Strictly Inverness 2024 diary: Last call for masquerade ball!
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Inverness TV star Evie Morrison, who appeared in the reality show, The Traitors, will be among the guests at a fundraising Highland Masquerade Ball for Strictly Inverness.
The event, which is being held on March 29 at the Drumossie Hotel, promises to be an evening of fun, glamour and entertainment with a prize for the best mask on the night.
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It is being organised on largely by my colleague Louise Ross and is to raise money for the annual dance contest’s organisers and hosts Highland Hospice and Inverness Ice Centre.
This is shaping up to be a fantastic event with some amazing prizes to be won in a super raffle and an array of games.
We will also have a cracking meal and a performance from TFX dancers, as well as a set from super ceilidh band Tweed. The night will be hosted by local DJ Gary Tuach.
I am so grateful for the incredible support of everyone who is making this possible – from the Drumossie Hotel to those who are giving us donations or their time. It promises to be a fun evening while raising funds for charity so don't miss out. Bookings close on Monday. Email louise.ross@hnmedia.co.uk now to secure your seats and start looking forward to something special.
The fundraising is an important element of the competition because each dance couple is rewarded points in the semi-final based on their partnership's combined total.
Those are added to points earned via the individual dances – our rumba and samba. We are also learning a group dance as part of the run of shows in May.
I've been partnered with former police officer Ruth Mason, who is amazing. She organised a couple of popular fundraising events this week with a quiz night at Rose Street Foundry in Inverness on Tuesday and a coffee morning at Nairn United Reformed Church this morning. It was humbling to see support from some of my colleagues at the quiz, and some former colleagues as well as fellow Strictly Inverness dancer Emma MacDonald at the coffee morning. At the time of writing, the donations were still being counted but I'd guess the combined total from both events would be more than £1500.
Ruth has also put together a race night at the Westerlea Hotel in Nairn on April 6 and a ceilidh at Hootananny in Inverness on April 7. Speaking of Emma, she has a dinner dance at Nairn Community & Arts Centre on April 13 along with her dance partner Kaitlyn Heggie.
Ruth and I are overwhelmed by the help and support we've had so far from friends, family and colleagues with everything from personal fundraisers aiding our efforts to ideas for bigger events.
I'm also super grateful to the Therapy Suite in Inverness (more details of a fundraising event with them will emerge later this month), Bikes of Inverness, the Forge Gym in Inverness and MKM Building Supplies in Aviemore, who are displaying posters for the Strictly Raffle and selling tickets (£1 each) on my behalf to anyone interested.
It has been so uplifting to receive such encouragement and support during the past 10 weeks of fundraising. I'd imagine the same can be said for the other dancers who have generated much-needed donations too. It's been really impressive so far with the total already passing £94,100.
You'll notice that I haven't said much about our dancing. This week's focus has really been on sharpening up our routines and making them look cleaner. Among the surprise highlights was an impromptu extra dance session alongside Team Friday's Sean MacIver and Niamh Mcauley – they look like a very capable duo and without seeing anything else from Team Friday, I'd suggest the level of talent would need to be high to stop them reaching the final.
In terms of our own chances, the only way we can improve is for me to improve. I need to get more in tune with the music in certain parts of the samba, as well as nailing a few more steps more neatly in the rumba. If I can do that, and Ruth and I peak at the right time, who knows? Maybe we could finish in the top four. We can all dream!
