping for more swing/big band opportunities. The hubby and I used to lindy hop quite frequently.

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  14. What fun! Tea dances need to make a comeback, because I get cranky if I go out late at night. :-) Looks like you had a great time--I love foxtrotting.

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  15. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:09 PM

    Thank you so much! It was really nice to be outdoors too and the weather held (no rain!)

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  16. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:10 PM

    Thanks Deb! I hope they made it into the Book of World Records too!  It was very crowded and a bit difficult to do the foxtrot in such a large group but everyone was learning so it was nice!

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  17. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:10 PM

    I'm hooked! I want to go to more tea dances!!

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  18. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:10 PM

    Thanks Karen :)  We had a blast!

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  19. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:11 PM

    Thanks Sara! Glad the dress got an opportunity to sway :)

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  20. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:11 PM

    You should DEFINITELY make a swing dress and attend a blitz party...that would be amazing! I really want to get more involved with a few of the swing groups here!

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  21. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:12 PM

    Oh! That's so fantastic! Lots of different types of people came out for the event and it was a lot of fun as we were all learning more or less how to do the foxtrot (plus we had a goal :)

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  22. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:13 PM

    Awwww...thanks Lauren!

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  23. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:16 PM

    Thanks Natalie.  Unfortunately, I don't have much of a source for vintage patterns here in Edinburgh.  Occasionally,  I'll stumble across a few in charity shops or at some of the vintage stores.  I source most of my vintage patterns from Ebay (US and UK) and Etsy!  There's also a FANTASTIC seller of vintage patterns in the UK called 'Wicked Lady Collectables"....I've done a wee post on where to source 30's and early 40's patterns here: http://fashionsfromthepast.blogspot.co.uk/2011/01/resources-for-1930s-and-early-40s.html

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  24. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:16 PM

    I really want to learn to Lindy Hop...it looks like so much fun!

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  25. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 6:17 PM

    I'm like you--late afternoon/early evening dances are the best! :)

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  26. sheila cummingJuly 06, 2012 8:37 PM

    Oh crumbs! I was actually in Edinburgh at the time (Garden Party at Holyrood), wish I'd known.Sounds like such fun

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  27. Debi_myhappysewingplaceJuly 06, 2012 8:51 PM

    WOW! Garden party at Holyrood sounds amazing!!!

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  28. You both look great, and I *love* David's Panama! We're huge fans of outdoor summertime dances, glad to know other places do them too!

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  29. The best looking couple in the crowd!

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  30. Look at you two gorgeous kids! What a fantastic event! Sadly, I can't seem to find any events like that near me :( Lovely to dance vicariously through you, though!

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  31. Looking good! Ah dancing.... beware, that could be your next addiction. :-)

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  32. I'm certain we will.

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  33. sheila cummingJuly 07, 2012 4:11 AM

    It was lovely.An intimate gathering of me, the Queen and 8000 of her closest "friends" in Scotland. When I eventually blogpost, I'll send you the link .

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  34. What an awesome event! I think we do have dance events outdoors in summer here. I think there is a swing dancing in the park thing - and lots of go-go dancing too. I want to learn one day but the man isn't keen. *sad face*
     

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  35. Hey, you guys look great! I love the details on your dress! I am a Lindy Hopper and have started sewing so I can learn how to make myself some swing and flapper dresses. Yours is the first blog I started to follow and it is so inspiring. Edinburgh has q great swing scene so you should def go along- they hold some big events- the exchange in Sept and something over Christmas. It is so much fun, keeps you fit and is such a boost! Let me know if you want more info- I can try and find out more for you, Steph

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  36. rehanonmackenzieJuly 07, 2012 10:07 AM

    ah you guys look absolutely spiffing :)

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  37. Lovely dress! Lovely bag! But couldn't see those shoes - eek! Went straight to Ness to check everything out, purse & shoe lover that I am (wink!).  How I wish a neighborhood around me would do something similar!

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  38. Thanks for the idea, Toby!  If I can locate a similar group here, will pass this over to them!

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  39. You guys look fantastic as always!  Trent & I walked past a few of these stages, wondering what it was about!  Obviously we came to early to see such fun!

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  40. It's a U.S. company, but Folkwear has a fair amount of vintage re-works, in addition to their "ethnic" patterns. Best thing about them is that they are sized for modern figures, in modern undergarments. Their website has excellent illustrations of all their offerings.

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  41. What a fabulous event!  And you look positively smashing together with those brilliant outfits.  LOVE your dress and your hair is perfect!!! I hope you beat the record!

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  42. This looks awesome! Looks like you had soooo much fun and I just LOVE your outfits! We are excited as we are going to Edinburgh next week!... wish we could have been in the city for this event:)

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  43. Louella BlomqvistJuly 11, 2012 7:09 AM

    Wow! This seemed like a fun, energetic and wonderful event. Debi, you look stunning in that dress and in that lovely hair style! Thank you for sharing.

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I read each and every comment--thank you so much!

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