DanceTalk - The Archives
August 2004
Thank for
Visiting the Archieves of Ron's Dance Talk
Ron Bess & daughter
picture courtesy of Eric Novoa
LINKS of INTEREST - for HUSTLE
Click on Flames to Burn on to the -
DanceTalk * 8-31-04
Happy Holiday weekend, make it a safe one.
Happy birthday to Jose Gonzales, Mary Poma, Ray Avery, Nan Bohrar, and
Rita Dowd.
The music / dance industry has suffered another great loss. Laura Branigan passed away this past weekend. At the young age of 47 she endured a brain aneurysm. Best known for her #1 platinum single "Gloria," she went onto write, act, sing and perform on Broadway. Click here: AOL News - Laura Branigan, 'Gloria' Singer, Dies at 47
We wish Jeanette Siminski a speedy recovery. Please keep her in your prayers.
2004 World Hustle Dance Championships videos are available on VHS and DVD please contact Sarah Bahrs at sarahbahrs@carolnet.com to purchase your copy.
There was a small reunion at Dancesport, in NY, last week. Some of the wonderful pioneers of hustle dancing descended on this Monday night hot spot. Carol Famiglietti, Michael Babbino, Deano Georgio, Sandra Rivera, Nellie Cotta, Eddie Espinosa, Kenny Gonzalez, Debbie Rosado Ferro, Frankie Rodriquez and Ava Lev.
Mark you calendars for the January 11-16, 2005, when the Worlds comes to Nashville, Tennessee. The Country Dance World Championships will host competitions in line dance, teams, couples, Pro Am, Swing/hustle...More details coming. Click on this link Worlds
Check out the photos from the Wheelchair benefit held at the Spinning W ranch.
http://public.fotki.com/FredF/american_dance_whee/ Thanks to Fred Fedak for posting.
Stop by Michael's Cafe in Bensalem Pa, Tuesday night as we celebrate Tricia Caballero's birthday. DJ Mark will be at the helm spinning the best of yesterday and today.
During the period of March thru September of 2000 many dance and music lovers in the NY tri-state area had the chance to experience the GLITTER old school parties at Windows On The World, 107 floors high in NYC’s skyline. The GLITTER parties allowed host Nino Torre to put on weekly Friday night events with special guest DJ’s and true disco artists, with the likes of Tavares, The Trammps, Musique, Crown Heights Affair, BT Express, GQ, Brass Construction, France Joli, Loleata Halloway, SKYY, Carol Douglas and many more. During July ‘00 GLITTER played host to Billboards closing Dance Music Summit along with Tommy Boy Records which produced an awesome performance by Debbie Jacob's. Nino Torre returns with a reunion party on Sept 11th, read all about it below.
The US opening of the new Miramax film "Shall We Dance?" with Richard Gere
and Jennifer Lopez has been pushed back from August to October 15, 2004.
www.Ballroom-Arkansas.com/news.htm
Dance Mania Week #6 winner was Goldmind (Robot style), the contest continues every Sunday night In Las Vegas. Call Julia for all the details. 702-355-4663
Next week in DanceTalk®., check out the readers choices for best songs (from the dance era) that don't get played.
Make it a great week,
Ron
Stardust Dance Productions will be hosting their 61st ballroom dance
weekend at Kutshers Country Club which will be unveiling their all new 4,500
square foot dance floor in celebration of this festive event. Rates from $240 pp/do for the weekend include 2 nights accommodation, 7 meals, 2 cocktail parties, over 60 dance workshops, amateur contests, professional dance entertainment each evening, specialty vendors, dance hosts for the single ladies PLUS
round the clock dancing on 4 separate hardwood floors dedicated to
Ballroom, Latin, Argentine Tango and Hustle/Swing with music by 2 top Latin bands, 1 Big Band, an Argentine Tango Trio and 4 great DJ's. With all facilities under one
roof and over 800 dancers expected this is THE event to kick off your holiday season.
For additional info please call (800) 537-2797, M-F from 9 AM to 5 PM
or e-mail stardust@catskill.net. On line reservations can be made at
www.stardustdance.com
ANN PRINZE/Executive Director
CDs (compact discs) - Fact or Myth
Some 22 years ago the music industry began to say good-bye to Vinyl records.
