SARAH’S DANCE TO RECOGNIZE SECRET GARDEN 10th ANNIVERSARY

Sarah’s Dance at Duncan Hall has become a popular second Sunday event for ballroom dancers and fans of the Jim Alkire Dance Band. On August 10 the band with vocalist Aura Lee will play from 3 to 6 pm. This will be preceded by a free ballroom dance lesson from 2:30 to 3:00 provided by Elizabeth Hendrickson of The Camelot Dance Club. During the event there will be recognition of the 10th Anniversary of the Secret Garden at Duncan Hall. The cost is $8.00 per person. A limited number of tables for eight will be available for $60.00. Proceeds support Duncan Hall preservation and educational programs.

Jim Alkire (448-6257) has been leading musical groups in this area for almost four decades. He plays drums and is joined by an all-star roster of respected jazz players: Al Jones, trumpet; Paul Addison, trombone, Lynn Oberholtzer, Guitar and banjo; Lynn Colwell, bass; and Danny Weiss, saxophone. Vocalist Aura Lee Emsweller, who also is the Executive Director at Duncan Hall has joined the band and will again perform.

The Purdue Night Train Dancers will give swing dance demonstrations. (Contact Brent Watson at bwatson@purdue.edu or 430-7076.)

The Secret Garden, a small courtyard behind frosted windows in the heart of the hall was never seen or used by the public until the summer of 1998. Those who have made the garden and its continuation possible will be recognized, most significantly Duncan Hall board member Krystal Kaye, who has masterminded the renewal of the Duncan Hall grounds. Her daughter, well known Indiana artist Lorie Amick (www.lorieamick.com 463-2575) will be creating a plein air watercolor painting of the Secret Garden throughout the afternoon. There will be the first public performance of the song “A Secret Garden Waltz”, instigated by Jim Alkire with music by Harley Frey (463-9060) and lyrics by Aura Lee Emsweller and her father, Bob Reoch. Elizabeth Hendrickson in her ballroom dance lesson will be teaching the finer points of the waltz..

The designer of the Secret Garden 1998 was John Haven, whose plan won out over that of 32 other Purdue Sophomore landscape architecture students in the class of Professor Rob Sovinski. Volunteers from six labor unions and dozens of other community volunteers kept the winning design a secret until the hidden haven was opened at a Secret Garden Party celebration.

Those who attend Sarah’s Dance on August 10 will be offered a free V.I.P. Pass to the Jim Alkire Dance Band 39th Anniversary Party (and performance with dancing and refreshments) on the second Sunday in September. Jim is throwing this party to thank his band members, band supporters as well as the recent sponsors of Sarah’s Dance at Duncan Hall.

Sponsors for the dance are Rosewalk Commons, SecureHorizons by Unitedhealthcare and Hippensteel Funeral Home. Duncan Hall is a 501c3 organization and located at 619 Ferry St. in Downtown Lafayette. For more information call (765) 742-5788 or go to www.duncanhall,org