Andrew Kay: Let’s dance

In the midst of the mayhem that is currently in my life, crashing ceilings, raging gout… I seem to have done it again and signed up to do something crazy. On the whole though my policy of saying yes seems to pay off, so maybe this time it will too.

It started with an ad, a TV ad that I had scripted and directed for The Hilton Metropole Brighton to be shown by Latest TV at the American Express Community Stadium during Brighton & Hove Albion matches. It was during a meeting with the Metropole that I said yes, yes to taking part in a competition at their summer ball, an annual charity event that supports a variety of causes, amongst them the Rockinghorse Appeal.

Now with my Food Festival hat on and with my colleagues there we have raised quite a sum of money in the last few years for this very worthwhile cause. Only a few weeks ago I managed to extract just over £900 from a group of wine tasters who seemed more than happy to cough up a few quid. In truth, I sold them some very cheap biros at a fiver a piece. It pays to be cheeky sometimes.

So the Summer Ball happens in June, the 22nd to be precise and, God and gout willing, I will be there to help raise lots of money. But how, I hear you ask. Well, here is the catch – the theme of the ball is Strictly Come Dancing, and yes, I have signed up to dance.
The whole thing was launched a few weeks back and it was there I met my dance partner for the first time, a lovely lady called Kate who, I’m glad to say, looks like she can cope with a great lumbering loon like me.

Now before you all start having visions of They Shoot Horses, Don’t they? let me explain. I will receive five hours of dance tuition from the lovely Kate and then on the night we will perform a 1.5 minute jive. After that we will be judged by a panel of judges and on how much money we have raised.

“I have some knowledge of how the dance should work, even if I no longer have the body or the mobility to pull it off”

The moment I discovered that it was a jive, and a swing jive at that, I was relieved. I went to art school at a time when learning how to jive was de rigueur, as important as my Oxford bags, Fair Isle sweater and plastic sandals. Picture that if you can. As a consequence I have some knowledge of how the dance should work, even if I no longer have the body or the mobility to pull it off.

Given the importance of the cause I will do my very best to pull it off, besides which, I don’t want to let the lovely Kate down. I’m looking forward to starting the classes in early June, I have already put in an order for knee supports and the like. I do have a slight concern that when I go to Walk In Wardrobe for a costume the only thing that will fit will be the wardrobe, but heigh ho, let’s rock ‘n’ roll.

Now if any of you lovely readers out there would like to help me raise some money there are plenty of ways to do it. You can do it online by going to www.justgiving.com/Midsummer-Ball-AndrewKay. The Midsummer Ball is taking place at the HIlton Brighton Metropole on Saturday 22 June 2013 and tickets cost £700 for a table of 10. To book please contact Nicky Willard on 01273 715043 or email nicky.willard@hilton.com.

Do mention that you are supporting Andrew Kay when you book. I thank you!