JULIE - FAREWELL BEAUTIFUL LADY & THANK YOU XXX

Thank you all for your patience & understanding.

As most of you are aware we are still coming to terms with the recent sad loss of wonderful Julie Bowden.

Julie was one our founding members and a key TangoBootCamp and Festival organiser. She was central to everything we do and her absence leaves a massive hole in our hearts and organisation.

The team continues to support Julie's family during this difficult time. Later in the year we will also celebrate Julie's amazing contribution to the Tango Community with a special Charity Dance event.

After much soul-searching we have decided to press ahead with the Festival. Primarily because we know it is what Julie would have done and what she wanted us to do.

However, given the very short timeframe, we have decided to consolidate this year's Festival into two days.  2025 Festival will return to the full 4 day experience.

Our dear friend Julie passed away Tuesday 23rd April. She departed peacefully, without pain and holding hands with her loving children.

Julie fought her illness with great courage and determination right till the end. It is testimony to her positivity and resilience that until very recently many people remained unaware of her serious condition. Indeed, as her illness developed, she selflessly embraced it by jointly setting up and running a very active local Cancer support group. This has since helped many Women.

Julie has been an integral part of TangoBootCamp from the very beginning. Central to every aspect of what we do. Whether teaching students, organising festivals, running milongas, hosting artists, booking travel, managing catering - Julie was at the heart of it all. Literally without Julie much of what we do, would not or could not have happened. Right till the end she was keen to help as much as she could.

Nothing phased her and she was incredibly determined. She loved to be busy and had unbelievable stamina. Happy to follow a 4 am finish with a 9am start.

She was an amazing and loyal friend. Central to any social gathering, number 1 party organiser and always first to suggest a road trip!

The TangoBootCamp team are truly devastated and will be forever grateful to Julie for all she contributed over so many years.

Julie was also a massively enriched the broader tango community, supporting countless Tango events locally and further afield. Without question she was an exquisite dancer and top of people's dance cards wherever she went.

Julie lived a very full and exciting life. Outside of Tango Julie had many passions. Not least of which was travel. From Teaching English in Japan and Denmark to spending much of her professional life as a Travel Agent. It is reassuring to know that in her final years, she was able to fulfil an amazing travel itinerary around the world.

She leaves 2 adoring children: daughter Emma and son Ben. Our thoughts and love pour out to them, to Angie her sister and the rest of Julie's family and many friends. Julie will now join her beloved husband Geoff in a different place.

She will leave a massive gap in all of our hearts and our community. Thankfully her legacy will continue with so many people dancing and enjoying Tango through her inspiration and teaching.

FUNERAL DETAILS
Thursday 16th May
Downs Crematorium, Brighton 2pm.
Followed by a wake at Hove Rugby Club from 3.30pm.

If you will be attending her daughter Emma has asked to please click ‘Like' on appropriate post on Julie's Page (also shared to the TangoBootCamp group homepage). This will help Emma to gauge numbers.

We will of course organise a fitting charity dance event at a later date to properly celebrate Julie's memory. For now, we simply remember wonderful Julie and thank her for her immense impact on our lives and our dance community.

THE TANGOBOOTCAMP TEAM xxx