From canada.com:
"...did you know that Aussie-born Kym Johnson performed at Elton John's 50th birthday party, competed in Australia's Celebrity Survivor -- just what it sounds like -- and landed a regular gig on the U.S.'s Dancing with the Stars only after being matched with Jerry Springer during the 2006 season? Did you know that Derek Hough once played the lead in a British road show version of Jesus Christ Superstar, and performed in London's West End in Footloose the Musical?
And did you know that Dancing first-timer Lacey Schwimmer is the 2007 World Swing Dance Champ, and won the U.S. Youth Latin Champ title in '06?
More to the point, did you know that, as a rank amateur and relative unknown, she reached the final four of 2007's So You Think You Can Dance, and is the sister of season-two winner Benji Schwimmer?"
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
My Golden Dancers
Bringing Brass to GoldBy Elita Sohmer Clayman
On a television show, a young man was bringing a bouquet of flowers to the young lady he was taking to dinner. He looked at her all dressed up and appearing so pretty and said: “Bringing these flowers to you is like bringing brass to gold.” He meant that the flowers were inexpensive like something that is made from brass, and she was as beautiful as gold.
Many times in our lives we start out with brass and it turns into gold. Plenty of things we do emanate from inexpensive accoutrements to become golden to us. So many folks start ballroom dancing by taking one or two group lessons with lots of other people they do not know. Then they perhaps advance to taking lessons with only one partner or by themselves with their teacher as their partner. Finally, all this turns into something golden. Gold being the high standard of jewelry other than platinum is what we want when we buy good jewelry. What we want when we dance is to be golden in our perception of our self and our partner. We want other people to look and say ‘Wow, they dance so well. They must have been dancing for years.’ Dancing is something that always stays with you and like typing, bowling, or driving a car, it never leaves your brain.
I have been to lots of dances where you see a couple who have advanced since the last time you saw them months ago. Some people dance and others are not dancers. The ones who dance are looked upon as being unique and exciting. They are admired, appreciated, and applauded.
John Travolta was revered in many movies because he danced well in them and people thought of him as the young kid in 'Welcome Back Kotter,' an old television show. He was on 'The View' and said he turned down several movie scripts in the past that went onto be big hits. He was sorry he had not taken the opportunity to be in those movies. He said he did not think he could do the show or movie and later realized he would have done well in them and he regretted it. The movie 'Hairspray' was given to him and he turned it down at first and then knew it was for him - lo and behold, it was a mega-hit.
Some of us turn down doing things because we feel we cannot handle it now because we are seniors. I have always felt that the word 'seniors' did not conjure up a very impressive meaning about us. When I was in high school, I could not wait to become a senior. When I was in college, I could not wait to become a senior. As I approached any thing, I wanted to do it in a senior manner, meaning a superior manner. Now the word 'senior' is another word for an elderly person.
We seniors should be called something else. We could be named 'elegant elders,' 'respected retirees,' or 'super sages.' Senior citizens mean we are oldsters and citizens of this earth. We are people who have reached this age, hopefully with some wisdom, and become grandparents. Some are travelers and others excel in a hobby like ballroom dancing. Many are satisfied to sit on their tushies, watch television and munch and become sedentary. Many of us combine grandparenting, traveling, and also practice our ballroom dancing weekly.
That is not what we elegant elders want to be known as. We want to be recognized as respected sages with lots of wisdom earned through living, loving, liking, and doing. We desire to be looked up to and not looked down at because we are older. In Asian and European countries, elders are more honored than in our country. Many seniors here are looked upon as burdens to their families rather than exquisite persons of vision for the memories they tell their children from the days of yore.
When I was a youngster, I never cared about hearing much of my parents’ past or the ‘olden days.’ Now the olden days are my past and my children are very interested in hearing stories from yesteryear. Lord Byron said the past is the prophet of the future. I am the last member of my immediate family which consisted of mom, dad, brother and me. They are gone and I have stories and family tidbits stored in my senior brain. My daughter loves to hear all the information I have about these events. My nephew who lives in California wanted me to write down family history so he could pass it on to his son.
Memories need not be enhanced. Most of them are so interesting when you look back on them, though nothing much worthwhile to you at that time long ago when they happened. Now it appears to be bringing brass to gold. The brass being the past and the gold being now and the future. By retelling these stories of the passage of time, we relive those moments and they may not have been so golden then but retelling them now makes it a happening. We can learn from the past and can beautify our present and our future remembering how it was then. We did not have control over things then as we have now with all this modern technology. My older grandsons can go on their computers and converse and play games with friends. They are in their homes and their friends are in their homes and the two meet via the computer. Who would have thought this amazing happening would transpire?
On a television show, a young man was bringing a bouquet of flowers to the young lady he was taking to dinner. He looked at her all dressed up and appearing so pretty and said: “Bringing these flowers to you is like bringing brass to gold.” He meant that the flowers were inexpensive like something that is made from brass, and she was as beautiful as gold.
Many times in our lives we start out with brass and it turns into gold. Plenty of things we do emanate from inexpensive accoutrements to become golden to us. So many folks start ballroom dancing by taking one or two group lessons with lots of other people they do not know. Then they perhaps advance to taking lessons with only one partner or by themselves with their teacher as their partner. Finally, all this turns into something golden. Gold being the high standard of jewelry other than platinum is what we want when we buy good jewelry. What we want when we dance is to be golden in our perception of our self and our partner. We want other people to look and say ‘Wow, they dance so well. They must have been dancing for years.’ Dancing is something that always stays with you and like typing, bowling, or driving a car, it never leaves your brain.
I have been to lots of dances where you see a couple who have advanced since the last time you saw them months ago. Some people dance and others are not dancers. The ones who dance are looked upon as being unique and exciting. They are admired, appreciated, and applauded.
John Travolta was revered in many movies because he danced well in them and people thought of him as the young kid in 'Welcome Back Kotter,' an old television show. He was on 'The View' and said he turned down several movie scripts in the past that went onto be big hits. He was sorry he had not taken the opportunity to be in those movies. He said he did not think he could do the show or movie and later realized he would have done well in them and he regretted it. The movie 'Hairspray' was given to him and he turned it down at first and then knew it was for him - lo and behold, it was a mega-hit.
Some of us turn down doing things because we feel we cannot handle it now because we are seniors. I have always felt that the word 'seniors' did not conjure up a very impressive meaning about us. When I was in high school, I could not wait to become a senior. When I was in college, I could not wait to become a senior. As I approached any thing, I wanted to do it in a senior manner, meaning a superior manner. Now the word 'senior' is another word for an elderly person.
We seniors should be called something else. We could be named 'elegant elders,' 'respected retirees,' or 'super sages.' Senior citizens mean we are oldsters and citizens of this earth. We are people who have reached this age, hopefully with some wisdom, and become grandparents. Some are travelers and others excel in a hobby like ballroom dancing. Many are satisfied to sit on their tushies, watch television and munch and become sedentary. Many of us combine grandparenting, traveling, and also practice our ballroom dancing weekly.
That is not what we elegant elders want to be known as. We want to be recognized as respected sages with lots of wisdom earned through living, loving, liking, and doing. We desire to be looked up to and not looked down at because we are older. In Asian and European countries, elders are more honored than in our country. Many seniors here are looked upon as burdens to their families rather than exquisite persons of vision for the memories they tell their children from the days of yore.
When I was a youngster, I never cared about hearing much of my parents’ past or the ‘olden days.’ Now the olden days are my past and my children are very interested in hearing stories from yesteryear. Lord Byron said the past is the prophet of the future. I am the last member of my immediate family which consisted of mom, dad, brother and me. They are gone and I have stories and family tidbits stored in my senior brain. My daughter loves to hear all the information I have about these events. My nephew who lives in California wanted me to write down family history so he could pass it on to his son.
Memories need not be enhanced. Most of them are so interesting when you look back on them, though nothing much worthwhile to you at that time long ago when they happened. Now it appears to be bringing brass to gold. The brass being the past and the gold being now and the future. By retelling these stories of the passage of time, we relive those moments and they may not have been so golden then but retelling them now makes it a happening. We can learn from the past and can beautify our present and our future remembering how it was then. We did not have control over things then as we have now with all this modern technology. My older grandsons can go on their computers and converse and play games with friends. They are in their homes and their friends are in their homes and the two meet via the computer. Who would have thought this amazing happening would transpire?
I worked 50 years ago as an administrative assistant to the president of a printing firm. We were amazed when they got the first Xerox copy machine. The artist who worked in our place need no longer make two copies of any artwork. Before, he required one for his office and one for the client. So he labored hard to make identical copies. It took hours of work. When the machine was delivered, we all stopped to admire this piece of modernization. Howard, the artist said: 'Amen.' His work was easier, more precise, and less time consuming. Modern miracles had happened at this printing facility.
I remember the day I spent $25 and bought my mom and dad an electric can opener. It cost so much money they did not want to accept the gift. We oohed and ahhed over the cans automatically and neatly being opened. My dad took the empty can and turned it over and opened the underside just for fun - to see it move. I can see it as if it happened yesterday.
We were so thrilled at these small wonders. Look how things are now with computers, iPods, DVDs, videos, cell phones, etc. We super sages and elegant elders can help our children, grandchildren and friends by relating what life was then. We survived, we were happy, and most of all we respected each other and our elders. Now we are the elders and we are elegant and super and we want our younger population to realize that. We were brass and now we are golden and we have lots of time left to continue being golden. When we dance before younger people, we show them that gold is better than brass and age is ageless.
Regardless of whether you are a senior now or will be a senior soon or even if you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, you can learn to dance and to dance beautifully. Dancing not only enhances your thoughts about yourself and your ability to learn, it becomes a distinctive part of your existence. John Dryden said, “Dancing is poetry of the foot.” Not only is it lively legs, it is an instance of pure movement.
My fifteen-month-old 4th grandchild, Ava Maya, turns on her toy machine and out comes some very pretty music. At her young age, she sits on the floor and moves her body to the music she hears. It is as if it is inborn to her to know that she can shake and move because of what she hears. Perhaps it is in her genes because her Grammie loves to dance.
So go out and take some dance lessons, engage in dance activities at the studio, and become so involved that you have something down on your weekly calendar showing that you are participating in the dance world.
Dear seniors - or shall I say elegant elders, respected retirees and almost seniors and just everybody out there - remember and realize that we are still valuable, vigorous, and full of vision regardless of age. We have the vision for now and the vision of the past. Both the now and the past make us golden persons moving to platinum. In jewelry, platinum is the ultimate and we will remain so all the days of our lives.
If dance is poetry of the foot or feet, then it is also a depiction of our body. The movement of our bodies with its parts and our feet and legs becomes
a ladder for us to climb. As we reach the top rung, our hearts are full of happiness, our mind is full of mental activity, and our souls are replete with fulfillment of this accomplishment we have attained. Someone once said the body is a machine that winds its own springs.