Many record enthusiasts struggled, suffering from a touch of plastic with-draw. But as the industry told us, the new indestructible compact discs were the wave of the future.
We were informed that CDs would last a life time. Some DJs resisted and fought the good fight but eventually gave in, making the transition from 12 inch 45s records to compact discs. Behold, recent articles in Rolling Stone Magazine and Billboard magazine take a different stand. For four years, the Library of Congress has worked on a project (the first public study ever done) testing the life span of compact discs.
Although the study is not complete it seems we have been mislead by the music industry. The tests done on the CDs included high degrees of temperature (similar to a locked car in summer), soaks in an oven to accelerate the CD aging process....
The study shows that poorly made CDs can deteriorate in as little as five or ten years. Longevity will depend on the quality of the disc and proper care: kept in cases, maintained at room temperature and away from extreme moisture.
It is not uncommon to notice tiny pin pricks on CDs, even when stored properly. In extreme cases they can "resemble a chrome bumper thats been left to rot in a junk yard." If, the studies show that the life span of CDs are not what we originally expected, the Library of Congress will look to change its large CD-Rom collection to another medium. Could this mean the rebirth of our beloved vinyl records?
Don't throw away that old turntable yet.
DanceTalk * 8-24-04
(early edition)
Happy Birthday wishes to Terri Murphy, Tricia Caballero, Kathy Bruni and
Billy K.
Come on out to Michael's Cafe, in Bensalem Pa, this week as they celebrate Terri and Tricia's birthdays. DJ Mark spins the music and organizes the traditional birthday dances. Don't miss the cake and fun.
Our friends in Boston have lost a hero. Vincent Peruzzi passed away last week.
He was a fixture in the dance community. See below a moving article from the Boston Globe.
Last chance to vote, do it now, select your favorite song from the disco era....the tune that doesn't get played anymore. We will list your name and favorite song in an upcoming feature in DanceTalk®. Send your choices to Rowenlb22@aol.com
The remake of "Promise" is hott by DJ Tony Moran. Wow, you have to check this out. Tony has written, remixed and worked with many stars including Gloria Estefan, Celine Dion, Janet Jackson, Whitney Houston and many others.
Visit http://www.djtonymoran.com/
Congratulations to Steve, Pauline & Nykia on their new venture. They are about to open a new dance school in South Plainfield, New Jersey. It is called
Absolute Dance: Ms. Nykia's School of Dance. The Email address is AbsoluteDance@aol.com.
"Jersey Boys" is shaping up for old Broadway, the music and story by music legend Frankie Valli. The script follows Frankie and the Four Seasons thru their musical career.
Don't forget, National Ballroom Dance Week (NBDW, September 17th - 26th).
One of New Yorkers more popular promoters, Magique, has put together a very informative website. DanceTalk®. can be viewed along with other events and happenings in the NY area, http://www.magiques.com/
The 5th week winner at Dance Mania was Sergio (hip hop with latin flavor).
Update: The finals have been changed to Sunday, September 12, 2004 at the Hilton in Las Vegas. Call Julia 702-355-4663 for all the details.
This weeks Edition of DanceTalk®. is sponsored by Stardust Dance Weekend.
See more details below or write stardust@catskill.net or (800) 537-2797 http://www.stardustdance.com
Make it a great week,
Ron
Letter from the editor
This past weekend, the Spinning W Ranch hosted a fund raiser for our area wheelchair dancers. It was a wonderful evening of dancing, food, merriment and good conversation.... all for a great cause. Wheel chair dancers from the Universal Dance Center, in Collingswood, NJ, performed for the attentive audience. A formation routine, choreographed by Sandi Fortuna, and a Swing dance had the crowd riveted.
(Ray & Melinda and Stephanie & Josh.) DJ Kenny Arditi provided the music with late night assistance from dance champion Donna Boyle, spinning the hits.
A raffle was held for a week stay in beautiful Hilton Head, North Carolina. The trip was courtesy of host Wendy Lippincott.
The entire event was a great success due to the caring community of dancers and the many volunteers, but, special thanks to Wendy Lippincott for opening her heart, opening her home and being the catalyst for this important benefit. Wendy epitomizes the highest level of caring & giving and proves what can be accomplished when you have an idea and bring it to life.
