Happy Birthday wishes to Mike Reher, Deano "Dino"
Georgio & Kathy Freed.
It is with great sadness we share the passing of Gladys Torres.
I had the distinct honor of partnering with Gladys in the World Hustle
Dance Championships dinner show, just a few years ago. Gladys had been
diagnosed already but she smiled and danced like the true superstar
that she is. Her long courageous battle with cancer has come to an
end. She was loved by all.
Dance pro Ken Roesel reports that well over a 1,000 West Coast,
Lindy/East Coast, Hustle, Shag and Hand dancers came together to dance,
play and honor at the "Memorial Dance and Celebration of Craig
Hutchinson's Life as a Dancer."
Don't miss the Hustle Night & Student Showcase at Soho
Dance Studio on March 28th for a night of hustle.
Performances in Salsa, Cha Cha, hustle & more,
including NY's finest, DJ Bobby Morales. See all the details
below.
http://www.sohodancestudio.com
Actress Marlee Matlin who is deaf did an amazing job on her first week
on Dancing With The Stars. Since she cannot hear
the music her pro partner Fabian Sanchez, pulses the beat thru his
hands so she can keep time to the music.
Jump into spring, get the feeling on Mar 29th at 'Springtime
in Havana Party" hosted by Lori Brizzi's, her 7 year
Anniversary Party with DJ Nelson 'Paradise' Roman and Franklin Ayala,
see all the details below.
Bob Fosse's "Dancin," return to Broadway May 5,
2009, at Studio 54. The all-dance show will be directed by Graciela
Daniele. Ann Reinking, who was in the original production of
"Dancin'," and Nicole Fosse, his daughter, will serve as creative
consultants. "Dancin"' opened on Broadway in 1978 and ran for four
years.
The new March Dance CD is out and available from
DJ Fancy. It includes 17 hot New songs from Donna Summer, Janet
Jackson, Alisha Keys, Rihanna, Mary J. Blige & more, for the
complete list and to order, write to
sparda3636@yahoo.com
What, you didn't get this weeks edition of DanceTalk? Traveling, at
work, on the go, visit the Hustle Lounge for all
the up to date issues
http://thehustlelounge.com/
Check out some great photos from MadJam 2008,
courtesy of Scott Michielli
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/pictures;jsessionid=0
D28E3DB
98478B2932E0119584CFE15E?
ap=&a=67b0de21b35d9c4705b0&pg=0
The winners at last weeks Vai Dance Contest: in the
Jack & Jill Hustle
1st Place - Sammy Shecter & Brian Toder, 2nd Place -
Pat Stewart & Linda Rothrock. In the Just Hustle 1st
Place - Sammy Shecter & Ricky Villa
2nd Place - Pat Stewart & Anita Giacone
This weeks edition of DanceTalk® is sponsored by the International
Hustle Salsa Championships, coming to Miami May 1 - 4th, read
all about it below.
http://www.hustleandsalsa.com
Make it a great week,
Ron
International Hustle Salsa Championships
There is no better place to dance then in
Miami. The
International Hustle Salsa Championships return May 1 to the 4th. Your
be beach side, dancing and enjoying all the pleasures of Florida as the
IHSC celebrates its 9th anniversary. Your hosts Billy Fajardo &
Katie Marlow will have you dancing and jubilant all weekend long. Their
event has a long history of selling out...fast. And if you think last
years event was hot, wait until you hear all the new special features.
Dancing by the pool from noon till 4PM daily, to the sounds of DJ's
Henry Knowles & Noel Colon. The competitions include
Professional, Amateur and Pro-Am division in hustle, Salsa, Theatre
arts, triple threat (hustle, Salsa, swing) and now an expanded
Starlight Rhythms Competition all day Thursday, with performances by
international Latin champions Eugene Katsevman & Maria
Manusova. Don't miss the salsa Bootcamp with the one and only Edie the
Salsa Freak. Reserve your seats for the Saturday night Dinner show
featuring the Dance Dimensions 2008. There will be live music Friday as
the Copa Night features salsa teams, ESPN World Salsa Championships
qualifying round and dancing to Henry Knowles & Alberth Moreno.