It is a stunning consummation of the learning process regardless of age. Age is only a number and numbers add up to total success. Success is what we all strive for from the beginning of our knowledgeable years. Children cannot wait until they are older. They often tell their age as six and a half, ten and three quarters, because they yearn to be older. Older people sometimes fib about their age; others are proud to say they are so many years old, etc.
The ultimate compliment one likes to hear is: ‘You do not look that age.’
The paramount tribute to our self is to participate in our own life, not in someone else’s life. Turn the ordinary into the extraordinary because people climb a mountain in different ways. We all accomplish the goal.
So move your body like my little darling granddaughter does; have poetry with your feet; leave the brass behind and become platinum in your dancing. Climb that mountain and reach the top because your life will be quite meaningful every day as you dance to higher pinnacles than you ever thought possible.
Always keep dancing.
We were so thrilled at these small wonders. Look how things are now with computers, iPods, DVDs, videos, cell phones, etc. We super sages and elegant elders can help our children, grandchildren and friends by relating what life was then. We survived, we were happy, and most of all we respected each other and our elders. Now we are the elders and we are elegant and super and we want our younger population to realize that. We were brass and now we are golden and we have lots of time left to continue being golden. When we dance before younger people, we show them that gold is better than brass and age is ageless.
Regardless of whether you are a senior now or will be a senior soon or even if you are in your 30s, 40s, 50s, you can learn to dance and to dance beautifully. Dancing not only enhances your thoughts about yourself and your ability to learn, it becomes a distinctive part of your existence. John Dryden said, “Dancing is poetry of the foot.” Not only is it lively legs, it is an instance of pure movement.
My fifteen-month-old 4th grandchild, Ava Maya, turns on her toy machine and out comes some very pretty music. At her young age, she sits on the floor and moves her body to the music she hears. It is as if it is inborn to her to know that she can shake and move because of what she hears. Perhaps it is in her genes because her Grammie loves to dance.
So go out and take some dance lessons, engage in dance activities at the studio, and become so involved that you have something down on your weekly calendar showing that you are participating in the dance world.
Dear seniors - or shall I say elegant elders, respected retirees and almost seniors and just everybody out there - remember and realize that we are still valuable, vigorous, and full of vision regardless of age. We have the vision for now and the vision of the past. Both the now and the past make us golden persons moving to platinum. In jewelry, platinum is the ultimate and we will remain so all the days of our lives.
If dance is poetry of the foot or feet, then it is also a depiction of our body. The movement of our bodies with its parts and our feet and legs becomes
a ladder for us to climb. As we reach the top rung, our hearts are full of happiness, our mind is full of mental activity, and our souls are replete with fulfillment of this accomplishment we have attained. Someone once said the body is a machine that winds its own springs.
It is a stunning consummation of the learning process regardless of age. Age is only a number and numbers add up to total success. Success is what we all strive for from the beginning of our knowledgeable years. Children cannot wait until they are older. They often tell their age as six and a half, ten and three quarters, because they yearn to be older. Older people sometimes fib about their age; others are proud to say they are so many years old, etc.
The ultimate compliment one likes to hear is: ‘You do not look that age.’
The paramount tribute to our self is to participate in our own life, not in someone else’s life. Turn the ordinary into the extraordinary because people climb a mountain in different ways. We all accomplish the goal.
So move your body like my little darling granddaughter does; have poetry with your feet; leave the brass behind and become platinum in your dancing. Climb that mountain and reach the top because your life will be quite meaningful every day as you dance to higher pinnacles than you ever thought possible.
Always keep dancing.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Professional Dancers from Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Chandler, AZ
Nikolei and Gergana from the Chandler, AZ Fred Astaire Dance studio give an interview at the 2008 Fred Astaire National Dance Championships
Dancing With The Stars Prediction
MSNBC thinks Lance Bass is going to waltz away with the mirrored trophy:
"Somewhat lumbering in his NFL-appropriate, but less ballroom-friendly frame, Warren is not the most obviously graceful person in the group. Some football players, particularly Emmitt Smith and Jason Taylor, have been legitimately talented dancers, but Sapp is not. He’s a showboater and a charmer, and he certainly has a great smile. But light on his feet he is not, and the judges will likely ding him hard enough that he won’t have a chance without an overwhelming audience response — which he won’t get. That will leave Lance and Brooke.
Brooke Burke has been the front-runner all season. She’s got the long legs and elegance of a dancer, and particularly because most of the other women (other than Misty May-Treanor, who went out early with an injury in this heavily bandaged season) were not strong dancers, she stood out. Brooke isn’t, however, very entertaining. There is something bloodless about her performances; studied and skilled, but not the kind of dancing that makes you want to watch it again.
Because the entertainment factor is her weakness, it’s especially unfortunate that during last week’s jive, Brooke suffered her first genuine catastrophic dancing failure of the season. You almost never see it on this show, especially late in the season: she simply lost track of what she was doing at certain moments, and she was visibly watching her partner, Derek Hough, to get back on track.
Not only that, but as judge Bruno Tonioli pointed out, the entire routine looked sloppy — bad leg position, bad footwork, and a general lack of grace. That’s okay for Cloris Leachman during a group hip-hop routine, but not for a contestant who’s supposed to be getting by on her superior skills.
This brings us to Lance Bass. Barring a sprained ankle, Lance will take home the trophy. He has the personality of a champion — he’s a direct descendant of Drew Lachey and Apolo Anton Ohno, in particular: guys who started off good, worked hard to get better, and always seemed endearingly plucky in spite of the fact that they were naturals.
Audiences, in the end, are not dance experts. They cannot necessarily identify the right way to hold your foot during a foxtrot, and most of them don’t have any idea how good your tango hold is. No, when it comes to the dance itself, audiences reward two things: agility and novelty. They may not be able to tell the difference between perfect and imperfect waltzes, but they can tell whether a quickstep or a jive was crisp and lively.
Joey Fatone’s strong showing in Season 4 was largely the result of his ability, in spite of his bulky-looking body, to look like he was made entirely of springs as he bounced through a couple of different jives. Season 5 champ Helio Castroneves is best remembered for a loud, exuberant quickstep in which he wore a yellow suit that was gaudy even for a dance costume. We like fast, chandelier-rattling dances, not because we’re uncultured, but because we understand them better.
Again, this plays directly into Lance’s hands. His mambo and jitterbug last week demonstrated that he can move with lightness and speed. At the same time, Brooke completely biffed that jive, the best chance she had to get out from under being the “less fun” contestant."
Dancing With The Stars - A Teacher's Perspective on Week 9
By Debra Stroiney
I think this was a very exciting semi-final! The judges made a complete turn around and scored and judged them as if it were a semi-final. Many of their comments were ones that should have been made in other weeks of the competition. Well, at least they are doing it in the finals when it is down to the wire and the dancers need to prove that they deserve to win. I am glad that they recognized that Brooke had a bad dance; with the way they have scored her in the past, I was wondering if they were going to mark her higher than what her performance deserved. And they scored everyone fairly that night…
I am not surprised that Cody was eliminated from the show this week. When comparing his performances to the other dancers, they were lacking although they were still danced and performed well. I think that he has the potential of being a great dancer but he is still young and it takes time to develop some of the things that are needed for ballroom dancing. His scores reflected his performances and sometimes the votes can’t save you from elimination when all the contenders were scored that much higher.
I find that Warren is going to start to get a good chunk of the audience vote because everyone seems to love him. No matter how much his technique might be off, he goes out there and really puts on a show. He is fun to watch and that just might win it for him.
For the dancing ,it’s going to be down to Brooke and Lance. Brooke developed her ballroom abilities faster but Lance has definitely caught up. If Lance keeps up the quality dancing and adds the showmanship and musicality that he has had all along, regardless of audience votes, he will be the winner. I think that Brooke is also great at performing as well as dancing cleanly with the correct technique. Maybe it is what I prefer to watch but there is something about her dances that are not as exciting as Lance and Warren’s. There is some piece of showmanship and entertainment value that is missing. I am surprised this week that Len gave her a 10 whereas the other two judges who have always been her fans gave her the lower of the scores.
I am really interested in seeing the dances they come up with this week for the finals. They are going to be playing to their strengths and it could get interesting. So I guess it will come down to who displayed their strengths the best and outperformed the others while also who gets the votes. I have to admit I have not voted all season but I am going to have to this week!
I am not surprised that Cody was eliminated from the show this week. When comparing his performances to the other dancers, they were lacking although they were still danced and performed well. I think that he has the potential of being a great dancer but he is still young and it takes time to develop some of the things that are needed for ballroom dancing. His scores reflected his performances and sometimes the votes can’t save you from elimination when all the contenders were scored that much higher.
I find that Warren is going to start to get a good chunk of the audience vote because everyone seems to love him. No matter how much his technique might be off, he goes out there and really puts on a show. He is fun to watch and that just might win it for him.
For the dancing ,it’s going to be down to Brooke and Lance. Brooke developed her ballroom abilities faster but Lance has definitely caught up. If Lance keeps up the quality dancing and adds the showmanship and musicality that he has had all along, regardless of audience votes, he will be the winner. I think that Brooke is also great at performing as well as dancing cleanly with the correct technique. Maybe it is what I prefer to watch but there is something about her dances that are not as exciting as Lance and Warren’s. There is some piece of showmanship and entertainment value that is missing. I am surprised this week that Len gave her a 10 whereas the other two judges who have always been her fans gave her the lower of the scores.
I am really interested in seeing the dances they come up with this week for the finals. They are going to be playing to their strengths and it could get interesting. So I guess it will come down to who displayed their strengths the best and outperformed the others while also who gets the votes. I have to admit I have not voted all season but I am going to have to this week!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
My Golden Dancers
"Angles, Angels and Dance"Leeza Gibbons, a television personality, was on a show and she was talking about a sick relative and how hard it is to care for them. She said she needs kisses from angels to help her cope with the situation. Many times we feel we may need a kiss from an angel. I never believed in angels and many years ago I had an experience with an angel of sort.
My husband had a large pharmacy for almost twenty-four years. It was an independent store, not affiliated with a big chain grocery store. Just an old-time, family run business. I used to work there two days a week at the store and did book work at one time at home by hand long before there were computers to use doing that type of work.
We knew our customers by name and always greeted them graciously even for the smallest of a sale. It was a homey type business and every one knew everyone. The clerks, the pharmacists, the customers were like one big and happy group. There was a little old man that came in daily. I guess he was about sixty something and of course I was forty something so I thought him elderly. He looked at me longingly and would call me angel. Everyone would laugh and he chuckled too and he continued to call me that. From the front of the store, my husband who was on duty that day would call out to him 'hi' and he would ask “where is my angel?” meaning me. It was cute and sweet and I would go along with the jocund attitude because it was that type of relationship with customers, owners and sales clerks.
I even bought myself a key chain that had the word angel on it. I got to believe that somehow there might be angels around and if this man thought I was one (jokingly) that it was proper and fine and I would enjoy the moments. One day I realized that I had not seen Mr. Garland for several weeks and I asked the clerks if had they seen him. They replied that they heard that Mrs. Garland was ill and he was no longer arriving daily at the store since he was caring for her. They were of modest means and had no children to help them in their health care needs.