All the fundraising activities coming up that I'm aware of are here:
- For Ailsa Campbell: Going for Gold dinner and dance, March 16, Rose Hall, Dingwall Legion
- For Melissa Brailsford: Saint Patrick's Day drinking, March 16, Mosset Tavern, Forres
- For Reece Ross: Race night, March 16, Caley Club, Inverness
- For Amy Macleod: Race night, March 16, Lewis and Harris Rangers Supporters Club, Stornoway
- For Ryan Bell and Angela Urquhart, Abba karaoke night, March 16, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Rachel Wood: Hospice Cup charity football match, March 17, Millburn Academy all-weather pitch, Inverness
- For Kenna Ross: Soundbath, March 17, Balloch Hall
- For Beth Saunders: Beth's Blacktie Bash, March 22, Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness
- For Shireen Fyffe: Football tournament, March 23, Inverness Royal Academy all-weather pitch
- For Kenna Ross: Afternoon tea, March 23, Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness
- For Louise Mainland: Spring Fayre, March 23, Kincraig Hall
- For Stefan Robertson: '80s party night with DJ Gary Tuach, March 23, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness
- For Jacqui Crawford: Ceilidh dance, March 23, Culcabock and Drakies Community Hall, Inverness
- For Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram: Pub quiz, March 23, The Fluke, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Ice disco, March 23, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Amy Macleod and Lana Ingram: Family Fun Day, March 24, The Training Club, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Evening of mediumship, March 28, Caley Club, Inverness
- For Andy Dixon and Ruth Mason: Highland Masquerade Ball, March 29, Drumossie Hotel, Inverness
- For Melissa Brailsford: Happy Easter disco, March 29, Mosset Tavern, Forres
- For Stefan Robertson: Easter family ice disco, March 29, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Darryl Geegan: So you think you can drag?, March 30, British Legion Club, Inverness
- For Ailsa Campbell: Charity football tournament, March 30, Maryburgh pitches
- For Kenna Ross: Music Talent Show, March 30, Balloch Church
- For Shireen Fyffe: Sunflower flow yoga & sound bath session, March 30, Inverness Town House
- For Scott Wilson: Quiz night, March 30, Smithton Hotel
- For Robert Ince: Bob's big car boot & indoor market, March 31, Dingwall Mart
- For Jacqui Crawford: Family fun day, March 31, Culcabock and Drakies Community Hall, Inverness
- For Shaun Rose: Ice skating party, March 31, Inverness Ice Centre
- For Jackie Sutherland: Smartphone quiz night, April 1, Platform 8, Inverness
- For Robert Ince: Curry and quiz night, April 5, Dingwall Auction Mart
- For Ruth Mason: Race night, April 6, Westerlea Hotel, Nairn
- For Sean MacIver and Niamh Mcauley: Race night, April 6, Chieftain Hotel, Inverness
- For Reece Ross and Rachel Wood: Ceilidh, April 6, Green Hall, Inverness
- For Stefan Robertson: Bobby Bee cake event, April 6, Eastgate Shopping Centre, Inverness
- For Jason Kelman: Charity coffee morning, April 6, Inverness Town House
- For Craig Watson: Ceilidh, April 6, Loch Ness Country House Hotel
- For Ruth Mason: Hoolie for the Hospice Ceilidh, April 7, Hootananny, Inverness
- For Lesley Clark: Rock N Reel fundraiser, April 12, Beaufort Hotel, Inverness
- For Jacqui Crawford: Disco, April 12, Fairways, Inverness
- For Kaitlyn Heggie and Emma MacDonald: Dinner dance, April 13, Nairn Community & Arts Centre
- For Stefan Robertson and Lesley Clark: Full Monty Fundraiser, April 13, Raigmore Motel, Inverness
- For Sonny Rhind: Cammie's Connections, April 13, The Field, Alness
- For Ailsa Campbell: Domino tournament, April 20, Conon Hotel, Dingwall
- For Jason Kelman and Shireen Fyffe + Sean MacIver and Niamh Mcauley: Dirty Dancing dance workshop, April 20, Inverness Town House
- For Lesley Clark: Burlesque spring fling, April 20, Upstairs, Inverness
- For Clare MacDonald: 'His' & 'Hers' evening delight, April 20, Kirkhill Community Centre
- For Robert Ince: Community Mini Market, April 20, Tesco car park, Dingwall
- For Stefan Robertson: Tipsy tea party, April 27, Beaufort Hotel, Inverness
- For Craig Watson: Quiz, April 27, Farr Hall, Inverarnie
- For Robert Ince: Tipsy tea party, April 27, Dingwall Legion Hall
I'll aim to update the events list each week.
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