Vincent Peruzzi; Kept disco's flames lit
By Emma Stickgold, Globe Correspondent August 15, 2004
During his live shows for Kiss 108 FM radio broadcast live from The Rack on Saturday nights in the 1990s, Vincent R. Peruzzi would pluck listeners from the line for the ladies room and put them on the air. The Quincy native was well known for the antics he added to his show as he spun the disco tunes for three decades at Kiss 108 FM, WNTN, and most recently Star 93.7 FM. On Friday, Mr. Peruzzi died after a yearlong battle with lymphoma. He was 51. Keeping close tabs on the ebb and flow of disco music's popularity, Mr. Peruzzi sneaked disco songs onto his playlist after disco fell out of favor in the music industry, recalled Jerry McKenna, a longtime friend and the program director at Star 93.7.Mr. Peruzzi, known by his on-air nickname, "Disco Vinnie," ardently defended the genre when it came under attack. "Musically, the 1970s got a bad rap, but if you really listen to it, the music from the 1970s sounds a lot better than the stuff that's out now," Peruzzi told the Globe in 1993. "A lot of the stuff that's out now are samples or remakes from songs of the 1970s."On the air, Mr. Peruzzi peppered his shows with references to Boston. "Vinnie was very much a Boston person," McKenna said. "He had an understanding for the neighborhoods and the area, and could speak the language of the listeners."Mr. Peruzzi, who graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst in the mid-1970s with a degree in radio communication, was constantly on the prowl for talent playing in local clubs whose songs he believed deserved a national audience. Authorities on the radio industry credit him for boosting the profile of Candi Station, who sang the hit "Young Hearts Run Free," and Vicki Sue Robinson, whose "Turn the Beat Around" became a hit. Mr. Peruzzi got his start at a campus station at UMass-Amherst. He landed a job at WBZ-FM, where he was the host of one of his first shows. He later moved to WEZE, WNTN, and Kiss 108 FM, hosting a 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. show. When disco lost favor, Mr. Peruzzi dropped the "Disco" from his nickname, and for a while was known as "Vinnie" or "Peruzzi. "He switched over to Star 93.7 in the mid-1990s, and hosted his last show there in July. Just as he rode the roller coaster of disco music's popularity, he also took every opportunity he could to ride the roller coasters of the world, taking weeks off to go to Europe or drive his blue van, with a license plate that read "Vin Van," up and down the East Coast to amusements parks. Mr. Peruzzi was also known for being a lobster junkie, buying four or five a week and leaving a few live crustaceans on his counters. Mr. Peruzzi was hardly your typical disc jockey, McKenna said. While many try to outdo one another to land better time slots on the air, Mr. Peruzzi was not competitive in that regard. He worked nights and weekends to create the flexibility to take off on his cross-country adventures, rather than clamor for prime air time. Globe reviews from the late 1970s said he often would get "amiably annoyed at critics who put down disco and is anything but elitist himself." "The name may change from disco to something else, but danceability is the key, and we think we've got it," he told the Globe in 1978. He often went not for the artist, but the songs themselves."But in the final analysis, it's the song, the sound, not the artists that makes a disco hit. Sure, Donna Summer, the Trammps, the Village People, and a few others have almost guaranteed hits, but in other cases, the arranger-producer is the important person, and the group is just a studio group, not a group in the usual rock music sense," he told the Globe. Mr. Peruzzi leaves his mother Gilda (Biagioni) of Quincy; his sisters Angela Cardarelli of Burlington and Linda Zandona of Santa Barbara, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. A funeral Mass will be said at 10 a.m. Tuesday in St. John's Church in Quincy. Interment will be in Forest Hills Cemetery in Braintree.
© Copyright 2004 The New York Times Company
DanceTalk * 8-17-04
Happy birthday wishes to Chris Bates, Susan Edelstein, Rosalie Lapergola, Karen Hill, Derrick Allen, Jami Josephson, Johnny "O" Ortiz,
Elizabeth Craner and Stanley Smalanowicz.