So I got the address from the records and I got together a box and filled it with sweet things, household things and items he may need to help in her care and I sent it with our driver when he made deliveries to Mr. and Mrs. Garland. I signed it 'Angel and husband Jerry.' I knew they could use the items and I got back such a sweet note. In the note he said “Thank you, my angel, the Mrs. and I appreciate your angelic deliverance and I always knew you were an angel.” Not too long passed and Mrs. Garland died and he stopped coming in to the store.
Everyone missed Mr. G, not for the little business he gave us but for the smiling and loving personality he possessed. He was of such meager earnings in whatever he did, but he always had a smile and a joke and a beautiful charm. He always referred to me as 'angel' but in truth he was the angel. I was just the messenger. We can be angels to others on this earth and many of us can do this in our ballroom dancing. I am always preaching that we should inspire everyone we can to participate in dancing and of course the interest has spiraled since the dancing television shows of these years.
When we encourage folks to go out and dance now they should not perceive it as the way it was shown on the Dancing with the Stars show. They need not have expensive gowns or suits, they need not take dozens of lessons and they need not practice excessively like it was portrayed on the shows. They only need the willingness to learn, to study and to love it and to enjoy it. They need to realize that the television show was a bit of hype and that in real life one can learn ballroom dancing and not be so enamored of it that they invest too much money or even time that they may not have at the present moment. There are ways to learn that are not costly. Some group lessons are not expensive and the social climate of a group lesson can be helpful by meeting and greeting and being seated with others at the dance party or the dance lesson. They only have to dress nicely and the clothes do not need to be expensive or designer names. They can learn at their own pace and someday if they want to compete, they should consider the cost, the time, and effort and can do so at their own free will when they desire it.
Dancing with the Stars is not representative of real life ballroom dancing. The voting by the public was more of a 'who has more fans' type of thing and not representing who was the best and most talented dancer. Many who remained on should have been taken off weeks before they were voted off and many who were voted off should have remained and been given a chance at winning. Television shows are not always the true reality of our lives. In this instance, it does help to promote dancing and that is good and shows that with hard work anyone can learn.
Angels come in all sizes, all nationalities, and all ages and even if you do not have financial reserves, you can be an angel here on earth and you can give kisses as an angel without doing the actual deed. You can stimulate the thoughts in people who may be inclined to go out and dance and you can initiate the desire in their hearts.
L’Oreal, the cosmetic company, had a contest for Women of Worth where you were encouraged to nominate someone who does worthwhile deeds. There are many out there- I call them People of Worth who deserve to be noticed because they help others to share in their love of dancing and promote the concept of dancing by enticing men and women to ballroom dance in their communities. I know of a few folks who drive single men and women to dances because these people no longer drive and would be sitting home because they had no transportation. There are other folks who will pick up someone who cannot get around easily and bring them in to take a dance lesson and that gives the person a chance for exercise and social times. These people are angels of the day. They wait for the lesson to be over and return the student to his or home. They have given a shut-in the opportunity to go out into a community place and to be with others enjoying themselves and also a learning experience.
William Arthur Ward said: “The good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires.” The good friend dancer will help his fellow dancers to excel and to be happy in their dancing activities. They will ignite the flame of desire to become an excellent participant in this lovely activity of mind and exercise.
There are two words that you can change the letters back and forth. They are 'angle' which means viewpoint or standpoint among some of its meaning and the word 'angel' spelled with the same letters. Angel means benefactor in one of its meanings. To have an angle of a viewpoint on ballroom dancing and to be an angel and help someone are two words to have when we dance. The angle is our thought on dance and the angel is what we can be to a new dancer and we can use both words to help and encourage dancers who are always a bit apprehensive in starting their dance ‘career.’
Many years ago in the 1970s, when we first started to dance, there was an obnoxious older lady who had been dancing for about thirty years. When we would come to a social dance at the studio, it was difficult to figure out which song was a Waltz or Foxtrot. We would stand there or sit until we figured it out. She would yell out seeing our lack of knowledge and security in knowing this; she would say: "Jerry, it is a Waltz" in a tone like we were stupid. "Jerry, it is a Foxtrot." One day, I said to her very politely (though she did not deserve my respect), "Jean please do not tell us, we will figure it out." I never forgot her for her lack of kindness towards new students. I vowed I would never do that to any new person like she did to us. It is a wonder we did not walk out and never come back to ever dance again. We were lucky that we had the fortitude to eliminate her intimidating voice and actions and to go on and do our dance thing.
People of Worth do not need L’Oreal cosmetic company to acknowledge them with monetary rewards. People of worth know that they are that and they give kisses every time they respond to others with giving them the responsibility to go out and learn to fill their time and life with a hobby such as dancing. People of Worth are angels and as Mr. Garland used to yell across the Alameda Pharmacy way back in 1980-something “Where is my angel?” (meaning me), we can speak out and say "Here we are, we are your angel, we are your mentor and we will help you to sustain your love for ballroom dancing. We will be the stars of the dancing and we need no television show to exclaim this or to enhance our worth. We are the angels and we need no row of judges to tell us how good or how poor we did. We are people of worth and we know it."
William Arthur Ward said: “The good teacher explains, the superior teacher demonstrates and the great teacher inspires.” The good friend dancer will help his fellow dancers to excel and to be happy in their dancing activities. They will ignite the flame of desire to become an excellent participant in this lovely activity of mind and exercise.
There are two words that you can change the letters back and forth. They are 'angle' which means viewpoint or standpoint among some of its meaning and the word 'angel' spelled with the same letters. Angel means benefactor in one of its meanings. To have an angle of a viewpoint on ballroom dancing and to be an angel and help someone are two words to have when we dance. The angle is our thought on dance and the angel is what we can be to a new dancer and we can use both words to help and encourage dancers who are always a bit apprehensive in starting their dance ‘career.’
Many years ago in the 1970s, when we first started to dance, there was an obnoxious older lady who had been dancing for about thirty years. When we would come to a social dance at the studio, it was difficult to figure out which song was a Waltz or Foxtrot. We would stand there or sit until we figured it out. She would yell out seeing our lack of knowledge and security in knowing this; she would say: "Jerry, it is a Waltz" in a tone like we were stupid. "Jerry, it is a Foxtrot." One day, I said to her very politely (though she did not deserve my respect), "Jean please do not tell us, we will figure it out." I never forgot her for her lack of kindness towards new students. I vowed I would never do that to any new person like she did to us. It is a wonder we did not walk out and never come back to ever dance again. We were lucky that we had the fortitude to eliminate her intimidating voice and actions and to go on and do our dance thing.
People of Worth do not need L’Oreal cosmetic company to acknowledge them with monetary rewards. People of worth know that they are that and they give kisses every time they respond to others with giving them the responsibility to go out and learn to fill their time and life with a hobby such as dancing. People of Worth are angels and as Mr. Garland used to yell across the Alameda Pharmacy way back in 1980-something “Where is my angel?” (meaning me), we can speak out and say "Here we are, we are your angel, we are your mentor and we will help you to sustain your love for ballroom dancing. We will be the stars of the dancing and we need no television show to exclaim this or to enhance our worth. We are the angels and we need no row of judges to tell us how good or how poor we did. We are people of worth and we know it."
We older dancers are here to help the first time dancers and to encourage them with our help, our kindness, our confidence, and our willingness to motivate these folks to continue on dancing because they will find great happiness in accomplishing this motivation to be happy from doing this.
So, as Leeza Gibbons said, she needs a kiss from an angel; we can be that angel who plants an imaginary kiss on someone as we instill in them this thought that they too can dance, learn new steps, be happy at the studio learning and most of all keep their minds active.
The activity to the brain is as important as doing the steps well. You will feel unbelievably wonderful not only with your feet but with your mental acumen. You will have been kissed by the angel who had the angle to bring you into the family of dance because after a while, the other dancers become like your second family. A family that is away from your immediate home family. A dance family consisting of all of us who simply love to dance. We continue on as kin. George Santayana said: “Family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
So, as Leeza Gibbons said, she needs a kiss from an angel; we can be that angel who plants an imaginary kiss on someone as we instill in them this thought that they too can dance, learn new steps, be happy at the studio learning and most of all keep their minds active.
The activity to the brain is as important as doing the steps well. You will feel unbelievably wonderful not only with your feet but with your mental acumen. You will have been kissed by the angel who had the angle to bring you into the family of dance because after a while, the other dancers become like your second family. A family that is away from your immediate home family. A dance family consisting of all of us who simply love to dance. We continue on as kin. George Santayana said: “Family is one of nature’s masterpieces.”
Our dance family is a dynasty of performance. Perform we do in the most showing way of beauty. We dance for ourselves first and our hearts benefit from this love of this delightful portrayal of emotion and movement. That is a masterpiece and a jewel in a crown of regal realizations. We are dancers and we are really full of spirit and as someone once said: “We have that inward flame; a lamp that never gets put out.”
Always Keep On Dancing.
Always Keep On Dancing.
Students Dance For Toys!
By Angie Kriz, Director
Students at Wisconsin's Fred Astaire Dance Studios Menomonee Falls dance for toys!!!!
On Friday, November 7th, more than 100 people donated toys to Toys for Tots at Fred Astaire Dance Studios Menomonee Falls’ 1st annual Jingle Ball Holiday Show. Amateurs and Professionals from the local dance studio performed an array of dances to their favorite holiday classics. Students learned new routines to their favorite holiday songs, and performed for their families and friends. The admission to the event was a toy donation to Toys for Tots.
“Our holiday show for Toys for Tots was such a great success. We donated more than 150 toys to the organization,” said Fred Astaire Dance Studios director Angie Kriz. “We wanted to have a fun, holiday show for our students’ families and friends, and had no idea we could raise so many toys.” Ssgt Anthony Mauro, the Milwaukee area Toys for Tots coordinator, collected the toys at the event, and thanked the audience and staff of Fred Astaire Dance Studios Menomonee Falls for their generosity. He told the crowd that many children will benefit this holiday season from their thoughtfulness.
“We are so proud of all of students who performed in the show and we are so grateful to all who donated so generously,” said Kriz. “It is a great thought that we had a fun night, our amateurs and professional performed so well, and we had the opportunity to help such a great organization.”
Fred Astaire Dance Studios Menomonee Falls located at N89 W16823 Appleton Ave, will continue to be a drop off site for Toys for Tots though December.
2009 World Pro-Am Championships
Join the World Dance Council at one of the most dazzling resorts in the world - Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas - for the 2009 World Pro-Am Championships on February 7-10. This event is already among the most prestigious pro-am competitions in the world. In 2009, over $50,000 will be available in cash, prizes, and scholarships. 12 WDC World Titles will be awarded at this event. The Championships will feature categories for 3 age groups in Ballroom, Latin, Smooth and Rhythm. An impartial panel of world renowned judges will officiate. The evening will feature a cabaret of the dance world's Latin superstars. The Atlantis has the largest ballroom int he Caribbean - the 50,000-square-foot Imperial Ballroom which will be transformed into a mystical dance experience that you will remember for a lifetime. For more information, contact your local Fred Astaire Dance Studio or the Fred Astaire Dance Studios Corporate Office.
