Happy birthday wishes to Steve Salerno, Karen Hill, Derrick Allen, Jami Josephson and Chris Bates.

Dance legend, Gregory Hines, passed away this weekend. As a young Tap dancer he performed with his father and brother , "Hines, Hines & Dad." Born on Feb. 14, 1946, in New York City, Hines had said "his mother steered her sons toward tap dancing as a way to escape the ghetto." He starred on Broadway, the silver screen and television. A Tony award winner, he was considered, our generation's finest. At the age of just 57, he fell to cancer. Hines is survived by his fiance, Negrita Jayde, his daughter, Daria and son Zach. Hines had been married twice. He is also survived by his older brother Maurice and father Maurice, Sr. A private funeral will be held in Los Angeles this week.

Please read this issues feature on the Disc Jockey's "Top songs." Over the last few weeks we polled some of the most popular DJ's in the country for their selections. I hope you enjoy the list as much as I enjoyed compiling it. Check out The Top Songs, below.

Van "The Hustle" McCoy will be given a special tribute. Next year, marks 25 years since his passing. Shortly after his musical contributions, including his Grammy award winning song "The Hustle," at the young age of only 39, he was gone. He never had the opportunity to see the impact his music would have on the world. Festivities are now being planned including regional dance contests to be held later this year. Get ready to compete in a city near you. More details coming soon.



DJ Mike Brooks will be spinning at the beach. That is, in Atlantic City, at the new Beach Bar @ the Trump Plaza Hotel/Casino on Monday, August 18th from 6PM to 11PM. Bathing suit optional.

"Get Your 70's On," premiers August 18th at 9PM on VH1, If you love the 70's check out the entire week, five nights, five different episodes.

The Wednesday Night Hustle Party continues at The Hop located at 2331 FM 1960 Rd W at Kuykendahl (Texas that is) The Party Starts at 6:30 a dance class Starts 7:30 and social Dancing 8:45 till 2:00 (No Rules Just Dance)
The Party is $5.00 The Lessons are free! For details - ravery@wave3online.com
281 217-6797

Under the direction of Debbie Tuttle, a NEW DANCE TEAM is being formed. Debbie is looking for new members to add to the core group. (choreography, coaching & rehearsals will be done by two major Swing Champions and Debbie)
E - mail for details debbie@dancingtuttles.com

Hey Bostonians, you have a place to hustle on Sundays.
The Silver Fox has two dance floors, a cozy club environment and 2 DJ's, Eddie B & Chris Fiore. Located at 2031 Revere Beach Parkway, Route 16, Everett, (close to Wellington Circle) Only $5, 8PM to after midnight. For more details
Click here: DJ Chris Fiore Singles Partyhttp://www.djchrisfiore.com/pages/817991/index.htm

Make it a great week,
Ron

DanceTalk * 8-5-03

Belated birthday wishes to Rob Finocchio.

Our heartfelt condolences go to Roberto Pagan and his family on the loss of his mother this past weekend.

New Jerseys own Brian and Stephanie Fortuna are filming for a new Martin Scorsese motion picture. The dance segments are being shot in Montreal, Canada. Brian and Stephanie are from Universal Dancesport Center in Collingswood, NJ. The lead part, in the film, is being played, by know other than, Leonardo Dicaprio.

Congratulations to Mark James as they celebrated his Second Anniversary of The Dance Zone. The social was packed and attendees were treated to a spectacular show with performances by Mark James & Rita Dowd, Bobby Ossias & Lisa Paternoster and Mark James & Dona Marie. A standing Ovation was given by the crowd. To view pictures from the evening visit
www.mjames.org/party.html.

Congratulations to West Coast Swing dancer, Valerie Salstrom, who organized a Dance Marathon in Cleveland Ohio and broke the world record. They beat the previous record of 48 hours of non stop touch dancing.

The New York City Ballet has just released its second workout video. Under the direction of master, Peter Martins, learn new exercises to push you to the limit.
A 90 minutes intense program for flexibility, muscle tone and fitness. Available at Borders or www.nycballet.com

"Make That Move 2" Hustle Explosion workshop....Commencing Monday, September 8th for 5 weeks from 6:30PM-8:30pm at Dance Fitness and
Sport located at 633 Decatur Blvd. & Bonanza in Las Vegas. Workshops are taught by Julia St. Marie and Donnie Gray. Call Julia to register at 702-355-4663.

National Ballroom Dance Week is September 19th to the 28th. Lots of events and postings coming soon.


