SIMONE'S EPIC CONFERENCE

MARCH 1-4, 2007

REVIEWS FROM OUR PARTICIPANTS

Just thought I would drop a note and let you know how much we appreciate what you are doing to make clogging a family event! I felt so appreciated and taken care of at E.P.I.C. You make everyone really feel that they are a big part of what goes on. You pay attention to every detail and make sure that the workshop is not just for us, but for the dancers that participate. We are there for them. I am so thankful to have been a part of something so awesome. The staff was so fun. I really enjoyed meeting everyone and left feeling that I had made some lasting friendships. I can't wait until next year and hope to be able to come out 4th of July to brainstorm for next year! It will keep getting bigger and better every year because you truly want to make the dancer the reason you do what you do. I can't wait until Maggie Valley. I'll see you then!

Love you Bunches!

Paulette

South Eastern Clogging Company - Kingston, TN

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Hi Simone,
                      E.P.I.C. was AWESOME !!!! My Dancers and I had a Blast. Thank you for letting me be a part of your E.P.I.C. Staff. It was a joy teaching the Children's classes. My Students enjoyed all the classes and learned a lot of ideas from your teachers. Some of my students are my Teacher Assistants so going to the classes really gave them ideas to bring back home. Thank You for giving us,your Staff the VIP Treatment. The surprises,party, being w/ the other members of staff were all lots of fun. We're all one big e.p.i.c family. Thanks again for a great year!!

                                                                  DEENA DEHARDT DAVIS
                                                                     FrogLevel Cloggers
                                                                 Prosperity ,South Carolina

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Hey Simone!

I'm glad you had a safe trip home, and thanks so much for this letter! I will definitely pass it on to all of my parents! Thanks so much for everything you put into your event though! Everything was so professionally handled and we all really enjoyed getting a chance to be a part of all of the workshops, competitions, and the show. I also really appreciate your efforts to make me feel included and welcomed. At every other clogging event I have been to I have felt as though there was a certain little click of "elite" clogging teachers that I was not a part of, and I did not feel that way at all at your event. And I know that many of my dancers feel the same way! Thanks so much for all the effort you put into welcoming us!! All the little goody bags, the roses, and everything you did to make me feel a part of EPIC is very, very much appreciated!! We had a great time and I hope that we will get to come back and dance with you again soon!!

We would also love to have you come to our studio (in all your free time . . . ha!!)! Maybe sometime in early summer as we start getting our routines together for next year we can try to work something out!!

I also wanted to ask you if you know the name or the website or anything of the picture guy who was there. I didn't have a chance to look through all of his stuff while I was there, but I saw some picture that some of the parents get I would definitely like to order some for the studio if I can find out who he is!

Thanks so much and hopefully I will talk to you soon! Have a good day!

:-),

Tricia Ratcliffe, She-Bang Championship Clogging Company, Alabama

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Thanks Simone,

I really had a good time this year at EPIC. I learned some great new steps to use, met some wonderful new cloggers, and had a blast in the Friday Exhibitions and Saturday Night Show.

NASCAR was such a fun theme and all the extra contests made it even more fun.

Please keep up the good work- and equipping people in clogging.

Count me in for next year and let me know if there are anything I can do to help-

Terry Howard- RNM and SECC - Tennessee

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Simone:

Thank you so much for putting together the workshop in Pigeon Forge this past weekend. My daughters (6 & 3) are dancers at XDC in Abingdon and had a blast. Needless to say, we are all worn out but it was worth it. My oldest daughter, Haley, said her favorite class was the Intermediate one taught by Monica Priddy because she got to dance to "Red High Heels". I asked her what she had learned during the class and she replied, "to stick my girls out"!! Thanks again to all of your staff for a job well done. See ya' next year!

Stephanie M. Stiltner - Virginia

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Wow! You’re alive! After this weekend, I didn’t think you’d be home yet! Yes we were all wiped out, but back in classes today! We loved it and my kids are really riding a “high” right now! Thanks for all you do to make everyone feel special!

Also, we forgot to pick up one set of score sheets (for “Hip to be square”). Michelle and I both were so brain dead we didn’t realize it until we were on the road. Is there anyway I can get those?

We also want you to come back to the studio again! Tell me what’s best for you and we’ll work around it!

Thanks again for all you do! And get some rest!!!