Fred Astaire Dance Studio Helps Fire Victim
When dance student Carol Shoupe lost all her possessions during a house fire, her "family" at the Fred Astaire Dance Studios in Belmont, MA stepped into action! On November 16th, a fundraiser was held at the studio to help her. Students and staff bought raffle tickets, bid on silent auction items, and bought dances with each other to help Carol. Studio owner Jennifer Batol was quoted in a recent news article: "It's just an amazing community we have within the studio. We always talk about how we're a big family, and we really are. Everyone here would do anything for anyone else. We are blessed to have the good people we have, students and staff both." There was one bright spot to Carol's tragedy: her dancing shoes were in her car at the time of the fire!
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
George Hamilton Tells All In New Autobiography
George Hamilton's memoir "Don't Mind If I Do," begins with his adventures on "Dancing With The Stars." According to a recent interview reported in Canadian Press: "When I heard it was a ballroom dancing show, I wasn't very interested. But my agent said it was an important show, so I agreed." Before the show, he broke four ribs and damaged his knee during an accidental fall. DWTS producers persuaded him to try one appearance so, "I decided to make the dance a little movie, with myself as Fred Astaire. The audience loved it, and the judges couldn't get rid of me." Hamilton ended up staying on the show for 6 weeks before finally getting eliminated.Friday, November 14, 2008
Dancing With The Stars - A Teacher's Perspective, Week 8
By Debra StroineyI apologize for not being able to write a blog last week but I was dancing in a competition of my own.
I am sad to see Maurice go this week. I did like his style, his attitude and I related to him because he is a runner and sprinter. It’s amazing to see these Olympic athletes out there competing in a completely different sport and learning a new skill. My favorite quote involved him and Cheryl last week. Cheryl asked why she was running faster than he was during the Quickstep. She was right; he should be using that same push off that he uses when he sprints to propel himself down the dance floor while also keeping it controlled.
The other thing I noticed this week is the music was again off from the character of some of the dances. In many of the dances you want to hear a clear beat and it just was not there. For me the Mambo is all about the music. Cody had some awful song that sounded nothing like a Mambo. He did a great job with it and I think the judges were a little too hard on him.
Some may think that I do not like Brooke because I am hard on her performances. I still think the judges are scoring her too high for some of her performances. I think she does very well and would have no problem recruiting her to train as a professional dancer. We are getting late into the competition now and Len was completely correct in saying that Brooke was not doing heel leads during her Tango. In this competition, she has done many Smooth dances and that should start becoming muscle memory for her. The problem I have (and I had the same thoughts about Kristy during the last season) is a 10 means perfect… Brooke and the other contestants did not have perfect routines this week, so don’t give them a 10. I think that if they are going to pick a winner for this competition they are going to have to start looking a little closer at the dancing and realize that they cannot award a 10 if it is not truly perfect.
Predictions: We are down to four contestants and I am now thinking of who may actually win this. I would have to say Brooke because, as with Kristy, she has the highest scores every week but votes do count. I would really like to know the percentage of votes that each contestant has been getting. I also think that Lance has a good shot if he sticks with some traditional moves but not eliminating the quirky stuff that got him this far. Then again if Cody and Warren get the votes they will be right there with the other two. Warren has been scoring well with the judges but I can see his dancing is not progressing as much as the others. If something has a little more complicated footwork you can tell he struggles but he makes up for it in personality and performance, therefore getting the audience vote. If Lance and Cody work hard on their dancing they have a chance of scoring higher than Brooke but since Brooke is already getting such high scores every week I think she will be hard to beat without having a good percentage of the audience vote.
Fred Astaire Studio in Montgomery, Alabama Participates In WWII Salute
The Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Montgomery, Alabama will be part of the 2nd Annual USO Show at the Pike County Fairgrounds in Troy, Alabama on November 15. Saluting World War II veterans this year, the USO Show will begin with social dancing at 6 p.m. and the show will begin at 7 p.m. According to Elaine McLeod, commander of the American Legion Post 70 in Troy, professional Fred Astaire dancers will be featured in 12 acts of song and dance.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
My Golden Dancers
Dancing for the Meat Bones By Elita Sohmer Clayman
November 13, 2008
When I was a little girl of about seven, I would go with Momma to the various stores for the food items. There was a grocery store, small and compact, where we got the necessities and the fruits and vegetables called Shapiro’s Mart. There was the butcher shop where we got the meat for the week. There were no freezers yet until I was about twelve. The butcher shop was called Rodman’s and Mr. R. was a nice and elderly man. Momma would give her list and then she would say, “Can you throw in some meat bones” and very meekly say “not charge me for them?”
Mr. Rodman would say “only if the little one (meaning me) will dance for me.” Momma must have bragged once to him that I liked to tap dance in the solitude of our home. I had no tap shoes, no routines, and no lessons and so I made up my own steps. No one saw me do it except Momma and sometimes Dad. My brother Herbert was five years older than me and was in high school and he would have probably laughed at my dancing. So Mr. R. told me he would give Momma the bones for free and I pretended to know what I was doing and did my one minute routine. He clapped and gave Momma the wonderful bones for free so she could make good vegetable soup.
Financially, things were very tight in those days, and Momma even went to work part-time in an office to help with the finances. Mr. Shapiro’s food store was in the basement of a house across the street from our row home and the butcher shop was up the street from him. There were no malls in those days; all the department stores were located downtown on two or three blocks and that is where we went to do clothes and shoe shopping. So you got to know your merchants because they were a stone’s throw from your home and they were like your neighbors. They also lived not very far from their businesses and often walked to their shops.
So I thought myself a star because I danced for Mr. Rodman and got Momma the free meat bones. As I got a bit older, I declined going with her to Mr. R's and Mr. S’s stores. I wanted to be more independent and Momma went herself to do the shopping. We could not afford tap dancing lessons, though we did take piano lessons. The reason being was that the piano teacher was Aunt Bessie and she was married to my father’s brother. He owed my dad lots of money from loans Dad had made when Dad was prosperous and he never paid Dad back. So Aunt Bessie gave my brother and me “free” piano lessons as kind of some sort of payment. When you look back, it was a meager payout for lots of money owed. My brother and I did not like Aunt Bessie and did not like the lessons. I played the piano better than I tap danced because I had professional coaching.
When I was about fourteen, we moved to an apartment house and on the first floor there was a ballet school. It was run by Miss Ellen Gniadowski and I would peer in to see all the little girls in their ballerina costumes being coached and groomed by Miss Ellen. She seemed to be a caring and considerate teacher and I kind of envied the little ones learning from her. She was so different than Aunt Bessie that I was really jealous that Miss Ellen had not owed my Dad money and then we could have gotten free ballet lessons.
So I had a little bit of knowledge of tap dancing, a little bit of seeing ballet and lots of piano learning and practicing. I saw that teachers like Miss Ellen can make a difference in a child’s life rather than teachers like Aunt Bessie. Aunt Bessie knew she was giving us coaching as a somewhat payout for her husband’s loans and as a duty also. She did not care to instill in us the desire, the love, the caring for the piano while Miss Ellen was very caring to her little girls, always encouraging them and telling them they were doing well. I could hear her do this through the open door and the hallway as I would go up the stairs to our apartment. I loved Miss Ellen even though I only waved at her and she finally knew my name because we were tenants in the same building. I never asked Momma to give me ballet lessons because I knew that we could still not afford even the small prices Miss Ellen charged.
One day, Miss Ellen was going into her downstairs studio and she saw me staring into the glass window. She said that I should come in and watch the girls for awhile. I ran upstairs and told Momma where I would be and I was enchanted viewing these lovely youngsters learning ballet. Miss Ellen, we heard, had been an up and coming ballerina and gave it up to marry and to have children. This was her way of continuing on with something she loved and still she had a home life with her husband and daughters. I told Miss Ellen that someday I would do dancing when I was older and could afford it.
Miss Ellen said she was sure I would accomplish this. She said no matter when you start, it will not be too late. So I heeded Miss Ellen and my husband and I started ballroom dance lessons when I was forty-two and he was forty-six. I always remember Miss Ellen versus Aunt Bessie. Miss Ellen was a delightful coach, an admiring friend and a competent human being. She instilled in these young and hopeful ballet students that they could handle and accomplish anything they wanted. At the end of the sessions, twice a year, she had a recital.
So the moral of this story is that a good coach is also a good friend. A good friend will nurture you and encourage you and be proud of you. So as Mr. Rodman thought I was a good tap dancer and he knew nothing at all about it, he still encouraged a little girl to dream and think she could tap dance. I thought I was special because Momma got her free meat bones to make a special veggie soup and I dreamed I could dance. Miss Ellen made these girls think they could do and would do better if they practiced and came for their lessons. The Aunt Bessies of this world only go about and do their jobs because they have to or need to and they never reach the heights of being called a great friend or teacher. The Miss Ellens of this world are the spirit that makes our children feel high up unto the sky and these children go on to achieve and accomplish and become happy citizens. Hopefully, we can all be more like the Miss Ellens than the old biddy Aunt Bessies. We can encourage our children, our friends, and even our senior citizens that there is always time to learn something new, to appreciate the new things we learn and to help others accomplish their dreams. Whether the dreams are even out of our reach, we can lift ourselves up high on an imaginary step stool and grab them and enjoy them and love them.
When my grandson Brock was about six or seven, he let a balloon given to him by the restaurant where we had eaten lunch fly high into the heavens. He said it was for my mother (his great grandmom) to hold onto while she was in Heaven. So we should all hold onto something up that is very high and try to achieve it whether we are six, sixty, or older. Hold onto your dreams and they will come true because the Miss Ellens are right here alongside of us encouraging us.
Senior citizens are now living sometimes until almost one hundred years old. I saw an article about a lady who is a PHD and she goes to nursing and retirement homes and she encourages the residents to do for themselves. She said that pushing them in their wheelchairs is not as good as teaching them to do it themselves. Her philosophy is that their minds need to be active to achieve better health; helping them to be invalids just because they are older is not really saving them. Her name is Dr. Barbara Resnick and she is a registered nurse and teaches nursing at the University of Maryland nursing school. She also works at a continuing care retirement community in Baltimore, Maryland She motivates seniors to stay as active as possible because once someone reaches about eighty years of age, there is a good chance they could live to be one hundred years old. If they are not exercising and doing physical activities, their last years will not be meaningful. She inspires them to live better independent lives and she motivates them to help themselves. She is a cancer survivor so she knows what she speaks of for seniors to triumph. This can be applied to everyone whether sick or well; we need to be functioning and industrious all the time.