Make it a great week,
Ron

One On One
"Gloria Gaynor"

We know her as the Queen of Disco.
She has decades of number one hit songs, but what does the Disco Queen think of the hustle and the dance phenomenon?
I had the honor of interviewing Gloria Gaynor as she spent time at home (New Jersey) between concerts. "I love dancing, it makes me feel good to see people dancing to my music." reflects Gloria. She has done it all, as a singer, performer and author she describes her love for dancing - "I'm more passionate about dancing then I am of singing. But I'm also very critical. I know good technique and form and what its suppose to look like."
But more importantly it moves Gloria to see the effect her music has on dancers. "I'm touching their hearts, I know dancing can relieve stress and tension."
In disco's infancy she had the country dancing and spinning in the clubs. Her music is full of real life experiences put to a dance beat. One of the few stars of the 70's who's light has brightened over the course of the years. Gloria Gaynor has survived. Her newest album release "I Wish You Love" on Logic/BMG Records, is terrific.
She rocked the house last month on ABC's prime time "Disco Ball." The special achieved the highest ratings in over 9 years in its targeted demographic and continues to be shown on VH-1.
Born in Newark, New Jersey, Gloria began singing a year after high school when she joined the "Soul Messengers" - the year was 1965. "I was a cosmetologist as well as singing with local bands," that culminated with her being observed by a producer from Columbia Records at the Wagon Wheel, a club on 45th Street in New York. Not knowing, at the time, she was being discovered and would one day be asked to sing for President Clinton, Princess Grace and Pope John Paul II.
Gloria Gaynor’s first album with MGM / Polydor was 1974’s "Never Can Say Goodbye" which included her first song "Honey Bee." The title cut was a remake of the Jackson 5’s "Never Can Say Goodbye" and became the very first number one song on the Billboard Disco Action Charts. This was the first album of non-stop programmed dance music. She performed all over the world including some of her favorite night clubs, 'Studio 54, Limelight, Palladium, Paradise Garage....."
For the next five years, Gloria put out an album every year, all achieving "TOP 40" status. In 1975, this ambitious singer was crowned "Queen of the Discos," in front of thousands of adorning New York City fans. In 1978 Gloria released an album called "LOVE TRACKS," which featured the era's biggest dance hit and considered by many, the disco anthem, ..."I WILL SURVIVE." The song sold fourteen million copies. Gloria was becoming one of the biggest musical stars in the world and went on to win a Grammy Award. Today, "I will Survive" is still one of the most requested songs as well as the number one karaoke selection. It's been recorded in twenty languages, including Arabic,
Gloria has toured the world performing in some 75 countries and spending a great deal of time in Europe, where her French and Italian fans adore her. Between 1985 and 1990 she released six albums in Italy. With the huge dance revival happening in America, disco's biggest star has been kept busy. She appeared in the television spectacular, "Celebration of the 70's" singing renditions of "I will Survive" and "Never Can Say Goodbye" showing the American audience, Gloria Gaynor, (who never went away), was back.
Gloria's autobiography for St. Martins Press, "I will Survive," takes you thru her survival and details how anyone can survive the struggle and heart ache that life sometimes deals us.
Still living in New Jersey, by her side is her husband of twenty years. Though she never had children, she is kept busy with her thirty-nine nephews and nieces. She credits the happiness and stability she feels today to God's presence in her life.
Her fan base is not restricted to that of the 70's. "Its become a family tradition, my music is enjoyed by everyone from ages 8 to 80 - It gets passed down."
In the beginning dance music was regarded by many as a fad that would quickly die. "Now people realize it is a medium for enjoyment, relaxation, communication and recreation just like any other music. Although it has evolved it has endured."
Gloria keeps good company and maintains friendships with Candi Staton, Freda Payne and occasionally Denise Williams, and Donna Summer. She has been touring with Kool and the Gang, The Village people and Sister Sledge.
"All the Man I Need" is my pick off her new album. It combines the classic disco sound with a contemporary twist. A great song that drives you to the dance floor. "I Never Knew" has already had wonderful chart success. So why is it that her music is so well received abroad yet, in the USA, the dance sound hasn't been able to break through over the last few years?
"We are a young country, with a disposable music society. The youth in our country want a new sound (not what their folks listen too). In Europe, the people like what they like. It doesn't matter if it is old or new," explains Gloria.
Gloria continues to evolve. She looks wonderful and sounds better then ever.
Please visit her website and don't miss the opportunity to see this super star live.
http://www.gloriagaynor.com/index1.html

A Dancer in Iraq

Pasquale Guarraggi recently left for the middle east as part of the Air Force Reserves. His unit provides telephone/radio/satellite & data communications for all the branches of the service as well as the U.K., Italian and Hungarian troops.
Carole Phelps shares this correspondence -
"We have a lot of planes coming in and going out with troops and cargo. It is pretty neat seeing everyone working together, especially seeing other military units from other countries united with us. We are all working 12 hour shifts 7 days a week. The temperature here has been averaging 120 degrees a day. I've seen it hit 130 degrees at one point during one of the days that I've been here."
His e-mail address is: Pasquale.Guarraggi@kcab.aorcentaf.af.mil
Please feel free to write. Pasquale would welcome the contact from home.

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