Boston Dance Challenge Weekend

Sun, 10 Jul 2011 00:03:15 -0400

Great weekend in Boston. I love all the Boston Events. I have such a close bond with Boston. Not just because I started dating my lovely fiance at a Boston event. But because Boston has been supporting me as long as I’ve been dancing WCS. I’m in Boston so often, many people think that’s where I reside.

This weekend has always been structured around me teaching a weekend long intensive filled with theory, drills, concepts on movement and partnering, and dance critiques. This year it has grown to include my partner Jennifer and also other local pros and instructors.
The event has grown and all the divisions were large this year.
It felt like a workshop weekend with a big event feel.

We were blessed with great Djs and great social dancing.
I had so much fun with all the students sharing technique and concepts. I love weekends like this that I can take my time to express myself throughout the weekend.
Jennifer was excited to be a part of this year’s BDC and was welcomed with open arms.
It was a great sight to see everyone standing behind her watching intently as she talked about styling and technique.

The highlight of the weekend was putting on a show with friends Michael Keibasa and Jill DeMarco Saturday night. No one expected us to switch partners as Jennifer lead and Jill followed and Michael and I switched back and forth. The girls then honored me with a dance of Double Trouble closing the night and everyone laughing and cheering.

There weren’t enough hours in the day to squeeze enough lessons and social dancing in.
Next year we’ll try to plan for more.
Thanks to Jon Schimmel for a great weekend.

Greater Phoenix Swing

Mon, 4 Jul 2011 23:37:52 -0400

The weekend in Phoenix is always hot. Temperatures break 110 degrees easily but the dancers still love to come out to Phoenix for the great dancing. An event that used to be known for the spotlight Jack and Jills, has grown to include Strictly Swings and All American Jack and Jills.

I have a special place in my heart for the Phoenix community. I’ve made a point to always try to come out a little early for the event and work with my students and prepare them for the fun vacation weekend.

Held at the famous Biltmore Hotel, many of our past U.S. Presidents have stayed at the Biltmore Hotel resort as a getaway. The main lobby has pictures of presidents enjoying themselves in the heat poolside and on the golf courses nearby.

I really like this event because of the down time we all get to spend by the pool. Some events you remember the social dancing, some the competitions, some the show and this event you remember the off the floor times you spend with friends.

The weekend ended with my fiance and myself spending time with the Roystons. Phoenix holds an event called “The Fabulous Phoenix 4th of July Festival.” We attended the free event with lots of music, fair food and games for the kids. The park even hosted a wet play area for the kids with hoses that blasted the kids and parents with cool water in the blistering heat. I chowed down on typical fair food. That was my favorite moment of the weekend. The event ended with one of the longest firework shows I’ve seen in a while. For a free event, I was very impressed they did not skimp on the fireworks show.

It was great to spend quality time with my fiance and close friends.
I got to really feel like summer was here and I could start to really enjoy it.
Great weekend to unwind.

Liberty Swing Dance Championships

Sun, 26 Jun 2011 23:12:06 -0400

I’m proud to call Liberty Swing Dance my new home event. Presented by John Lindo, the event provides a great combination of dance workshops, social dancing and competitions.

Since I’ve been teaching at Dance Manhattan over the summer, I’ve been getting to know my dance community here in New York and New Jersey. They’re all supportive and I’ve enjoyed seeing this dance community grow. Going into the event I was really pumped to debut my new showcase routine with Jennifer Deluca.

Honored to get 3rd in Showcase, many of our friends and supporters cheered loudly as we entered from behind the awesome blue stage curtain. I can certainly say I enjoyed myself and had fun sharing our new routine with the local community.

I was fortunate to dance with Torri Smith in Strictly Swing and also Jack and Jill. Yes, I drew Torri for Jack and Jill too. Torri is absolutely one of my favorite dancers to dance with on the competition floor as well as the social floor. She’s extremely talented and always makes me look good. The best thing about her is her ability to make me feel comfortable on the floor at all times. I know that sounds silly being a pro who’s danced for so long. But I know I can get in my head and I dance differently in most situations but Torri has the ability to keep me being myself and I really have more fun dancing with her than most. Thanks Torri.

I was also fortunate to be on John Lindo’s DJ staff. It’s such an honor to be a DJ on John’s staff because I know he has a high standard for his own DJing and his dances at home. There are also so many great DJs in the East Coast area from here in NY/NJ to Boston and other local areas.