Love ya,

Stacy Gregg, Rhythm Techniques, Greenville - South Carolina

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Hey, Simone. I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done to help me!!! This was a very good learning experience for me as well as all the fun I had. I especially loved getting together with everyone afterwards. I feel a lot closer to you all now that I have gotten to know everyone a lot better. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting all the hustle and bustle for the weekend. I understand why you all get wore down now! There is so much more work behind the scenes than I imagined, and I know I still don't know half of it. Anyway, thanks again for everything. You truly are a great person to work with! Hope you let me be a part of the fun next year!

Hope to hear from you soon!

Scott Cassidy - Sugar N Spice, Kentucky

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Simone,

Thank you for allowing me to vend at your workshop. You did a GREAT Job with your workshop and competition. I know the dancers really appreciated all your hard work to get this done.

Mom and I had a wonderful time and are looking forward to next year.. Same time,, same space...

Again, Thanks !!!!

Sallie James (Adkins) Heritage Clogging Supply - OH

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Simone

All I can say is EPIC was just that, an EPIC event. It was so much fun. More fun than last year. Much more laid back. Again, WOW, what a great workshop!

I just love your enthusiasm and can see the love you have for your event, your staff and the dancers and instructors that attend.

I really enjoyed hanging out with you on Sunday night.

I'm proud and honored to be a part of your event. I can't tell you how much I appreciate and love you for everything you have done for me alone. I consider you a great friend and I'm honored to have gotten to know you in this capacity.

I remember seeing you for the first time in 1993 at the Armadillo Stampede workshop in Tulsa, Oklahoma. You taught Independance Day. If I could find the cue sheet, would you dance this with me next year? We used to dance that dance at a lot of shows when I danced with the Trailblazers.

Anyway, Thank you again for a wonderful weekend. Guess what? I've talked to one of my groups about being in the show next year. I already have 5 dancers confirmed. Several of the others are going to talk to their significant others about going. I'll talk to my monday and Thursday groups this week. Also thought about putting my adults in the wild card competition Friday night. I'll talk to the team this Sunday. I want to MC the regular competition and since I don't MC on Friday, I thought that would be a way to put them in the event. Your Thoughts?

I told Eric that he was your choice for videographer for EPIC. He was very excited about that. He's looking forward to next year.

Thanks again, Love ya, and can't wait to see you again.

Brian Tucker - Allegan, Michigan

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Once again you put on a great event. Thanks for letting me be a part of it.

There were several instructors that I really enjoyed. I e-mailed them to say how much I enjoyed them and thanked them for being a part of your conference.

Rita Revels, SPHR - South Carolina

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Simone

Just want to tell you how much we enjoyed EPIC. When we go to these conventions it is just like a big family reunion!!!!!!!

Thanks and look forward to next year!!!

Kay Patterson, RHIT - Tennessee

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Hey, Simone!

I wanted to touch base with you and let you know what a great time we had at EPIC this past weekend! Neither Mama nor I had ever been to Pigeon Forge, so the trip (and the fact that we can write it off!!!!) was great.

Apple City Cloggers, Dance-A-Lott Studio, Mama, Jamie, and I hold you in the highest regard.

I look forward to many more conventions, competitions, shows, and trips to that outlet mall up there..........

Thank you, again, for hosting a fun weekend for all of us!

Cheers,

Neile - Dance-A-Lott Studio - Lula, GA

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Hi, Simone!!! We all love you down here in Alabama!!!! I had such a great time at the E.P.I.C. Conference this year! I looked at your website and I think Clogopoly is such a great idea.

Please E-mail back,

Natalie Smolcic with Shebang - Alabama

P.S. I'm probobly the shortest dancer in the group with the pink puffy dresses with black polkadots. I have brown hair about your hair color.

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I just wanted to say that My brother and I had a blast this past weekend. Again thank you so much letting me come teach at your workshop. Let me know if you want me back next year, I would love, love to come back.

Thanks again

Matt Grosenbeck - New Hampshire

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Simone,
Just want to say "Thanks for a great weekend!". We had a blast! We love
EPIC because there's so much interaction with the staff. I just love that!
You don't have that at every workshop. It's an honor to be on staff with my
friends and people who just love to dance. The show for instance was great!

