Katie

It's going to be a long day in the audience (and someone wasn't particularly happy with the obligatory photo ops for everyone who didn't come along for competition!)...but seeing one of the legends of jazz standing outside the theatre portends a good day! :)

With the Epic dance competition being in Winston-Salem, of course we must make a stop at the temple of the Western NC style BBQ...Lexington BBQ #1. Fortunately, getting there from Raleigh is simplicity itself...take US-64 west until you see it on the hillside right before the huge left turn to the south in Lexington! You can't possibly miss it...the car park is usually filled to overflowing! :)

Studio 5 troupes invade Mama's Thrift charity with some dancing as the entertainment!

Katie and I got to use some free tickets from Horses for Hope to take in the Canes-Penguins tilt at the arena in one of the luxury boxes which was *NICE*. Free munchies and pop, great view of the ice...no being amongst the riff-raff! Sadly, the Hurricanes couldn't get one past the Penguins (well, they did but it was disallowed!) but I've always felt that a lousy night at the rink still beats a great…

Between performances of the "Smooth" dance, the Folk Festival allows individuals to compete in their age groups. There's the procession onto the stage and a bit of dancing/clapping, then the Superintendent calls the number of the person whose turn it is to do whatever they want at centre stage, and then the procession off the stage for the next group. Katie certainly enjoyed her time in the spotlight... :)