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Dance Jamboree comes to Eckville

Hundreds gather at community hall for country music
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Patricia Church and Wesley McElravy took part in the Eckville Dance Jamboree.

Country music and dancing lit up the Eckville Community Centre over the weekend.

From August 26-28 performers, musicians, dancers and onlookers flocked to the Town of Eckville to partake in the annual Dance Jamboree, which brings in the best country music musicians Central Alberta has to offer. The event is unique as the set up of the community centre allows attendees to park their motorhomes and trailers overnight at no cost.

Organizer Gary Peterson was pleased with the turnout.

“It is going really well,” he said. “We could have a few more people, but it is very well. It was full here last night and it will be the same way tonight.”

Peterson attributes the success of the event to “friendliness, freedom and the want to dance”, something that Betty and Ron Sullivan, who travelled from Edmonton for the jamboree, would agree with.

“This is really nice and big,” Ron Sullivan said. “When they had it in the arena, it wasn’t as good. The whole atmosphere is better.”

Betty Sullivan added that they “love dancing and we go to all the country jams we can.”

It is likely that the Sullivan’s would have previously heard performer Wayne Baldock from Rimbey, who was playing the guitar at the Eckville Jamboree.

“I love music, I love singing and people like dancing when they get a chance too,” Baldock said. “We usually go to six or seven of these events each year. I like all performers and I enjoy country music.

“This is the place where it is all at.”

He added “I enjoy coming to Eckville and they treat us like kings and queens.”

Peterson added that next years Jamboree is on schedule and that patrons would not “hesitate” and “come out and enjoy it.”

reporter@sylvanlakenews.com