I thought it ran even more smoothly than last
year. We're always excited to be a part of the show. Our favorite teach
this weekend was Traditional line steps. Man! It was packed out and we had
two teams ask us to come to their studio!! Exciting! Thank you so much for
inviting us to be on staff. We loved every minute! Can't wait for next
year "We Want You!". Take care and see you soon.
Laurie & Craig Morrison - Fayetteville, North Carolina
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SIMONE:

WHAT A GREAT WEEKEND. WE HAD SUCH A GREAT TIME. THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR HARD WORK AND FOR SUCH AWESOME INSTRUCTORS. I AM ATTATCHING SOME PICTURES, I HOPE THAT YOU GET THEM. I WILL TRY TO MAKE YOU A CD OF THEM. WILL YOU BE AT MAGGIE VALLEY? IF NOT I WILL TRY AND BRING IT TO FONTANA IN SEPTEMBER.

THANKS,

KIM JONES

(SYDNEY JONES' MOM-SIMS COUNTRY CLOGGERS) - Granite Falls, North Carolina

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Let me start first by giving you a big THANK YOU!!!! for inviting me to photograph your conference this year. You should be proud of yourself and for your staff for an amazing weekend. I was very impressed with your show on Saturday night. It was very professional and very entertaining to watch and photograph. Thank you for your hospitality during the course of the entire weekend. I made contacts that I wouldn't have made without coming to EPIC. I wasn't very familiar with clogging before but now have a deep appreciation of the dedication of the dancers and teachers in the clogging world. You guys look like you are having a blast and everyone seems to be very nice and cordial to each other (aka no bickering LOL). Thank you from the bottom of my heart, I hope I have done a good job for you. I have some great pictures from this weekend.

Once again thank you for everything.

Kevin Pratt

Kevin Pratt Photography

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I left straight out of there after the competition so that I could hit the road. Sorry that I didn't get to tell you bye. I had a wonderful time. You did an awesome job and it amazes me that you can pull this off so smoothly. I am always impressed with your attention to detail and how everything coordinates and seems to be done. Thank you again and I thought you did a wonderful job. I look forward to returning next year.

Thanks and get some rest!

Kelly Goodpaster - Kentucky

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I had so much fun making all new friends and as for me teaching Hot Chocolate to fill in the rest of your hour ,, my mouth has never been that dry before but it was a big rush to be on stage next to you hope I can be there for you next year

a big THANKS FROM THE BALD MAN - Keith King - OHIO
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Our team had a wonderful time again this year. -- the "snowstorm" Sunday morning! It was beautiful, but it sure caused us some stress! Thank you for working with us and being so understanding. I am proud of the work that you do for clogging and appreciate all that you do even more each time we come to an event you plan. You pay so much attention to details...it's very impressive. Also, I think our parents are beginning to understand the work we as team directors do as well...and it's all for the love of clogging and the members that make up our groups. On another note, it's good to see other directors that feel the way I do and are such good sports...they are really in clogging for the right reasons. Becca Lee and Kody really made my weekend after watching them and their teams interact, seeing how they cheer everyone else on, and just talking and hanging out with them at the competition. It's so nice to be around such loving and caring people who are truly good sports and are so sincere. There were many others besides them. ANYWAY, thanks again for a great weekend. We hope to be back next year and I hope to see you soon! Love ya,

Jill Kirby

Sims Country Cloggers - Granite Falls, NC

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On behalf of the Apple City Cloggers we enjoyed the weekend and we love you! I hope you have a great week and get some rest. I think you deserve a vacation after this weekend!

Love and Dance

Jamie Dodd

Georgia

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Hey Simone! Oh my gosh, I am the same as you, my mind will not stop thinking about next years event! Clay and I have been talking about tons of stuff, and hopefully we can make it to your house for July 4th this year, if we are not in Florida again. Here is a short sweet to the point letter if you don't mind sending it to the girls.Thanks!

Thanks so much for everything again. We had a blast and my girls are of course thinking of ideas for next year. My mom also wanted to let you know she had fun as well :) I wanted to ask if I send an email to you can you get it out to all the directors of the teams who participated. I want to send an email for the girls routine and how much I apprietiate their hard work and FUN during the routine :)

Thanks again!!!

Heather

Hey girls!

Thank you so much for being a part of the girls Greased Lightning routine! It was so much fun working with each of you and I hope you had fun performing it as well. I know it is hard learning a routine in a quick 30 mins and then performing it the next day but we looked great! Get excited about next year!!! I already have ideas in my head :)

Thanks again for your hard work!