Come out to Michael's Cafe, in Bensalem Pa, to celebrate Elizabeth, Stanley, Chris and Rosalie's birthdays. DJ Mark will be spinning classic hustle and a pinch of WCS and Latin all night long.
Attention hustle teams, Tuesday, August 17th, is the PBS show "Get Down Tonight The Best of 70s Disco and Dance Music." This will be a national televised event dedicated to the music with the hit-makers of the disco era.
We have a limited number of passes. Contact me ASAP at Rowenlb22@aol.com
The show is being held in NJ at the Asbury Park Convention Hall with Co hosts Denny Terrio and Frankie Valli. Confirmed performers are: the original Trammps, Irene Cara, Carol Douglas, Bonnie Pointer, Anita Ward, The Hues Corporation, Martha Wash, Wild Cherry, Peaches & Herb, A Taste of Honey....
http://www.njn.net/about/pressrelease/04augdiscoadvisory.html
For a great bio and discography on the late great Rick James, visit Bob Davis's website on Soul Patrol, http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/rick.htm
Congratulations to Katharina Marks of Starlight Dance Center in Nutley NJ. Her studio was chosen for a TV news story by Good Day New York - Fox Five. They are filming today, covering the senior social dances that are held there every Tuesday from 11AM to 3PM.
Dancing comes in all styles and forms. Over the last couple of years, wheel chair dancing has taken off in the USA. Dance Champions Ray and Melinda will be performing a wheel chair dance exhibition this Saturday night, August 21st for a fund raiser. Join us at the Spinning W Ranch, located in Medford New Jersey, only 15 minutes from the Philadelphia bridges. DJ Kenny Arditi will keep the music flowing and everyone dancing, including many area professionals. Help us raise money for new wheelchairs and lessons for those wanting to learn and get back into the dance scene. Accidents can leave you wheelchair bound but that shouldn't prevent anyone from the opportunity to dance. For more details or to make a donation write Wendy at Spinningw@aol.com
Dance Mania is going strong. This weeks winner (week # 4) "Little Alex," Brazilian Samba. The contest continues every Sunday night in Las Vegas. All forms of dance are welcome. For details call Julia 702-355-4663
Its not to late to chose your favorite dance song from back in the day. Write to me your favorite song from the disco era....the one that doesn't get played anymore. We will list your name and favorite song in an upcoming feature in DanceTalk®.
Send your choices to Rowenlb22@aol.com by August 25th.
Make it a great week,
Ron
The Original Dance Contests
Back in the hey day of disco, as the momentum and interest level in dancing grew, the Discotheques jumped on the excitement of holding dance contests. It was a simple equation: contestants + prizes = a packed house. It was a marketing wind fall for organizers.....host a contest, give away a trip, a car or some cold cash, charge an admission fee and your going to draw a thousand enthusiastic dancers. You could turn the page in any weekend section of the newspaper to view all the contests being held at the area night clubs.
As the disco era continued to soar it gained an abundance of media attention. Major corporations also wanted to capitalize on it's popularity.... The Playboy Club, Six Flags Great Adventure, Universal Pictures, Sprite, Newport, Bacardi.....all co-operatively sponsored contests giving away extraordinary prizes.
We polled some of the dancers from back in the day to determine their most memorable contests. I'm sure this will bring back some great memories.
The Star Ship dance club, in NY, held a weekly contest on Wednesdays for trophies and a Wind Jammer cruise. Hector Berrios, of the Dance Dimensions, entered to dance rock....with his partner Pete Martinez, they won first place beating Eddie Vega and Lourdes Jones. There was also the exciting dance contests held in various clubs thru out the 5 boros of NY. Promoted by Channel 11 and the hit show "Soul Alive," the finalists from each club battled each other in the finals which was then aired on TV. This was a great Saturday morning television show where Hector and Jackie took first place honors.
The Plum Night Club, in Washington, DC, held a contest every year, for 4 years. The preliminaries started in March and ran through May. It was called the "Annual Disco Duel." The first year they gave away a new car to the first place winner. Eventually they realized dividing the prizes between several places would bring out more dancers, so they decided to award 8 places. The competition attracted contestants from as far away as New York to Florida. In 1978, Craig Yee and Linda Rodriquez from New York won the $2000 First Place prize. In 1979, Joyce Szili and Alain Vital, the only amateurs making it to the finals, placed 5th and won the round trip airline tickets to Miami, Florida.
