Dance around The World” on Sat 13th Sept was a colourful and lively display of international dance featuring 33 dancers.   Beginning with a world premier of “Peebles Welcomes The Rest of the World,” by Peebles High School Scottish Country Dancers, the show then wound its way round the world through dances from Egypt, Ireland, the Appalachian Mountains of America, Argentina and Finland, with a further visit to Scotland in the shape of a Highland Fling. 

Six members of the dance group “Mihrimah” from Finland danced several styles of Egyptian dance and a lively Finnish Polka in traditional Karelian costume, tango dancers Jenny Frances and Ricardo Oria mesmerised the audience with three moods of Tango Argentino and “Kick The Cat” changed the tempo with Appalachian Clogging.  Local talent was on display in the shape of eleven girls from Peebles High School, who kept up the high standard, and Karen Smith and Rachel Evans who performed two Irish dances.

“Tiger Lily” and “Saffron Moon” from Borders Arabic Dance came straight from a successful afternoon at the busking contest to perform dances they had choreographed themselves and “Daughters of Isis” danced a traditional Egyptian folk dance with a very Scottish twist – quite unique.

In an unrehearsed finale, the dancers took to the stage for a Gay Gordons.  Members of the audience joined in enthusiastically when Mihrimah led the dancers in a final “belly dance.
 

See more pictures in the gallery below (each picture will appear in approximately 10 seconds or click on the thumbnail at the foot of the frame)

The series of tribute bands performing at the Eastgate Theatre have brought back memories of when I too grooved to the music.

'Back Beat Beatles' - a tribute to The Beatles

Their show brought back memories of my teens when I queued all night for a ticket to see the group that changed the face of music - only for the music in the event to be drowned out by the screaming girls around me.  Fortunately, there was no screaming (well, just a little) at the Eastgate performance, which to a great extent made up for the earlier disappointment.  Classic tracks, great atmosphere, enjoyed by the young and the not-so-young alike.

'ABBA-cadabra' - a tribute to ABBA

The music, the costumes, the dancing, the fun - they had it all.  One hit song after another: 'Dancing Queen'; 'Money Money Money'; 'Waterloo'; 'Mamma Mia'.  All sung with style, talent, enthusiasm and remarkable authenticity.  The audience were captivated and some even ended up dancing at the front of the stage.  A night to remember!

'Ga Ga' - a tribute to Queen

What a voice!  From the first track sung and the single note held for an inordinately long time, we Queen fans knew we were in for a treat.  Music from Queen is said to be difficult to perform because the vocals, originally sung by Freddie Mercury, covered such a wide range of notes from high to low.  But the lead singer of Ga Ga, came up to the mark - and not only in his voice.  He may not have tried to imitate the late, great singer and there were definitely no moustaches, but he could certainly hold an audience.  They said they would come back next year and the audience were enthusiastic at the news. Did the Eastgate take the hint? I hope so.

'Classic Clapton' - tribute to Eric Clapton

This performance took me back 40 years to my university hall of residence when my studying was bewitched by the music of Cream from the room next door: 'Sunshine of My Love'; 'Badge'; 'I Feel Free'.  As well as being in Cream, Eric Clapton had earlier been in The Yardbirds and the Eastgate performance treated us to a memory from my teens with 'For My Love', the song that caused Clapton to leave the group because he thought it was too commercial.  Later in the show there was 'Leyla', the classic Clapton track - a gem amongst many that night.

'Counterfeit Crickets' - a tribute to Buddy Holly

Do you remember Buddy Holly from your dim and distant past? As it said in the programme, those were the days when cars had fins, the suits were sharp and frothy coffee in the local café was the height of cool - a bit like the Eastgate café of today.  Buddy Holly and the Crickets did numbers like 'Rave On'; 'Raining in My Heart' and 'Doesn't Matter Any More'.  Vaguely familiar?  Starting with 'Peggy Sue', the Counterfeit Crickets put on a stage performance that rivalled the original, even down to drumming on a cardboard box.  Marc Robinson (ex-Rocking on Heavens Door) had the horn-rim glasses, tailor-made suits and Stratocaster guitar down to a tee.  We were dancing in the isles!

So what now?  'Back Beat Beatles' are returning to the Eastgate on 24th and 25th October.  Book now as they were sold out and more last time.  Eastgate Theatre's General Manager says (and I quote)
''They are reportedly the best Beatles tribute band around today''.

What tribute band would you like to see?  Rolling Stones?  Beach Boys?  My husband would like to see Pink Floyd, please.  Preferably for real, but failing that, he would settle for a tribute band.

Come along to groove with other 'almost 60s' or, as a younger groover, to experience classic rock/pop music tracks that are still great pieces played in the atmosphere and with the talent and enthusiasm of the original performances.

Carol Woolliams