So to all seniors, I call upon you to go out and dance as much as you can if you indeed like or even love ballroom dancing as I do. When I am at a social dance or even taking a dance lesson, I am in another world. That world does not include worries, problems and difficulties doing things, or illness. The dancing world is made up of happy moments, good music, dear friends and, most of all, glorious surroundings which include the wooden floor, the chairs, the tables, the food table with the goodies on it and the most important ingredient of all--- me because I came, I danced, I exercised and as my grandson Brock said several years ago “I have something to hold onto.” I am holding onto my life which is certainly fulfilled with achievement and satisfaction that I am here doing what I love-BALLROOM DANCING AND I WILL HAVE OVERPOWERED OLD age.
There is a columnist here in Baltimore, Maryland that wrote a stupid column on ballroom dancing. He said when he goes to weddings he is overcome by himself and others who do not dance well because they never thought they could or would. He said he needs a drink of whiskey or maybe two to even get up the nerve to try to dance. He criticized Cloris Leachman to even think she could go out there and dance on Dancing With The Stars. Instead of applauding her for trying and succeeding as much as she did, he disapproved and belittled her for her attempt at this endeavor. No one is ever too old or even too young to attempt to learn ballroom dancing. The Fred Astaire Dance studios that are located all over our states are a good place to start your dance ‘careers.’ When one goes to a dance studio and they find a teacher like Miss Ellen (rather than an Aunt Bessie), they have accomplished the beginning of their learning process. I have been lucky with the several teachers we have had during these thirty years and my first coach was a young man in his early twenties. We were in our forties and so I guess to him we were oldsters. He treated us with kindness and respect and gave us his knowledge and caring; to him we owe that we continued on for these many years. He moved away and started his own place in Maine and his name is Laurence E. Miller. He was a Miss Ellen type of teacher who not only stimulated our desire to excel, he energized us and showed us that we could and would be the recipients of the glory of this learning.
Whatever age you are, young, middle aged, senior or even a senior plus like Cloris, do not let anyone dissuade, discourage or detour your ambitions to try and learn this fabulous and enjoyable entity called dance. You are never too old and never too late to absorb the concept of dance.
Ballroom dance is exciting and stimulating to your brain and your brain needs the incitement and spark to keep it going. When your brain is scintillated and encouraged, then you will definitely feel better physically and mentally whether you are twenty or seventy.
My doctor told me I should go to a physiatrist. I do not mean a psychiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in physical therapy for aches and pains without needing surgery. I will go in a few weeks when the appointment was given to me and then with her help, I and we will be back on the dance floor. The dance floor is the best floor in the whole world. That is where we can do our thing, be a star and, most of all, get the best exercise there is for our young or older bodies. The dictionary meaning of the word 'floor' is base. Base is foundation and foundation is support. Support is what we strive for from our teachers and an excellent one gives us the desire to hold onto it just as the balloon did for my mom.
So, as Miss Ellen told me way back when I was a young girl, it is never too late. Never say never, say instead: 'My dancing is everlasting and eternal and I will enhance my life by being a dancer.'
Shakespeare said in Sonnet 42 “But here’s the joy; my friend and I are one.” We can say that about our dancing - our dancing and I are one. It is the best friend we can have and it stays with us forever.
Dancing for the meat bones does not sound exciting, but it was and dancing for ourselves is the most rewarding activity we can strive for in this lifetime. It is our JOY.
Senior citizens are now living sometimes until almost one hundred years old. I saw an article about a lady who is a PHD and she goes to nursing and retirement homes and she encourages the residents to do for themselves. She said that pushing them in their wheelchairs is not as good as teaching them to do it themselves. Her philosophy is that their minds need to be active to achieve better health; helping them to be invalids just because they are older is not really saving them. Her name is Dr. Barbara Resnick and she is a registered nurse and teaches nursing at the University of Maryland nursing school. She also works at a continuing care retirement community in Baltimore, Maryland She motivates seniors to stay as active as possible because once someone reaches about eighty years of age, there is a good chance they could live to be one hundred years old. If they are not exercising and doing physical activities, their last years will not be meaningful. She inspires them to live better independent lives and she motivates them to help themselves. She is a cancer survivor so she knows what she speaks of for seniors to triumph. This can be applied to everyone whether sick or well; we need to be functioning and industrious all the time.
So to all seniors, I call upon you to go out and dance as much as you can if you indeed like or even love ballroom dancing as I do. When I am at a social dance or even taking a dance lesson, I am in another world. That world does not include worries, problems and difficulties doing things, or illness. The dancing world is made up of happy moments, good music, dear friends and, most of all, glorious surroundings which include the wooden floor, the chairs, the tables, the food table with the goodies on it and the most important ingredient of all--- me because I came, I danced, I exercised and as my grandson Brock said several years ago “I have something to hold onto.” I am holding onto my life which is certainly fulfilled with achievement and satisfaction that I am here doing what I love-BALLROOM DANCING AND I WILL HAVE OVERPOWERED OLD age.
There is a columnist here in Baltimore, Maryland that wrote a stupid column on ballroom dancing. He said when he goes to weddings he is overcome by himself and others who do not dance well because they never thought they could or would. He said he needs a drink of whiskey or maybe two to even get up the nerve to try to dance. He criticized Cloris Leachman to even think she could go out there and dance on Dancing With The Stars. Instead of applauding her for trying and succeeding as much as she did, he disapproved and belittled her for her attempt at this endeavor. No one is ever too old or even too young to attempt to learn ballroom dancing. The Fred Astaire Dance studios that are located all over our states are a good place to start your dance ‘careers.’ When one goes to a dance studio and they find a teacher like Miss Ellen (rather than an Aunt Bessie), they have accomplished the beginning of their learning process. I have been lucky with the several teachers we have had during these thirty years and my first coach was a young man in his early twenties. We were in our forties and so I guess to him we were oldsters. He treated us with kindness and respect and gave us his knowledge and caring; to him we owe that we continued on for these many years. He moved away and started his own place in Maine and his name is Laurence E. Miller. He was a Miss Ellen type of teacher who not only stimulated our desire to excel, he energized us and showed us that we could and would be the recipients of the glory of this learning.
Whatever age you are, young, middle aged, senior or even a senior plus like Cloris, do not let anyone dissuade, discourage or detour your ambitions to try and learn this fabulous and enjoyable entity called dance. You are never too old and never too late to absorb the concept of dance.
Ballroom dance is exciting and stimulating to your brain and your brain needs the incitement and spark to keep it going. When your brain is scintillated and encouraged, then you will definitely feel better physically and mentally whether you are twenty or seventy.
My doctor told me I should go to a physiatrist. I do not mean a psychiatrist. A physiatrist is a medical doctor who specializes in physical therapy for aches and pains without needing surgery. I will go in a few weeks when the appointment was given to me and then with her help, I and we will be back on the dance floor. The dance floor is the best floor in the whole world. That is where we can do our thing, be a star and, most of all, get the best exercise there is for our young or older bodies. The dictionary meaning of the word 'floor' is base. Base is foundation and foundation is support. Support is what we strive for from our teachers and an excellent one gives us the desire to hold onto it just as the balloon did for my mom.
So, as Miss Ellen told me way back when I was a young girl, it is never too late. Never say never, say instead: 'My dancing is everlasting and eternal and I will enhance my life by being a dancer.'
Shakespeare said in Sonnet 42 “But here’s the joy; my friend and I are one.” We can say that about our dancing - our dancing and I are one. It is the best friend we can have and it stays with us forever.
Dancing for the meat bones does not sound exciting, but it was and dancing for ourselves is the most rewarding activity we can strive for in this lifetime. It is our JOY.
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Dancing With The Stars - The Tour
Dancing With The Stars is hitting the road this winter, bringing a new cast of celebrities and professional dancers to 37 cities throughout the US, including Lance Bass, Toni Braxton, Maurice Green, Marlee Matlin, Mark Ballas, Maksim Chmerkovskiy, Derek Hough, Kym Johnson, Alec Mazo, Lacey Schwimmer, Edyta Sliwinska, Karina Smirnoff, & Fabian Sanchez. The tour will kick off at the Sports Arena in San Diego on December 17. Tickets will go on sale on Monday, November 10. Visit http://www.dancingwiththestarstour.com/ and http://www.abc.com/ for tour details.
12/17/08, San Diego, CA - Sports Arena
12/18/08, Ontario, CA - Citizens Business Bank Arena
12/19/08, San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
12/21/08, Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
12/22/08, Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
12/27/08, Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center
12/28/08, Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
12/29/08, Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Arena
12/30/08, W. Valley City, UT - E Center
1/02/09, Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
1/04/09, Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
1/05/09, San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
1/07/09, Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
1/08/09, Moline, IL - i wireless Center
1/09/09, Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
1/11/09, Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
1/12/09, Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
1/13/09, Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center
1/15/09, Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
1/16/09, St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Arena
1/17/09, Cincinnati, OH - US Bank Arena
1/18/09, Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
1/20/09, Nashville, TN - Sommet Center
1/22/09, Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
1/23/09, Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
1/24/09, Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
1/25/09, Duluth, GA - The Arena at Gwinnett Center
1/27/09, Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
1/28/09, Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
1/29/09, Washington, DC - Verizon Center
1/30 - 1/31/09, Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
2/02/09, Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
2/03/09, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena
2/04/09, Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
2/06/09, Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
2/07/09, Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
2/08/09, Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
12/17/08, San Diego, CA - Sports Arena
12/18/08, Ontario, CA - Citizens Business Bank Arena
12/19/08, San Jose, CA - HP Pavilion
12/21/08, Reno, NV - Reno Events Center
12/22/08, Sacramento, CA - ARCO Arena
12/27/08, Los Angeles, CA - STAPLES Center
12/28/08, Glendale, AZ - Jobing.com Arena
12/29/08, Las Vegas, NV - Orleans Arena
12/30/08, W. Valley City, UT - E Center
1/02/09, Tulsa, OK - BOK Center
1/04/09, Dallas, TX - American Airlines Center
1/05/09, San Antonio, TX - AT&T Center
1/07/09, Kansas City, MO - Sprint Center
1/08/09, Moline, IL - i wireless Center
1/09/09, Chicago, IL - Allstate Arena
1/11/09, Detroit, MI - Joe Louis Arena
1/12/09, Toronto, ON - Air Canada Centre
1/13/09, Cleveland, OH - Wolstein Center
1/15/09, Indianapolis, IN - Conseco Fieldhouse
1/16/09, St. Louis, MO - Scottrade Arena
1/17/09, Cincinnati, OH - US Bank Arena
1/18/09, Columbus, OH - Nationwide Arena
1/20/09, Nashville, TN - Sommet Center
1/22/09, Tampa, FL - St. Pete Times Forum
1/23/09, Ft. Lauderdale, FL - BankAtlantic Center
1/24/09, Orlando, FL - Amway Arena
1/25/09, Duluth, GA - The Arena at Gwinnett Center
1/27/09, Greensboro, NC - Greensboro Coliseum
1/28/09, Raleigh, NC - RBC Center
1/29/09, Washington, DC - Verizon Center
1/30 - 1/31/09, Uncasville, CT - Mohegan Sun Arena
2/02/09, Providence, RI - Dunkin Donuts Center
2/03/09, Wilkes-Barre, PA - Wachovia Arena
2/04/09, Uniondale, NY - Nassau Coliseum
2/06/09, Newark, NJ - Prudential Center
2/07/09, Atlantic City, NJ - Boardwalk Hall
2/08/09, Philadelphia, PA - Wachovia Center
A Student's Perspective: Looking Back On 10 Years With Fred Astaire
Mr. Jack Rothweiler, the President & CEO of the Fred Astaire Dance Studios, recently received this letter from a long-time student in New Jersey:Dear Mr. Rothweiler:
On September 22nd 2008, I celebrated my 10th anniversary in dance and as a member of the Fred Astaire family.