In 1979, Cherry's Discotheque, in Long Island held a spectacular contest billed as the "Worlds Largest Dance Contest" - Pure dancing - no lifts allowed - 1st Prize - 2 Cherry Red Corvettes. This contest was advertised extensively on Radio on KTU and promoted throughout the Daily News, Post, etc. - contest ran for over 30 weeks with the weekly winners moving to the semifinals. The Top 5 then danced in the finals. The place was mobbed and the winner was announced at approx 3am. Cherries remained packed passed 4:30am with everyone waiting to see the winners and watching them take pictures with one of the Corvettes. Derrick Allen and Lillia won the grand finals.
Playboy International celebrated the 25th Anniversary of Playboy by running an international dance contest. Each state, that had a Playboy club, held a local competition with NY having the most competitive semifinal - their were over 50 contestants including Eddie Vega, Maria Torres, Billy Fajardo, Ricky Quintana, Lisa Nunziella, Miguel and Annette, the Marolda's......Derrick and Lillia won first place and received $1,500. The next step was to be flown to California (all expenses paid) to represent NY for the $15,000 finals. Couples from all over the US competed including winners from London, France, Japan, South America and the Philippines. Derrick again won and was contracted to perform at the Playboy casino in the Bahamas and in Puerto Rico.
In 1979 the Harvest Moonball Dance Championships, held it's annual competition in New York City. This was the first year they added the hustle to the competition. The event was so big, the preliminaries were held at Roseland Ballroom and the finals were held at the Felt Forum, inside Madison Square Garden. Miquel Marrero and Annette Marrero won first place.
Weekly contests would lead up to a grand finale. One big event took place every summer (1979 - 1985) in Atlantic City, NJ at the Chez Paree, now known as Deju Vue. The contest was held on Saturday evenings at 3:00AM in the morning and attracted great street and theatrical dance teams. Steven Mitchell remembers the excitement and pack house it would draw. The finalists won a thousand dollars and were invited to be in the Miss America Pageant float on the boardwalk.
We all know that a dollar, 25 years ago, was worth 5 bucks today, well how about winning $5,000. During the 70's, as the first place winners at Chaz Discotheque, in NY, George Velazquez and Ann Boccino won the big cash prize.
Some of the other popular competitions, with big bucks, were held in Long Island's Rum-bottoms, the Habitat on Hempsted T-pike and Poor Peters Parlor.
Sabado Gigante - Channel 41 (Univision). This competition was televised and hosted by popular Latin TV personality Don Francisco. Luis Rivera partnered with Stracy Diaz (Latin Madness, Empire, Law & Order). They competed and defeated five other contestants from around the world. Together they shared a winnings of $2,200.
A national competition was held and promoted thru out the dance community.
Phil Gary's competition was a big event with a promoted first place winnings of $10,000. Roseland in NY hosted the area contest. Susan Marolda recalls the excitement of winning and being flown to Brazil to compete in the finals. Sad to say, Susan and Tony won but.... the $10,000 prize money was never paid out.
In Southern New Jersey, one of the largest discotheques ever built was in Cherry Hill. The Emerald City held a dance contest sponsored by Playboy Magazine. The winners moved onto the Playboy Club located in Great Gorge for the finals.
Jose' & Marci Gonzalez won the competition and moved onto the next level in that exciting contest.
Regine, held an Invitational NYC Contest at her famous night Club with the Ten best Couples invited. Tony & Susan Marolda captured first place and were then flown to Paris and performed on a national TV Show. Some of the judges were the late Andy Warhol and Denny Terrio. The following year Regines hosted the first audition competition for the syndicated television show Dance Fever. The contest drew wonderful dancers including Floyd Chishom & Nellie Cotta, Billy Fajardo and Sandra Rivera, Eddie Vega and Laudes Jones........ first place went to Tony & Susan.
As the winners, they were flown to Hollywood to appear on the first episode of the first season of Dance Fever.
