I will be the first to confess that I have not been to a NADA AGM for a long time although I think I have been a member probably since the start so I was looking forward to going to Carlisle for a wee day trip from Glasgow to meet up with familiar friends, meet new ones and always enticed by a free dance workshop and a free lunch – this NADA bunch are a generous lot!

Eleanor (an AGM virgin) and I drove down in time to arrive to a packed hall and Jan Piggott’s Spanish Style workshop. It’s always great to be a student for a change when you are a teacher and the other teachers there also agreed. The comments from others in the room, the high energy and laughter backed up everyone’s enjoyment of the workshop. Some of the comments were that it was the first time some people had tried or had had the chance to take a fusion style workshop and they thoroughly enjoyed it. Jan did a great job of using the hall space for the large numbers, keeping us focused and the energy up and a smile on our faces. The great thing about the workshop as it was open level and the moves were also transferable across various bellydance styles – e.g.  tribal style or cabaret.

Post the workshop came the promised lunch and what a great lunch it was – fresh, healthy, and wholesome – a huge thank you for the Spanish inspired veggie buffet with the chef preparing everything in the kitchen during the morning. A feast, thank you!

Then down to business at the AGM which most people stayed for which was good ,and most people in the room looked actively engaged in too with either comments or nods and smiles at various parts of the proceedings.

What were the key messages from the floor and the membership?

-       Some key changes in the Committee – with big thanks to Kay and Anne for their longstanding drive and commitment to getting NADA to where it is at today and hopefully on-going contribution and support from the sidelines!

-       New Co-ordinator  - Anna Teed

-       New Advertising Co-ordinator - Angela Ashworth

-       Accounts in a reasonable place but membership could always be higher – 300 is the target – so lets ensure we keep renewing ours and get a few classmates on board – its great value!

-       New website, Facebook and other 21st century advances which are sowing the seeds of interest and interaction amongst members

-       Keep the articles coming in for the magazine – Liz wants to hear from you and your views , reviews, comments

-       What should NADA support and should this be a 100% or 50/50 funding to build local dance communities. This was a good open floor discussion that the Committee said they would take up at their next meeting and may go to a vote in the next magazine issue so watch out

Due to my rather large bump I quit while my energy could get me back to Glasgow but there was another great workshop from Jan in the afternoon and I got feedback via Anne on this. Again Jan did a great job and some very positive feedback on the ‘fab and fiery’ workshops. So great choice of teacher for the day which is a challenge with so many levels of dancers there.

It was quite a few people’s first time at the AGM and they were not disappointed – many said they wish they had joined Nada earlier and enjoyed the whole day. Well done to the organisers and to Jan for her teaching!