This year’s opening ceremony was really fun. The theme was “Grease.” All the boys dressed in jeans and white/black t-shirts with rolled up sleeves and greased hair. All the gals dressed in their vintage skirts and leggings, dolled up with hair and makeup consistent with the fabulous era and show.

One of the finest moments was John Lindo giving awards equivalent to the size of the division. Novice racked in great prize money because it was a large division. Each division received a generous amount of award money. Thank you John for giving back to the community.
Thank you John for putting a great event together. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped out.
Thank you to the supporters that attended the event.
Looking forward to next year.

Rocking it in Boston Tea Party

Sat, 26 Mar 2011 14:25:11 -0400

Always a great time in Boston.
No other community compares to the Boston Area. There are so many good events in Boston. There are many great promoters in Boston. The community is simply amazing in Boston.

Top West Coast Swing dancers and Top Lindy Dancers unite to bring an event illustrating some of the best dancing both cultures have to offer.

Excellent classes from all the instructors are taught all weekend. The most wild and fun competitions are run afternoon to evening and from evening till the early morning we all dance our feet off.

I was privileged to to teach another of my fun Hip Hop classses to about 100 students. An excellent opportunity to break the ice between all the dancers. I taught a small segment of a dance to “Shake it” by Lil Bow Wow. Everyone had a blast as they figure out the intricate and high energy choreography. Especially getting to end with a large massive “group jump” that would be comparable to an old GAP commercial.

My other 3 workshops with Jennifer Deluca, lots of technique and lots of dancing. We got to show lost of different perspectives on the dance.

My favorite were the competitions. I had a blast dancing with my West Coast Swing groups but I especially enjoyed my Lindy girls. Thanks to all for great dances.

No one can forget the awesome Cross over room where music is played for both West Coast Swing dancers and Lindy Hoppers to dance together to music from the Motown era, Soul and R&B, and some mid Tempo Blues. With my favorite cross over Djs John Festa with his smooth jazz and easy going R&B, and Peter Strom and his ridiculous collection of Motown and Funk.

I had the honor of DJing myself on Saturday night after Dj John Lindo, whom always has a great classic set of Contemporary R&B and Late night grooves.

My Competitions were great highlights to the weekend. I danced of course with Jennifer Deluca and placed 4th. How can you not get funky when they’re playing OMG by Far East Movement.
My cross over Jack and Jill I am exceptionally proud of. I had the opportunity to dance with Naomi Uyama. One of my favorite Lindy Hoppers to watch and socially dance with. She was kind enough to let me lead her in intricate West Coast Patterns and put up with my decent Lindy skills.

For those of you reading who don’t know what I’m talking about, the top placements of both Strictly WCS and Strictly Lindy compete in an all out chaotic cross over Jack and Jill comp. Guys of one style dance with the Ladies of another style. The pairings are always fun and you never know what to expect. The show begins as all the dancers walk out onto the floor sporting clothes and accessories from their dance counterparts. Lindy dancers come out rocking Metro and club like fashions and us “Westies” pull the clock back and rock some old school Lindy gear. I chose typical modern slacks with the classic sweater vest and fedora. Kyle and Jordan took a more traditional look. All in fun we got to dress and play the part a little and certainly laugh at ourselves.

Until the next cross over event!

America’s Classic Championship

Fri, 14 Jan 2011 23:00:30 -0500

It’s been a while since I’ve updated my dance blogs.
So much has happened in 2010. I’m now living in New Jersey!!!! How exciting and such a change that I’ve not been able to keep up with blogging events.
So I’ve decided to start clean and get back on top of it now for the new year of 2011.

America’s Classic (ACC) was my first Texas event ever and I was welcomed with open arms.
Cher Peadon and Mario really know how to run an event.
I was fortunate to be a part of ACC’s 20th year celebration.
The biggest honor was to unofficially debut my new dance partnership with Jennifer Deluca from Orlando, FL.
Unofficial, because Jennifer and I intended on debuting on a later date.
We decided to put together a small routine together to compete in Classic instead.
And to our surprise we placed 2nd!
So hopefully enjoys our official debut. To be a surprise.

I have to say I was really happy with the music, the venue, the community, the awards and workshops.
I can’t wait until next year.