Debbie Ferro, of the Dance Dimensions, recalls one of the best dance categories for competition, that of the televised show Star Search. In addition to the cash winnings, ($100,000 won by Eddie Vega & Lisa Nunziella), they received tremendous national exposure. "I know that Lisa used that competition as a stepping stone to a wonderful career in film, television, and ultimately, her own line of dancewear/workout attire and workout videos.
Back in the late 70's, Lisa Sands was the resident dance pro, teaching at many of the area night clubs in Philadelphia, Pa. Every Monday evening she taught lessons at The Library Night club in Bala Cynwyd. As one of the most frequented clubs, auditions for Dance Fever were held at the Library. The first place winners were flown to Hollywood for the taping of the new TV. Another big competition was held at the popular amusement park Dorney Park in Pennsylvania. The first place winners received five foot high trophies and a cool thousand dollars.
Letters To The Editor
Dear Ron,
Last Weekend Mark James Celebrated his Three year Anniversary of
running dances at the Wantagh Jewish Center on Long Island - The place was packed out and the crowd was provided a spell binding mixture of Sensuality & Excitement by Mark James & Karen Lupo (Salsa, Adagio, Hustle) + Bobby O & Norma Rivera (Hustle) - pictures are up at http://www.mjames.org/party.html
Mark wants to thank Everyone for all their Support that People have given him over the last three years ...making this Venture such a success
DanceTalk * 8-10-04
Happy Birthday wishes to Stacy Redler and Steve Salerno.
Dance Mania is going strong. This weeks winners (week # 3) were Sundance & Crackerjack performing a pop-n-lock routine. The contest continues every Sunday night in Las Vegas. All forms of dance are welcome.
For details call Julia 702-355-4663
Punk Funk artist Rick James passed away last week. He wrote and sang many hits including "Give It To Me Baby" and "Superfreak."
With all her college degrees behind her, Zulma Rodriquez now has time to enjoy her other passions, one being teaching ballroom and Hustle.. which she will now be doing at "You Should Be Dancing" in NY. She will be working with Robert Vance.
Next spring, Gloria Gaynor will mark 25 years since "I Will Survive" rocked the dance charts. To celebrate there will be a national TV special.
We had an overwhelming response and great feedback from the feature "DJs favorite Gems." We asked some of the best classic DJ's to share their favorite songs, that needed to be dusted off. Many of those songs brought back great memories for our readers. Now that we've polled the DJs, we are asking you, to send in your favorite song from back in the day... primarily the ones that don't get played today. We will list your name and favorite song in an upcoming feature in DanceTalk®. Send your choices to Rowenlb22@aol.com by August 25th.
I hope you enjoy part 2 of the spotlight feature on dance pioneer Jeff Shelley. Just 3 weeks ago, Jeff was inducted into the Hall Of Fame at the World Hustle Dance Championships. If you missed Part 1 of this spotlight feature, check out the archives at Mark James website, http://www.mjames.org/ronbess.html
Next week, we visit some of the most popular hustle dance contests, from back in the day, as remembered by the competitors themselves. You don't want to miss this.
Make it a great week,
Ron Bess
"Spotlight"
Jeff Shelley (part 2)
This modern day Fred Astair could do it all. With an extensive background in social dancing, Jeff had wonderful footwork, could execute difficult adagio moves (with his partner/wife Donna) including flips and over head aerial lifts. Dancing was 24/7. Along with his brother Jack Shelley, they partnered with choreographer Lester Wilson to write a book. (Lester helped teach and choreograph routines for John Travolta in the motion picture Saturday Night Fever.) Lester was well known for his "magic footprints," the easy way to learn to dance. The new book gave instructional insight to the American Hustle, the Rope and other popular dances.
For the last few years the couple was non stop running the New York Hustle dance studios, performing on TV, personal appearances and more... but the climate was changing. Disco and the hustle seemed to be running out of gas. "The sound, the dress were changing, it became different, it was classy up till now," Jeff recalls, the tide was shifting. Although dancing remained in his heart, the studio success had plummeted by 1986. It was time for a new chapter. The hustle had fallen out of favor. Jeff and Donna would take their dancing and performance on the road, or should I say the high sea. Recommended by long time friend & dance legend, Francois Szony, the Shelley's were contracted to perform on Cruise lines. The new venture was extremely successful. But their talents were in need elsewhere. Recruited by, Black Pool Dance Champion, Pierre Dulaine, Jeff and Donna were asked to join the American Ballroom Theater. The Shelley's would replace Pierre and his partner Yvonne. From 1989 to 1994 they became an integral part of the theater and made this their new home. Many professionals find that there are fewer options available for dancers as opposed to actors or recording stars but, to join the American Ballroom theater.. surely is a dance pinnacle. When the theater came to an end, Jeff would then roll out his own show, "Four on the Floor." It was made up of three thirty minute shows with a singer and non stop entertainment.