Heather & Clay Barnhart - Starz Unlimited - Irmo, South Carolina & Granite Falls, NC

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Hello my name is Wanda Hall and I clog with Sims Country Cloggers. Jill Kirby is our instructor and she is great. I could go on and on about her and how much we appreciate everything she does for us. I am emailing you today to voice my feed back on the conference. I clog as a child and have only been clogging with Jill since August 2006. I can say I am already looking for to next year’s conference. I am definitely going to try and come for the whole thing. I had a blast. The instructor I enjoyed the most was Monica Priddy. She is very confident in her self and with her body and for me being a larger girl I felt great when I danced with her because our size didn’t matter.

Thank you again for all the fun we had and I am looking forward to next year.

Wanda Hall - North Carolina

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Oh my goodness! I am soooooo---- tired, but it was sooooooooooo---- worth it! We had such a great time. You should take a minute and check out our guest book on our website. All the girls have left messages saying what an awesome time they had. Thanks so much for all you did to make this past weekend so great. We can't wait till next year!~

Love ya Bunches!

Paulette Johnson

South Eastern Clogging Co.

www.seclogging.com - Kingston, Tennessee

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hey woman........I haven't talked to you in a couple of days. I MISS YOU!!!!!! I just want to thank you for everything and let you know how much we enjoyed ourselves. You worked so hard and it was a successful event.

Kim Fore, XDC - Abingdon, VA
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Simone,

Wow! What a fun weekend we had in Pigeon Forge! I really enjoyed being at the conference and hosting as Preteen Miss EPIC. Thank you for all the sweet thoughts and for the treat bags. You are always so very thoughtful. I am proud to represent the Miss EPIC Pageant. Hope to see you soon.

DeAnna Etchison - Tennessee

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Simone:

I thought you might like to see this email from Marilyn, an instructor from Ohio who attended the workshop, and my reply to her.

Elaine

Marilyn:

I am so very happy that you enjoyed Real Gone and the hat seminar. I have cue sheets for hat dances to “Pick Up the Fiddle,” “Hold Your Horses,” “Little Miss Honky Tonk,” “Barnyard Stomp,” and “If Wishes Were Horses.” I will be delighted to share any/all of these with you. If you will give me your mailing address, I will send the music and cue sheets to you by snail mail.

There is a video of a hat dance on my web site (www.doublestep.net) if you would care to take a look. On the home page, select “Videos.” Then select Billy Bob’s Texas, May 2006. Finally, select “I Play Chicken With the Train,” performed by one of my adult exhibition groups.

Thank you so very much for getting in touch. I was honored to be a part of Simone’s workshop, and I hope you will put it on your calendar again for next year. I have had the pleasure of being involved with many workshops around the country, and Simone’s is the best.

Elaine

On 3/12/07 8:48 PM, "Fenner2004@aol.com" <Fenner2004@aol.com> wrote:

Elaine, I attended Simone's clogging workshop and really enjoyed your teaching. I really liked Real Gone
and your seminar on Hats was so much fun. You are a good teacher. If you could send me any que sheets or info ont he hats I would really appreciate it. Thank you. Marilyn, Clogging Instructor from Ohio

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Simone:

First of all, let me tell you how absolutely honored I am to have been a part of your staff for such an incredible clogging event!! You RULE the clogging conventions – You are truly the Queen (and I go to a bunch of these!).   I was not there for Sunday, so I do not know what went wrong. Sounds like the length of the event was the problem. Here is my constructive criticism:

Your Staff – LOVE them! Brian is an absolute jewel of enthusiasm. I enjoyed Brian advanced dance. Kimberly’s NASCAR staff dance was a highlight for me. She is a wonderful lady, and I so enjoyed meeting her. Rebecca Roebuck– loved her advanced dance. What a little powerhouse of talent and energy.   Shane is a truly “Mr. Nice Guy” who always brings fun dances. And relates well to everyone.   Bill Nichols- loved the Appalachian dance. Like you, he is a clogging legend. Your mom is so gorgeous!    I liked seeing Sallie Atkins James from Heritage Clogging and Carl from Carl’s Clogging Supplies. They know me from all the workshops, and I like hearing their comments about my dances.

Critique of myself: Best of Both Worlds on Friday – There were 70 young girls in the class for this Hannah Montana theme song. The counter counted 60 (told Scott), but at least 10 more arrived. They had so much fun, and I felt truly gratified that all went so well. Seminar of “How to Choreograph with Hats”: There were about 20 ladies there. I brought 12 hats and we took turns. They were mostly teachers and directors who appeared fascinated with what I was explaining/showing them. I was so happy to share this with them. Only wish I had had longer. They were eating it up!   “Real Gone” teach on Saturday at noon. There were only about 20 in the room. With the exception of one person, they all came up to me after the class, and told me how much they enjoyed the dance and learning new steps.