This year they have added a Saturday night Salsa Party with a live
performance by New Swing Sextet. Saturday night you can Swing dance all
evening in the separate Swing room. Three ballrooms in all, to social
dance in. Beat the winter blues and book your room now for
the spring event of the year.
Billy was one of the original pioneers of the hustle. While still a
teenager, he had already formed his own dance company and traveled the
world. He brought dancing into everyone's home, weekly, performing on
the hit television show, Don Kirschner's Rock concert. Dance junkies
tuned in weekly to catch the newest hustle patterns and theatrical
tricks & lifts. Today, he is still at the top of his game.
Along with Katie they have won numerous competitions: IDO World
Champions in both Hustle and Cabaret Exhibition, Open Cabaret
Champions, US Hustle Champions and NADC Cabaret Champions. Billy
& Katie have assembled the top teachers, performers and DJs for
this IHDA sanctioned event. The staff includes: Derrick Allen &
Donna DiSimone, Raul Ante, Ray Avery & Irena Griffin, Donna
Boyle, Wendy & Wajih Dalal, Brian Gallagher, Silvana Gallagher,
Keith & Celeste Gussoni, Debra Hampton, Jameson Kilburn, Danny
McGee, Lisa Nunziella, Ralph Ramirez, Luis & Maryann Rosa,
Kelvin Roche & Loriann Greenhouse, Joyce Szilli, Maria Torres,
Tybaldt & Hazel Ulrich, Kim Vanaman, Eddie Torres, Nelson
Flores, Maribel Maldonado, Rene Gueits, Jose Lois Gutierrez, Henry
Herrera, Angely Carucci, Tito Ortos & Tamara Carucci, Ismael
Otero & Shani Talmor, Raul Santiago & Sergia Anderson,
Carols Tellez, Jhesus Aponte, Sheila de Jesus... With this much talent,
rooms are going fast. The Miami Beach Resort & Spa is located
at 4833 Collins Ave. in Miami Beach.
Rooms are only $149 per night, while they last. Call 954-358-0168
Register now for your spring dance extravaganza.
http://www.hustleandsalsa.com
Spotlight
"Jacqueline Cruz"
She was a mere 8 years old when her father took her to compete in her
first dance contest. It was held at El Tropicolo, a
Latin club, in New York. After she finished dancing,
the Master of Ceremonies told her father that
'she had a special something'. Jacqueline Cruz, at such a
young age, didn't really understand what he meant, but the dance world
would cease the opportunity to
witness a tiny rose blossom into an incredible
performer. Jackie's father was a musician & singer who
would regularly take her to his performances. Growing up in a
family from the entertainment field had a profound impact on her. While
in elementary school, Jackie would perform in the talent shows
in the' Boogie Down Bronx', "I continued performing in talent shows
even in middle school I.S. 52," recalls Jackie. That is where
she met future partner, Hector Berrios. He was in 8th grade, one
year ahead of her. " I remember playing 'hooky' from school
and going to hooky parties and seeing him and everyone
else dance the hustle", explains Jackie. One evening
Jackie's older brother took her to a place called "The
Atmosphere", in Hunts Point, the Bronx. This was the first
time she experienced Hector performing, she was
mesmerized by the show. That very same night she got
a double dose when she observed the dance floor literally
part, "like the sea for Moses " and out appeared
Billy Fajardo & Sandra Rivera, adorned "in white
suits" doing the hustle. It was at this point Jackie was determined to
master the hustle. She had a secret weapon, her older brother
was the key to her hustle success. He began to teach her the
fundamentals. Together, they would rehearse and gravitate to the parks
where music would be playing and everyone danced. With dedicated
determination, Jackie developed the confidence to dance in
public. Along with her first partner, Angel, they auditioned
for The Latin Symbolics. An overwhelmed Jackie was selected.