Still dedicated to dancing, Jeff teaches in Staten Island, NY at the Fred Astaire studio. He and Donna continue to perform, judge and teach.
From 1972 till 1986.....14 years they championed the first dance studios dedicated to hustle dancing. They warmed our hearts and taught us some cool moves on their weekly appearances on the ever popular dance television show "Soapfactory."
Admired by amateurs and professional alike, Jeff delivered a sophistication in hustle that is seldom seen. For their years of dance and creativity, they were just honored and inducted into the World Hustle Dance Championships Hall Of Fame.
Jeff says it best, "Hustle dancing will never die, the music is still hot."
Letter to the Editor
Hi Ron;
This is Karen & Raymond (Originally lived in Florida, now living in N.J.) I would like to wish a Happy Anniversary wish to my husband of 18 years 8/2/04. After 22 years together, we still both love dancing & still love each other. In this day & age, this is almost unheard of.
Thanks,
Karen Velez
I want to take a moment to extend my deepest gratitude and thanks to all who came out to Club Silhouette to help celebrate my 50th birthday along w/ a few other birthday friends; Brad Pitre, James Heath, Cathy Huff, Denise Gussoni Schneider & Dennis Vice... To my good friends from Houston, Raye Avery & Sandra Gonzalez, Irene Griffin & Frank Scheidell, and Mac McNary & Joy Silva, thank you for coming down to be a part of my birthday celebration…gosh, what great friends…Thanks HOUSTON...We Love You guys...We had a good group to help me bring in the next 50 years and to listen to the sounds of The Peggy Polk Band…great job...Peggy, I want to especially thank you for the live performance ...so that Celeste & I could perform for our families...After Celeste & I danced I decided to invite to the dance floor my mother so that I could introduce her to my friends and to thank her for a great 50 years...Although she is capable of walking, she recently had surgery so I had my big brother & friend, Charlie wheel her to the center of the dance floor...I thanked her for being a part of my life and for all that she does to help me in my business & in our daily lives... Except for the fact that my son, Nicholas was not there (he had to work Saturday and Sunday, and he lives in Memphis Tennessee), and my Dad & younger brother, David Gussoni, who are in Heaven and were watching over us that night, this celebration with all my family & friends was the best gift I could have ever asked for......THANKS TO ALL OF YOU....
I want to thank all of my friends who helped make this a success... Elaine Champagne, Debbie Arthur, Henry & Sandy de los Reyes, Shelly & Judy Goutierrez, Paul, Sally & Valerie Davis,Catrinel Stanciu. Mike 'The Door Man & Bouncer' Ott, & Wanda Howe... . Thanks for the special drinks at the end of the night from Jim, Shawn Moody and Kristen Jeans...Although I felt it the next morning or should I say, the next afternoon, I just didn't want the Club to close, I didn't want the night to end ...Thank God I only turn 50 once...lol...Kathy & Lex Lambert for getting the word out on the website...Ron Bess for spreading the word around the Hustle World in his weekly Hustle News Letter...Oh, and how can I forget, Mr. Tony 'Taken Care Of Business While You're Gone' Belala..
All in all, I can say that if I live another 50 years, which I seriously doubt, I could not ever have a better night of celebrating with my family & closest friends…Even with the ones who could not be there I know you were there in heart....THANK YOU...
To Celeste, My Love, Thank You, Baby Girl, You Are The Best...I Love You...
Wait, yours is yet to come....9 months til' your Big One....
Keith Gussoni
DanceTalk * 8-3-04
Happy Birthday wishes to Jessica Nicolette and Keith Gussoni.