Again, I am so proud to have been a part of your event. Your staff is the best and you are quite correct: no egos, just good folks with big talent. Thanks for including Scott. He loves to help. He woke up Saturday with a cold, so he was dragging himself around on Saturday.

Love you, too,

Elaine Bender - TEXAS

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Simone,
Hi my name is Eileen Callahan and my daughter Ashlyn both attended our first Simone Workshop EPIC! We had a Great time! We clog with P. Johnson, SECC. We also have plans on attending Fontana! We can''t wait!
See you again soon!
Eileen and Ashlyn Callahan - Tennessee Cloggers
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Simone,

Hi! I'm glad you had a safe trip home. My name is Debbie Dishman. My daughter Ellie clogs for Sims Country Cloggers. She is one of the Oblivious Blondes. If you really want one of those t-shirts I will be glad to have you one made. Let me know what size and if you would like a different color I can do that. I thought the workshops and the competition went pretty good. Competitions are always long especially if you have a lot of groups. There was some really good teams there this year. I do appreciate that you are trying to get more ideals and make things better each year. I also appreciate that you take an interest in this and have this competition. My daughter loves to clog and this competition is not so far away that we can't come and be a part of it. The only thing that bothered me was that my daughter couldn't get an EPIC shirt. She tries to get one each competition to keep as a keep sake. We missed them because you sold out. Hopefully, next year that want happen, but it's great that you had a big turn out. Well, maybe we will see you sometime before next EPIC. Let me know about the t-shirt.

Happy clogging,

Debbie Dishman, North Carolina

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Simone,

I would like to introduce myself. My name is Anthony Harrell and I was the one who gave the over all trophy to Brandon at Fontana Village, NC. I was also at EPIC this past weekend with SECC dancing in the show, exhibition, guy's part, and couple dance part. I want to personally thank you for taking the time to set up such a wonderful workshop where children today can come and learn. I have been coming to Epic for at least 18 yrs now and being there this weekend brought back a lot of good memories. Some of the teams I have dance on that you might remember were Tennessee Flatfooters, and Rhythm N Motion (Brent Herron). I have become pretty good friends with Paulette and her gang and they allow me to hang out with them from time to time. I am starting to get back into to teaching more these days. I used to teach more than I do now but as you get older you tend to slack off and do less. I was around you several times during Epic and I listened very carefully to what you had to say and I have to say I really liked what I heard. I know your love for dancing and mine probably ranks right up there with yours. I just love clogging and when I get the chance to be around it I take off and go. I really had a blast at your workshop and look forward to returning next year with maybe 5 or 6 friends.

P.s any way I can help your organization out please don't hesitate to ask. My love for clogging goes back almost 30 yrs now.

Sincerely,

Anthony Harrell - Tennessee

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Simone,

THANK YOU for a great weekend!

Only 5 of my 18 dancers had ever been to a workshop or a competition before and they were amazed at everything. What a great event for those first timers! We all had a good time. To me, having fun is what it's all about!

When we do competitions, I tell my girls to do it all. No sense taking a big trip like that and just entering one category!

I did not turn in my critique sheet. I couldn't remember what classes I had gone to and I wanted to comment on the teachers. When I have time to sit down and think this week, I'll send you an email. I had never met many of the instructors you had, but the ones I went to were great.

On a different subject, we have just started our Mississippi Clogging Council last year and had our first workshop. It was a success and we're planning for one this year also. We just had local MS instructors teach last year, but we wanted to have a "Big Name" this year. We'd love to have you! I am going to give your info to Carol Hosch. She is the one in charge of finding a teacher. So be expecting a phone call or email from her.

Again, thanks for everything. It was time and money well spent on a weekend of clogging!

Angie Miller
Magnolia Cloggers - MISSISSIPPI
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Simone:

I just wanted to thank you so much for treating Laurie and I so well at your E.P.I.C. conference workshop this past weekend. We both enjoyed it thoroughly! I know you are very tired and will want to rest for a couple of days, and you certainly deserve it. I think we did quite well. Also, a special thanks goes to Bill & Marie as they were so good to us! I know some of the clogging teams are going to come to Fontana this Fall, who were not here last year. We are going to promote this event really hard!

Love ya,

Anto Burchfield, Fontana Village Resort, North Carolina