So here is my story:
In the summer of 1998, I was preparing to go on a cruise. I thought it would be a good idea to learn a few dance steps. I scheduled a free lesson at both another chain and at the Fred Astaire Dance Studio of Ridgewood, NJ. I went to the lesson at the other chain and had a good time with Christine. The next night I had a lesson scheduled at FADS. I was having problems at work. I called up the studio and talked to the manager (Mr. John Penatello). He asked if I could make a 9:30 p.m. lesson. Little did I know it was the luckiest day of my life that I was able to make it.
I got to the studio and met the manager and studio director, Jean Penatello (a former undefeated US champion). Then I was introduced to the teacher. This was the first time I met Christina. From the very beginning you could tell that this was a very special young lady. I could also tell she was a much better dancer and teacher than Christine. We hit it off right away.
At the end of the lesson, I realized that the FADS studio I was going to was much better than the other studio, and I signed up for their 5 lesson special.
I started working on their Social Foundation Program. I attended my first Studio Party on October 2nd, 1998. At the party, the studio owner, Charlie Penatello, announced that the FADS NY/NJ and New England regions would be holding a competition. He told us that we would be competing against people of our own experience and age. So it didn’t matter if you’ve 100 lessons or 50 lessons or 25 lessons, 10 lessons, or even 5. And then out of the depths of the studio came a shout saying “OR EVEN 3.” Of course, that was Christina and by the end of the night I signed up for my first competition.
I went on the cruise on November 1st and at every opportunity I was on the dance floors, most of the time in the middle of the day, practicing my steps.
I came back to the studio on November 9th and started to get ready for the Tri-State Championships on Nov. 12-15th. I had a blast at the comp (even though when I look back at the tape I cringe about how bad I was).
That was the start of my life as a member of the Fred Astaire family.
Through dozens of regional competitions, four national competitions, hundreds of entries, thousands of lessons and coachings with some of the finest dancers in this country, from my first showcase “Whatever Lola Wants” to my most recent “When you good to MAMA,” this has been a great 10 years.
To my mentors and coaches, Charlie and Jeannie Penatello, thank you guys. You are the best. You have been there at every stage of my development with positive reinforcement and encouragement. When I’ve gotten down on myself, punched out the wall, or just needed to talk, you have always been there to help me through it.
To my teacher for these last 10 years, Christina Penatello: Sunshine, you are a great dancer, a wonderful teacher, and a good friend. I take so much pride and joy in seeing you grow into the Champion you are and one of the most special people I have ever meet. The Fred Astaire organization is very lucky to have you as part of it.
So, Jack, thank you for allowing me to be part of the Fred Astaire family. I can’t even start to tell you the impact it has had on my life.
So let’s start on the next 10 years.
Sincerely, Carl Gottlieb
Dancing With The Stars Recap - Week 7
By Jackie Josephs
Susan and Tony (Paso Doble): Sassy, sassy Susan. She did great in her Paso tonight… she was wicked and fiery! The choreography was very challenging and the music matched the tricks perfectly. She was slightly back weighted in her lines and turns, but her feeling and footwork were great. Her dips and drops were well executed and had beautiful leg lines in them. Personally, I loved it! It was fierce!!!
Warren and Kym (Foxtrot): Unfortunately, the judges were right - he is going a little backwards in his progress. The movement was hoppy and stiff and he was flat footed throughout. The Foxtrot should be very airy and smooth around the floor. His feeling was so cute during the dance, though, and it was very endearing. I hope that he is able to do a Rhythm dance next week so he can shine again.
Cody and Edyta (Viennese Waltz): Well, I have to say, I felt bad for Edyta tonight! Cody has been doing so well with Julianne and then Edyta steps in and gets handed V. Waltz, which is one of the most difficult dances that the celebrities have to do! With that being said, his frame was a mess and his head was turned to the right the whole time, looking at her, which is not proper for the Smooth style of dancing. There were also a few bobbles and it was kind of choppy instead of flowy. However, some positive areas were the great movement throughout the floor, as well as the entrances and exits of their tricks. On a last note, their costumes were really gorgeous together.
Brooke and Derek (Foxtrot): WOW! A 30!!!!!!!!! AWESOME, AMAZING, and SOOOO DESERVED!!!!!! She was beautiful tonight in her Foxtrot: sexy, sassy, and sultry… yet sophisticated. Her shoulders were slightly raised at some parts of the dance and her head carriage was a little off. Her pivots were really impressive and her lines were gorgeous!!!
Maurice and Cheryl (Cha Cha): Well, there was certainly no sign of injury for him tonight in his Cha Cha. His movement is so natural in the Rhythm dances and his hips are great; they never stopped moving. He was a little crouched over with his posture but he had a great mix of form and freedom; very entertaining. Excellent job!!!
Lance and Lacey (Rumba): Again, I found Lacey unprofessional as she is the instructor and it is her job to be Lance’s biggest supporter and cheerleader. Instead, she was complaining about having to do that for him in front of not only the cameras, but her partner himself. She has also continually made her routines into a “So You Think You Can Dance” style, culminating this week in a bench on stage and bare feet! Lacey needs to be respectful and honor the fact that this is a ballroom dance show, not a competition for the best lyrical routine. Moving on… he was pigeon toed throughout the whole thing and not having shoes on really made that obvious. There also was not much “rumba” in the routine, but his lines had nice extension and it was very out of the box. It was very contemporary but slightly distracting for a ballroom dance. 25 was too high in my opinion.
Wednesday, November 05, 2008
National Dance Championships - Winner's Circle
Congratulations to all of our winners and to everyone who competed in Fred Astaire's 2008 National Dance Championship:
TOP TEACHER
Suzanna Vogel, Ft. Myers
Andreas Luetzner, West Palm Beach
Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
Andrei Abrashin, Buffalo
Martin Goethche, Norwalk
Stefan Dobrev, St. Petersburg
John Money, Atlanta North
Ken Arild Hansen, Milwaukee North
Michael Housel, St. Petersburg
TOP STUDIO
Chicago North
St. Petersburg
Milwaukee Central
Ft. Myers
Buffalo
Milwaukee North
Jupiter
West Palm Beach
Memphis
Norwalk
AMERICAN CLOSED NOVICE/MIXED
1. Andrei Abrashin & Jessica Nemeth, Buffalo
2. Kevin Prothro & Carla Coulson, Houston Woodlands
3. Eric Luna & Krickett Fontenot, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Pierre Bush & Michelle Grady, Atlanta Downtown
5. Ivan Grigorov & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
6. Kevin Camarata & Jessica Nail, Houston Kingwood
AMERICAN CLOSED NOVICE
1. Alex Pena & Beatrice Lopez, St. Petersburg North
2. Joseph Clement & Tiana Ramirez, Palm Harbor
3. Caleb Young & Krickett Fontenot, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Chance Michaels & Heather Phillips, Ft. Walton Beach
5. James Varnedoe & Michelle Grady, Atlanta Downtown
6. Lino Hernandez & Nicole Brunnette, St. Petersburg North
AMERICAN CLOSED BRONZE/SILVER SMOOTH
1. Nikolay Kralev & Gergana Slavova, Mesa & Chandler
2. Misha Zadyraka & Hanna Kryvyk, Tarrytown
3. Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug, West Palm Beach
4. Vadim Gazda & Leinani Gazda, Pewaukee
5. Ben Seifert & Michelle Jones, Houston Woodlands
6. Michael Housel & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
AMERICAN CLOSED BRONZE/SILVER RHYTHM
1. Kevin Prothro & Carla Coulson, Houston Woodlands
2. Rob Rocha & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
3. Travis Manero & Kristin Dobson, Warren
4. Ronald Guillen & Diedre Williams, Ft. Walton Beach
5. Kevin Camarata & Jessica Nail, Houston Kingwood
6. Omar Hammond & Francesca Mallow, Ft. Walton Beach
7. Joseh Marion & Jennifer Olmstead, Hilton Head
AMERICAN OPEN SMOOTH 4-DANCE
1. Mikhail Zharinov & Gala Detkina, NY Eastside
2. Vladimir Kosarev & Vera Kosarev, Buffalo
3. Nathan Garibay & Julie Garibay, San Diego
4. Misha Zadyraka & Hanna Kryvyk, Tarrytown
5. Chris Germain & Simona Polmova, Buffalo Grove
6. Darian Chancellor & Tiffany Chancellor, Tallahassee
AMERICAN OPEN RHYTHM 5-DANCE
1. Hayk Arshakian & Albina Habrle, Milwaukee Central
2. Ilya Velednitsky & Mandy Carlyle, Milwaukee Central & Milwaukee North
3. Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
4. Alex Nashev & Brittney Bartler, Chicago North
5. Eugene Yeremenko & Marisa Yatsenko, Tarrytown
6. Slash Sharan & Ria Valenzuela, Milwaukee Central
AMERICAN RISING STAR RHYTHM
1. Ilya Velednitsky & Mandy Carlyle, Milwaukee Central & Milwaukee North
2. Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
3. Alex Nashev & Brittney Bartler, Chicago North
4. Slash Sharan & Ria Valenzuela, Milwaukee Central
5. Tamas Kardos & Katarzyna Porczak, Glastonbury
6. Tim Brooks & Mila Goldberg, West Hartford
7. Rogelio Garcia & Michelle Montanez, Mystic & Belmont
INTERNATIONAL OPEN STANDARD 5-DANCE
1. Greg Fidurski & Gabriela Jileva, Morristown
2. Anatoli Gorolevici & Irina Gareyeva, Hanover
3. Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug, West Palm Beach
4. Brad Adcock & Mira Cherkezova, Norwood & Glastonbury
INTERNATIONAL OPEN LATIN 5-DANCE
1. Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova, NY Eastside
2. Vladimir Velev & Gabriella Bodocs, Jupiter
3. Tim Brooks & Mila Goldberg, West Hartford
PROFESSIONAL OPEN CABARET
1. Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach
2. Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach
3. Chance Michaels & Francesca Mallow, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Greg Fidurski & Gabriela Jileva, Morristown