Every Sunday night, DANCE MANIA, at The Las Vegas Hilton Hotel/Casino at the “Night Club.” (no admission fee) “The Ultimate Dance Contest” with over $5,000 awarded in cash and prizes. Here are the eligible winners heading to the finals, so far.
1st week winners were Dario and Denise (Salsa)
2nd week winners Nick and Shannon (Lindy Hop)
For more info call Julia St. Marie 702-355-4663
Check out the new website for the City Cafe, http://www.citycafe.biz
Long time radio jock Joe Causi has left radio station WKTU in New York. He is heading over to WNEW joining up with his old boss Frankie Blue. We wish him good luck.
Congratulations to the performers in "Legends In Concert." The show has been extended. Jose Gonzales is a member of the "Village People" act. The show has been extended till November 8th 2004. Shows are nightly (except Friday) at the Claridge Casino in Atlantic City, NJ.
This weeks edition of DanceTalk®. is sponsored by Stardust Dance Weekend.
This wonderful event brings together some of today's greatest talents in one fun filled weekend Sept 10 - 12 at the Nevele Resort in New York. Visit the website for more details. http://www.stardustdance.com
Next week, part 2 on the fascinating life of dance superstar Jeff Shelley... This years World Hustle Dance Championship Hall Of Fame inductee.
Make it a great week,
Ron
Jenny's Picks for the month
Your reading them here first, Mixmaster Jenny Costa gives DanceTalk readers her top picks that are rocking the dance clubs. "The first lady" of dance is on 103.5 FM, the number one dance station in the nation, WKTU in New York. Jenny is the recent recipient of the prestigious AIR Award. You can hear Jenny live and up close at Noche'. Dine and dance every Wednesday night, at Noche' restaurant and night club. It's Amazon Wednesdays featuring the finest in South American and Latin influenced cuisine, prepared by chef Ramiro Jimenez along side celebrity chef Michael Lamonico. Taste some of the newest South American drinks & dance to the music of Jenny Costa. Noche' is located at 1604 Broadway between 48th and 49th Streets NYC, ( 212-541-7070), Parking is available at 155 w 48th St. & 250 w 50th St. Thursday evenings Jenny is at the Mirage in Westbury Long Island from 8PM until 4AM... and on Friday's at Mirage from 4 to 9PM.
1. IF I CLOSE MY EYES - REINA
2. LOLA'S THEME - SHAPE UK
3. AS THE RUSH COMES - MOTORCYCLE
4. MOVE YA BODY - NINA SKY
5. HEY MAMA - BLACK EYED PEAS
6. HOW DID YOU KNOW - KIM SOZZI
7. TURN ME ONE - KEVIN LYTTLE
8. PUMP IT UP - DANZEL
9. LIVIN ON A PRAYER - JORDAN JAMES
10.ALL NIGHT - JANET JACKSON
Letter To The Editor
DEAR RON
CITYSCENE AT THE CITY CAFE WAS A SUCCESS. RHYTHM FORCE IN A ASSOCIATION WITH NINO TORRE AND JOHNNY V PROVIDED A NIGHT OF DANCE. MIA CELEBRATED A WONDERFUL BIRTHDAY---PEOPLE SHOWED UP AND THE ROOM WAS FULL OF FUN DANCING LAUGHING MINGLING AND GREAT SPIRIT. IT WAS HIGHLIGHTED WITH PERFORMANCES BY THE WCS COUPLE PETER AND NEICE, DANCING UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL ON THE SMALLER CENTER STAGE IN LIEU OF SINGING CLAUDIO
MARK JAMES AND KAREN LUPO TORE IT UP WITH A LATIN NUMBER DOING MIA PROUD--THEY WERE IN THE DANCE ZONE.
FINALLY JOSE SOLANO AND ALESSANDRA MONTALTO DID A GREAT HUSTLE ROUTINE TO LEAVE THE CROWD CHEERING
MIA DID HER BIRTHDAY DANCE
NEXT WEEK WE ARE CELEBRATING GINA"S AND JOANNE'S BIRTHDAY AT THE CITY CAFE, SPECIAL PERFORMANCE BY THE WORLD HUSTLE DANCE 2004 CHAMPIONS LUIS ROSA AND MARY POMA FROM THE LATIN DANCE CONNECTION.
BOBBY O
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