Dancing was now beginning to consume her life. They would spend endless
hours in the studio's rehearsing. As her passion for
dancing grew she would make it a point to study the "big dogs." One
night, on a visit to the disco 'Latin Times', she was watching Perico
& Edie and Eddie & Lourdes when Hector
approached her to dance. "He danced with me, Jackie
explains, but I couldn't keep up with
him." He later insulted Jackie to his
sister. This was heart wrenching for her, but she
wouldn't let it become a set back, she had the inclination to
turn it into a positive. Literally lighting a fire in her
belly, Jackie was determined to excel and, hopefully, change his
opinion. She continued to frequent clubs like
the Latin Times and Starship, when once again she
crossed paths with Hector. Her favorite song "Doctor Love" came on when
Hector grabbed her for a dance. This time she was prepared and focused
to keep up with his spins and fast turns. She was electric. Hector was
so impressed he asked her to enter a dance
contest being held at the Boys Club. His current
partner, Debbie Benitez was unavailable to
compete. Jackie already was aquatinted with Debbie as
she was a member of her jazz
team, "Sugar & Spice." With her
mothers approval to compete, they now had less than one hour
for Hector to teach her a routine. " I
remember competing in the contest and being chosen as a
finalist," explains Jackie, "I didn't expect to place but we did. We
practiced some more and prepared for the finals." On the
evening of the finals, Jackie was very composed, although the
place was packed with the premier dancers. One of the
most popular, red hot teams was in the
house, but inspite of Eddie Vega & Lourdes
Jones performance, Jackie & Hector took
first place. Instantaneously, people started to take notice.
They became the "new" couple. Franc. "Perico"
Reys, one of the more experienced dancers
was a member of the prestigious dance troop, the
Disco Dance Dimensions. Perico encouraged Hector
to dance with Jackie. Hector & Jackie
would compete in another contest where dance champion, Billy
Fajardo was judging. At this contest, Eddie & Lourdes
captured first place while Floyd Chishom & Nelly
Cotto took second. Although Jackie & Hector came in
third, Billy was very impressed and subsequently gave
them their first break. One evening, when Billy
& Sandra weren't available to perform at the Concord
Hotel, Perico asked Hector & Jackie to fill in and the
rest became history. From that point on, they became members
of the Dance Dimensions. For Jackie it was a
life changing experience. The troop was highly sought after as they
traveled extensively performing shows all over the
world. They would entertain on The Jerry Lewis
Telethon, at Carnegie Hall with Liza Minneli, Bob Hope, Grace
Jones, the Village People, Sister Sledge, and with practically
every popular entertainer of the day. Tours and performances
would include the popular televised show, 'Don Kirshner's Rock
Concert'. The troop was featured each week performing
synchronized dance numbers and solo acts. Jackie,
with her hypnotic smile became a core member of the troop. In
between shows the couple would still compete and
won a local dance contest which catapulted them back
on television's " Soul Alive". Once again, they impressed the
judges and won the hearts of the audience taking first place. As
graceful as an elk, her arms flashing and legs kicking with lightning
speed, Jackie was simply elegant. One of her personal
victories was performing at the Fania All Stars in
Madison Square Garden with Hector Lavoe, Celia Cruz and Tito Puente.
She had never performed in the round, as people viewed them
from all sides of the stage. " When I was dancing, I will
always remember looking up and seeing on a flashing screen,
'Dance Dimensions' , I felt like a star", explains
Jackie. "Who would ever guess that inner city kids from the
boogie down Bronx would go so far," asks Jackie. With an
overwhelming sense of positivity Jackie experienced the unique
opportunity to perform in the remake of the "Saturday Night Fever
Tour". Along with Lisa Nunziella and
Perico , they toured all over Europe and
Morocco. As the dance craze began to die down, both Jackie
& Hector's romance and dancing flickered as well.
They would part ways in preparation for college. Jackie received
her Bachelors in Psychology and her Masters of
Science in Counseling and Development. After 9/11,
she resigned and acquired a Guidance
Counselor position at The High School For
Contemporary Arts, located in the Bronx. Although
she lives in the suburbs she has returned to
the place that it all started for her. Married now,
along with her daughter Grace Sophia, Jackie still senses that
fire in her belly, and probably always will. "Although I have
hung up my dancing shoes, I long to create the same type
of program for my High school students that the
movie "Mad Hot Ballroom" did with middle school students," shares
Jackie.
With her determination and love for dance, I think we will see this
hustle diva continue to inspire others.
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