5. Anatoli Gorolevici & Irina Gareyeva, Hanover
AMATEUR COUPLES
1. Bill & Jennifer Stogner, Daytona Beach
2. Tim & Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
3. Wayne & Colleen Lee, San Diego
4. Dr. Paul & D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
5. Larry Collins & Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
6. Jim & Maria David, Washington D.C.
7. Paul & Sondra Ammenn, Hilton Head
8. Gary & Karen Adams, Indianapolis
9. Julio Camacho & Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
TOP STUDENT
Results for gentleman:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
3. James Weathers, Chandler
4. Larry Collins, Ft. Myers
5. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
6. Kyle Young, Ft. Myers
7. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
8. Jim David, Washington,DC
9. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
10. Stan Bloomenthal, Belmont
11. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
12. Fred Doeing, Albany
13. Julio Camacho, West Palm Beach
14. Bill Miller, Ft. Myers
15. Theo Talma, Albany
16. Bill Stogner, Daytona Beach
17. John Warren, Bloomfield Hills
18. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
19. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
20. Jim Hopper, Indianapolis
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
3. Lynn Shanahan, Norwalk
4. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
5. Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
6. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
7. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
8. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
9. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
10. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
11. Nora Fox, Hamden
12. Maria David, Washington, DC
13. Dr. Roslyn Fretwell, Houston Katy
14. Sarai Tucker, Jupiter
15. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
16. Heidi Lewis, Columbus East
17. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
18. Diantha Pomfret, Pewaukee
19. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
20. Barbara Fry, Memphis East
TOP NEWCOMER
Results for gentlemen:
1. Julio Camacho, West Palm Beach
2. Jim Hopper, Indianapolis
3. Peter Gregoire, St. Petersburg North
4. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
5. Timothy Creech, South Charlotte
6. Gary Adams, Indianapolis
7. Fred Doeing, Albany
8. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
9. Jim David, Washington, DC
10. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
11. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
12. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
13. George Lutman, South Charlotte
14. Joe Bushardt, Myrtle Beach
15. Theo Talma, Albany
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Sarai Tucker, Jupiter
3. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
4. Diantha Pomfret, Pewaukee
5. Colleen James, Milwaukee Central
6. Nora Fox, Hamden
7. Toni Tallerino, St. Petersburg North
8. Jo Ann Vetter, Milwaukee North
9. Gabriella Marshall, Hilton Head Island
10. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
11. Anya Verkhovskaya, Milwaukee North
12. Diane Clemente, Montville
13. Blair Stephenson, Pensacola
14. Donna Zimmerman, Indianapolis
15. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
16. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
17. Sandy Anderson, Milwaukee Wales
18. Bobbie Fitzpatrick, Bloomfield Hills
19. Janet Simsic, Atlanta Downtown
20. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
21. Maddie Kean, Glastonbury
22. Deborah Stinner, Canton, OH
23. Svetlana Galperina, Atlanta North
24. Josephine Howser, Memphis
25. Margaret Mateeff, St. Petersburg
26. Kayla Satava, Canton, OH
27. Svetlana Cobourn, Columbus East
28. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
29. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
30. Linda Hansen, Milwaukee Central
31. Elise Mikhail, Palm Coast
32. Mary Lou Angle, Chandler
33. Sharyn Maclelland, Glastonbury
34. Cheryl Anderson, Chandler
35. Suzanne Boivin, Milwaukee Wales
36. Maricetta White, Ft. Walton Beach
37.Natalie Kerr, Memphis
38. Diane Jensen, Milwaukee Central
39. Rosemary Farrell, Morristown
40. Kaye Terrelonge, St. Petersburg North
41. Karen Adams, Indianapolis
42. Maria David, Washington, DC
43. Jasmine Fourquet, Red Bank
44. Nancy Schlecht, Belmont
45. Barbara Kelco, Canton, CT
46. Anita Aldus, St. Petersburg
47. Mary Blair, Virginia Beach
48. Sharon Chen, Ft. Walton Beach
49. Ginger Rossignolo, Palm Coast
50. Laura Gazzoli, Palm Coast
51. D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
52. Linda Pope, Mesa
53. Jeramy Dove, Scottsdale North
54. Keiko Pugh, Jupiter
TOP BRONZE STUDENT
Results for gentlemen:
1. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
2. Larry Collins, Ft. Myers
3. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
4. Kyle Young, Ft. Myers
5. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
6. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
7. Stan Bloomenthal, Belmont
8. Jim David, Washington, DC
9. James Weathers, Chandler
10. Fred Doeing, Albany
11. Bill Miller, Ft. Myers
12. Theo Talma, Albany
13. Bill Stogner, Daytona Beach
14. John Warren, Bloomfield Hills
15. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
16. Joe Bushardt, Myrtle Beach
17. Paul Bass, South Charlotte
18. Wayne Lee, San Diego
19. Gary Adams, Indianapolis
20. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
3. Lynn Shanahan, Norwalk
4. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
5. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
6. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
7. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
8. Maria David, Washington, DC
9. Dr. Roslyn Fretwell, Houston Katy
10. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
11. Jane Marcus, Chicago North
12. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
13. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
14. Rusty Stephens, St. Petersburg
15. Svetlana Galperina, Atlanta North
16. Svetlana Cobourn, Columbus East
17. Susie Rugg, Milwaukee North
18. Tina Arder, Chicago North
19. Mary Lou Angle, Chandler
20. Marlene Voegel, Chicago North
TOP SILVER STUDENT
Results for gentlemen:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
3. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
4. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
5. James Weathers, Chandler
6. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
7. George Lutman, South Charlotte
Results for women:
1. Minnie Freeman, St. Petersburg
2. Barbara Fry, Memphis East
3. Nora Fox, Hamden
4. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
5. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
6. Margaret Mateeff, St. Petersburg
7. Teri Everett, West Hartford
8. Sandy Anderson, Milwaukee Wales
9. Natalie Kerr, Memphis
10. Suzanne Boivin, Milwaukee Wales
11. Bonnie Stafford, South Charlotte
12. Sharyn Maclelland, Glastonbury
13. Josephine Howser, Memphis
14. Tina Broccole, Norwalk
15. Carol Pendergrass, Memphis
16. Melanie Gerber, St. Petersburg
17. Morgan Jaunzemis, Buffalo
18. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
19. Millie Dhirmalani, Montville
20. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
21. Linda Hansen, Milwaukee Central
22. Diane Jensen, Milwaukee Central
23. Cheryl Anderson, Chandler
24. Rosemary Farrell, Morristown
25. Linda Varcoe, West Hartford
26. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
27. Deborah Johnston, Canton, CT
28. Heidi Lewis, Columbus East
29. Sarah Gillespie, Tarrytown
30. Loretta Lutman, South Charlotte
31. Olesya Bylim, Tarrytown
32. Cheryl Prince, Memphis
33. Anita Aldus, St. Petersburg
34. Anette Desbaillets, St. Petersburg
35. Lory Reyes, Tarrytown
36. Kumiko Okuyama, Memphis
37. D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
38. Linda Pope, Mesa
39. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
40. Jo Ann Vetter, Milwaukee North
41. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
TOP GOLD STUDENTS
Results for gentlemen:
1. James Weathers, Chandler
2. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
3. Robert McComsey, Tarrytown
4. Jean-Yves Minet, New York West
5. Giovanni Foztezza, New York West
Results for women:
1. Morgan Jaunzemis, Buffalo
2. Maren Hexter, Tarrytown
3. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
4. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
5. Natasha Konon, Huntington, NY §
TOP TEACHER
Suzanna Vogel, Ft. Myers
Andreas Luetzner, West Palm Beach
Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
Andrei Abrashin, Buffalo
Martin Goethche, Norwalk
Stefan Dobrev, St. Petersburg
John Money, Atlanta North
Ken Arild Hansen, Milwaukee North
Michael Housel, St. Petersburg
TOP STUDIO
Chicago North
St. Petersburg
Milwaukee Central
Ft. Myers
Buffalo
Milwaukee North
Jupiter
West Palm Beach
Memphis
Norwalk
AMERICAN CLOSED NOVICE/MIXED
1. Andrei Abrashin & Jessica Nemeth, Buffalo
2. Kevin Prothro & Carla Coulson, Houston Woodlands
3. Eric Luna & Krickett Fontenot, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Pierre Bush & Michelle Grady, Atlanta Downtown
5. Ivan Grigorov & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
6. Kevin Camarata & Jessica Nail, Houston Kingwood
AMERICAN CLOSED NOVICE
1. Alex Pena & Beatrice Lopez, St. Petersburg North
2. Joseph Clement & Tiana Ramirez, Palm Harbor
3. Caleb Young & Krickett Fontenot, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Chance Michaels & Heather Phillips, Ft. Walton Beach
