IMCA Midsummer Charity Ball 2010
The 2010 IMCA midsummer charity ball, in aid of the International Committee
on Seafarers' Welfare (ICSW), took place on Friday 4 June at the Ardoe House Hotel
in Aberdeen, UK. This was the first themed IMCA ball, and the classic Disney movie
and musical theatre The Lion King, was the theme chosen. Over 200 guests were welcomed
to an ambience evoking the African safari, as they arrived for the drinks reception.
The students of the Bankhead Academy steel band entertained the guests with inspired
music. Both the band and hotel staff were colourfully masked as jungle animals.
As the guests entered the ballroom for dinner, they were greeted by Hazel Mair &
the Jungle Singers, who sang a selection of songs from The Lion King. The safari
theme seamlessly continued in the room, adorned by atmospheric hues, jungle animals
and an array of jungle and African artifacts.
Hugh Williams, IMCA Chief Executive, formally welcomed guests to the ball before
Wallace Robertson, QHSE Manager of Well Ops UK, said grace. Just before dessert,
the main entertainment of the evening began, provided by Uthingo. This traditional
South African act of drumming and dance served an initial taste of their animated
and vibrant performance.
This year the charity game was Timon and Pumbaa, based on 2 of the main characters
in The Lion King, led by Hugh Williams and assisted by our guests from the ICSW.
IMCA President Johan Rasmussen of Acergy spoke after coffee, giving an update on
our industry and IMCA's status.
The Red Square Dance Band set the dancers in motion with a selection of traditional
Scottish and modern music. The charity coffers were swelled further by a casino
organised by the Ellon & District Round Table, running in parallel with the dancing.
While the evening could have drawn to a close with guests already enjoying a great
night out, more was still to come, with a final high octane performance from Uthingo
and Bantu. Their finalé was characterized by vivacious tribal dancing and acrobatics,
set to the wild rhythm of the djembe.
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