5. James Varnedoe & Michelle Grady, Atlanta Downtown
6. Lino Hernandez & Nicole Brunnette, St. Petersburg North
AMERICAN CLOSED BRONZE/SILVER SMOOTH
1. Nikolay Kralev & Gergana Slavova, Mesa & Chandler
2. Misha Zadyraka & Hanna Kryvyk, Tarrytown
3. Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug, West Palm Beach
4. Vadim Gazda & Leinani Gazda, Pewaukee
5. Ben Seifert & Michelle Jones, Houston Woodlands
6. Michael Housel & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
AMERICAN CLOSED BRONZE/SILVER RHYTHM
1. Kevin Prothro & Carla Coulson, Houston Woodlands
2. Rob Rocha & Collin Klaene, St. Petersburg
3. Travis Manero & Kristin Dobson, Warren
4. Ronald Guillen & Diedre Williams, Ft. Walton Beach
5. Kevin Camarata & Jessica Nail, Houston Kingwood
6. Omar Hammond & Francesca Mallow, Ft. Walton Beach
7. Joseh Marion & Jennifer Olmstead, Hilton Head
AMERICAN OPEN SMOOTH 4-DANCE
1. Mikhail Zharinov & Gala Detkina, NY Eastside
2. Vladimir Kosarev & Vera Kosarev, Buffalo
3. Nathan Garibay & Julie Garibay, San Diego
4. Misha Zadyraka & Hanna Kryvyk, Tarrytown
5. Chris Germain & Simona Polmova, Buffalo Grove
6. Darian Chancellor & Tiffany Chancellor, Tallahassee
AMERICAN OPEN RHYTHM 5-DANCE
1. Hayk Arshakian & Albina Habrle, Milwaukee Central
2. Ilya Velednitsky & Mandy Carlyle, Milwaukee Central & Milwaukee North
3. Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
4. Alex Nashev & Brittney Bartler, Chicago North
5. Eugene Yeremenko & Marisa Yatsenko, Tarrytown
6. Slash Sharan & Ria Valenzuela, Milwaukee Central
AMERICAN RISING STAR RHYTHM
1. Ilya Velednitsky & Mandy Carlyle, Milwaukee Central & Milwaukee North
2. Aaron DeSoto & Jaana Lillemagi, Chicago North
3. Alex Nashev & Brittney Bartler, Chicago North
4. Slash Sharan & Ria Valenzuela, Milwaukee Central
5. Tamas Kardos & Katarzyna Porczak, Glastonbury
6. Tim Brooks & Mila Goldberg, West Hartford
7. Rogelio Garcia & Michelle Montanez, Mystic & Belmont
INTERNATIONAL OPEN STANDARD 5-DANCE
1. Greg Fidurski & Gabriela Jileva, Morristown
2. Anatoli Gorolevici & Irina Gareyeva, Hanover
3. Andreas Luetzner & Doreen Scheinpflug, West Palm Beach
4. Brad Adcock & Mira Cherkezova, Norwood & Glastonbury
INTERNATIONAL OPEN LATIN 5-DANCE
1. Plamen Danelov & Tina Gerova, NY Eastside
2. Vladimir Velev & Gabriella Bodocs, Jupiter
3. Tim Brooks & Mila Goldberg, West Hartford
PROFESSIONAL OPEN CABARET
1. Eric Luna & Georgia Ambarian, Ft. Walton Beach
2. Jesse Benedetti & Kimalee Piedad, Ft. Walton Beach
3. Chance Michaels & Francesca Mallow, Ft. Walton Beach
4. Greg Fidurski & Gabriela Jileva, Morristown
5. Anatoli Gorolevici & Irina Gareyeva, Hanover
AMATEUR COUPLES
1. Bill & Jennifer Stogner, Daytona Beach
2. Tim & Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
3. Wayne & Colleen Lee, San Diego
4. Dr. Paul & D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
5. Larry Collins & Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
6. Jim & Maria David, Washington D.C.
7. Paul & Sondra Ammenn, Hilton Head
8. Gary & Karen Adams, Indianapolis
9. Julio Camacho & Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
TOP STUDENT
Results for gentleman:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
3. James Weathers, Chandler
4. Larry Collins, Ft. Myers
5. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
6. Kyle Young, Ft. Myers
7. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
8. Jim David, Washington,DC
9. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
10. Stan Bloomenthal, Belmont
11. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
12. Fred Doeing, Albany
13. Julio Camacho, West Palm Beach
14. Bill Miller, Ft. Myers
15. Theo Talma, Albany
16. Bill Stogner, Daytona Beach
17. John Warren, Bloomfield Hills
18. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
19. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
20. Jim Hopper, Indianapolis
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
3. Lynn Shanahan, Norwalk
4. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
5. Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
6. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
7. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
8. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
9. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
10. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
11. Nora Fox, Hamden
12. Maria David, Washington, DC
13. Dr. Roslyn Fretwell, Houston Katy
14. Sarai Tucker, Jupiter
15. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
16. Heidi Lewis, Columbus East
17. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
18. Diantha Pomfret, Pewaukee
19. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
20. Barbara Fry, Memphis East
TOP NEWCOMER
Results for gentlemen:
1. Julio Camacho, West Palm Beach
2. Jim Hopper, Indianapolis
3. Peter Gregoire, St. Petersburg North
4. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
5. Timothy Creech, South Charlotte
6. Gary Adams, Indianapolis
7. Fred Doeing, Albany
8. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
9. Jim David, Washington, DC
10. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
11. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
12. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
13. George Lutman, South Charlotte
14. Joe Bushardt, Myrtle Beach
15. Theo Talma, Albany
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Sarai Tucker, Jupiter
3. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
4. Diantha Pomfret, Pewaukee
5. Colleen James, Milwaukee Central
6. Nora Fox, Hamden
7. Toni Tallerino, St. Petersburg North
8. Jo Ann Vetter, Milwaukee North
9. Gabriella Marshall, Hilton Head Island
10. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
11. Anya Verkhovskaya, Milwaukee North
12. Diane Clemente, Montville
13. Blair Stephenson, Pensacola
14. Donna Zimmerman, Indianapolis
15. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
16. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
17. Sandy Anderson, Milwaukee Wales
18. Bobbie Fitzpatrick, Bloomfield Hills
19. Janet Simsic, Atlanta Downtown
20. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
21. Maddie Kean, Glastonbury
22. Deborah Stinner, Canton, OH
23. Svetlana Galperina, Atlanta North
24. Josephine Howser, Memphis
25. Margaret Mateeff, St. Petersburg
26. Kayla Satava, Canton, OH
27. Svetlana Cobourn, Columbus East
28. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
29. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
30. Linda Hansen, Milwaukee Central
31. Elise Mikhail, Palm Coast
32. Mary Lou Angle, Chandler
33. Sharyn Maclelland, Glastonbury
34. Cheryl Anderson, Chandler
35. Suzanne Boivin, Milwaukee Wales
36. Maricetta White, Ft. Walton Beach
37.Natalie Kerr, Memphis
38. Diane Jensen, Milwaukee Central
39. Rosemary Farrell, Morristown
40. Kaye Terrelonge, St. Petersburg North
41. Karen Adams, Indianapolis
42. Maria David, Washington, DC
43. Jasmine Fourquet, Red Bank
44. Nancy Schlecht, Belmont
45. Barbara Kelco, Canton, CT
46. Anita Aldus, St. Petersburg
47. Mary Blair, Virginia Beach
48. Sharon Chen, Ft. Walton Beach
49. Ginger Rossignolo, Palm Coast
50. Laura Gazzoli, Palm Coast
51. D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
52. Linda Pope, Mesa
53. Jeramy Dove, Scottsdale North
54. Keiko Pugh, Jupiter
TOP BRONZE STUDENT
Results for gentlemen:
1. Tim Duffy, Chicago North
2. Larry Collins, Ft. Myers
3. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
4. Kyle Young, Ft. Myers
5. Claude Carnahan, Norwalk
6. Louis Gillombardo, Canton, OH
7. Stan Bloomenthal, Belmont
8. Jim David, Washington, DC
9. James Weathers, Chandler
10. Fred Doeing, Albany
11. Bill Miller, Ft. Myers
12. Theo Talma, Albany
13. Bill Stogner, Daytona Beach
14. John Warren, Bloomfield Hills
15. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
16. Joe Bushardt, Myrtle Beach
17. Paul Bass, South Charlotte
18. Wayne Lee, San Diego
19. Gary Adams, Indianapolis
20. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
Results for women:
1. Wendy Widjaya, West Palm Beach
2. Chloe Hart, Ft. Myers
3. Lynn Shanahan, Norwalk
4. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
5. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
6. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
7. Ginger Chasolen, Sarasota
8. Maria David, Washington, DC
9. Dr. Roslyn Fretwell, Houston Katy
10. Kristin Kaye, Chicago North
11. Jane Marcus, Chicago North
12. Norma Hickey, Red Bank
13. Pam Olsen, Pewaukee
14. Rusty Stephens, St. Petersburg
15. Svetlana Galperina, Atlanta North
16. Svetlana Cobourn, Columbus East
17. Susie Rugg, Milwaukee North
18. Tina Arder, Chicago North
19. Mary Lou Angle, Chandler
20. Marlene Voegel, Chicago North
TOP SILVER STUDENT
Results for gentlemen:
1. Kent Savage, Houston Kingwood
2. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
3. Dr. Paul Halverson, Milwaukee Central
4. Eric Nielsen, Belmont
5. James Weathers, Chandler
6. Lou Dixey, St. Petersburg
7. George Lutman, South Charlotte
Results for women:
1. Minnie Freeman, St. Petersburg
2. Barbara Fry, Memphis East
3. Nora Fox, Hamden
4. Mary Mitchem, Houston Katy
5. Penelope Rostad, Milwaukee North
6. Margaret Mateeff, St. Petersburg
7. Teri Everett, West Hartford
8. Sandy Anderson, Milwaukee Wales
9. Natalie Kerr, Memphis
10. Suzanne Boivin, Milwaukee Wales
11. Bonnie Stafford, South Charlotte
12. Sharyn Maclelland, Glastonbury
13. Josephine Howser, Memphis
14. Tina Broccole, Norwalk
15. Carol Pendergrass, Memphis
16. Melanie Gerber, St. Petersburg
17. Morgan Jaunzemis, Buffalo
18. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
19. Millie Dhirmalani, Montville
20. Bette Anne Duffy, Chicago North
21. Linda Hansen, Milwaukee Central
22. Diane Jensen, Milwaukee Central
23. Cheryl Anderson, Chandler
24. Rosemary Farrell, Morristown
25. Linda Varcoe, West Hartford
26. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
27. Deborah Johnston, Canton, CT
28. Heidi Lewis, Columbus East
29. Sarah Gillespie, Tarrytown
30. Loretta Lutman, South Charlotte
31. Olesya Bylim, Tarrytown
32. Cheryl Prince, Memphis
33. Anita Aldus, St. Petersburg
34. Anette Desbaillets, St. Petersburg
35. Lory Reyes, Tarrytown
36. Kumiko Okuyama, Memphis
37. D. Halverson, Milwaukee Central
38. Linda Pope, Mesa
39. Gracelynn Tuoti, Buffalo
40. Jo Ann Vetter, Milwaukee North
41. Laura Ganley, Buffalo
TOP GOLD STUDENTS
Results for gentlemen:
1. James Weathers, Chandler
2. Dr. Brian Blocher, Milwaukee Central
3. Robert McComsey, Tarrytown
4. Jean-Yves Minet, New York West
5. Giovanni Foztezza, New York West
Results for women:
1. Morgan Jaunzemis, Buffalo
2. Maren Hexter, Tarrytown
3. Marie Ambroise, Jupiter
4. Lindsey Willis, Tarrytown
5. Natasha Konon, Huntington, NY §
Fred Astaire's New Practice Wear!
To further our goal in providing the best in dance practice wear, we are proud to announce a new line of practice wear that can meeting everyone’s dancing needs. For the women, we will have tops, skirts, and dress wear, including beaded tops, short and long split skirts, butterfly tops, asymmetric ruffled short skirts, long wave skirts, open sleeve tops, and V-neck tops; for the men, we will offer pants and shirts. Since dancing is a physical activity, providing comfortable and stylish practice wear for use in lessons - and even on a casual basis - is an important service we can give to our students. The new line will be available on our national website (http://www.fredastaire.com/) soon.
Tuesday, November 04, 2008
Chantal LeClerc Coming To Fred Astaire Washington D.C.!
Chantal LeClerc, 7 Time Undefeated Canadian 10 Dance Champion, Coach, and Choreographer, is coming to the Fred Astaire Dance Studio in Washington, D.C. on November 18th and 19th!
When: Tuesday, November 18th
7:15 - 8:00 pm Latin Technique Class
Wednesday, November 19th
7:15 - 8:00 pm Smooth Technique Class
10 coachings are available per day before the group classes. Sign up before while there are still spots available!
Where: 8315 Lee Highway, Suite 201.
Cost: $40 per group class
Ask your instructor for details on coaching sessions
When: Tuesday, November 18th
7:15 - 8:00 pm Latin Technique Class
Wednesday, November 19th
7:15 - 8:00 pm Smooth Technique Class
10 coachings are available per day before the group classes. Sign up before while there are still spots available!
Where: 8315 Lee Highway, Suite 201.
Cost: $40 per group class
Ask your instructor for details on coaching sessions
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