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August 2008


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DanceTalk * 8-26-08

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Happy Labor day. Good luck to all the competitors and dancers heading this Labor Day weekend to The Hudson Swing Affair and/or the New York Hustle Congress. See the details below.
 

Happy Birthday wishes to Terri Murphy,  Steve Shaughnessy, Lina Spurdis,  Trisha Caballero,  Kathy Brunni and  Raye Avery. 
 
"It's A Shame"  just one of the hits from the singing group the Spinners, has lost a member. Pervis Jackson the bass singer, passed away last week. 

What should prove to be the Sexiest season for Dancing With The Stars, as the new cast has been announced. It will sizzle with Kim Kardashian, Brooke Burke, Susan Lucci, Toni Braxton and Olympic gold medalist Misty May - Treanor. Dance Pro Julianne Hough will return after concerns she would be on a singing tour. Maksin Chmorkovskiy also returns after a season absence. Other stars include Lance Bass, Jeffrey Ross, Warren Sapp, Cody Linley, Maurice Greene, Ted McGinley & Cloris Leachman for the 3 night season premier, where each couple will dance twice.
 
Since the unfortunate cancellation of the famous IL Campanello party in NYC,  this past June, there is a new venue for dance and dining. The Riveras Cafe in Great Neck, Long Island.  The dance floor opens at 9:30pm and goes past 2am with the music of non other than NYC's Bobby Morales, playing a mix of Hustle, Salsa and Dance. Admission is only $10 all night unless you have dinner then the party is Free.(516) 466-6380.Every Saturday night with DJ Bobby Morales except for Labor day weekend...NY Hustle Congress.

NY Hustle Congress dinner show has something for everyone. Don't miss this coming weeks dance event. Spend Labor Day Weekend in the big apple with your dance friends.  
http://www.nyhustlecongress.com 

Congratulations to adagio dancers, David Paris and Zoe Klein on their up coming wedding  this September 14th. We wish them both years of happiness and dancing together.  

Now that tropical storm Fay has passed, its time for the grand opening Dancesport Mondays at the The Sports Complex with dance pro Carl Charles. It all starts August 25th at  3650 SW 10th St. (Powerline Road South), Deerfield Beach, Florida 33342. 7:00 to 8:00 PM  Beg. NY Style Hustle Level 1, 8:00 to 9:00 PM Beg. New York Style Hustle Level II, 9:00 PM until ...- Live DJ mostly Hustle music by Carl Charles. 
 
Pictures from Elizabeth Craner's birthday celebration at Michael's Cafe, courtesy of Scott Michielli. 
http://www1.snapfish.com/shareethumbnailshare/AlbumID=243771361/albumcount=1/p=255221219467697468/l=421462668/g=6882511/cobrandOid=1000131/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB/pns/share/p=255221219467697468/l=421462668/g=6882511/cobrandOid=1000131/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB

The amazing Olympic gymnast (gold medalist),  Shawn Johnson, has expressed a big wish to follow in the steps of Apollo Ono by becoming a contestant on "Dancing With The Stars." 
 
This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by Stardust Cruises. See all the details below. 
 
Make it a great week,
Ron

Editorial
 
Growing up in the suburbs of Philadelphia, was advantageous for learning the hustle. 
I immersed my self into learning and consuming this fascinating dance. What I absorbed was comparable to the art of Karate - the hustle has many forms and styles. Not just one.
There were many incredible leaders in the 70's and 80's including: James Stanford, Butchie Everett,  Tony Marolda, Scott Nurse, Miguel Marrero, Lucas Jamie, Arte Phillips, Jose Gonzales, Juan Hernandez, Hector Berrios, Melvin Curry, Ray Bogart, David Padilla, Jeff Shelley, George Velazquez .....the list goes on. The cool thing was, these gentlemen were all tremendous leaders yet they all danced and displayed a different look. Yes, all doing the hustle but with a personalized flair.  Hands, arms, posture, foot work, speed, lines, spins, technique etc, they all interpreted the dance differently.
I remember going to the Roseland Ballroom, in Manhattan, in the early 80's and walking around the circumference of the huge dance floor. Hundreds of couples were dancing simultaneously that evening. I explained to a friend, you could virtually identity who was from what area based on their hustle style (Bronx, Queens, Staten Island, Brooklyn, etc) Similar to the way some folks can distinguish a persons accent to determine where they live. The portrayal of your hustle was like your dance DNA. 
Hustle will continue to exist for decades to come. But again, like any art form, there is a latitude in how you can portray the hustle and ....the speed you prefer to dance it.  Performing the dance depends on the beats per minute of the song. We loved songs like "Cuba", "Born to Be Alive", "Romeo & Juliet", high energy, quick tempo and exciting...but we also embraced "Rio De Janeiro", "More then A women" , "More More More", and other romantic, slower songs. We danced to both speeds and everything in between. Today, we continue to dance to classics as well as the newest club songs heard on satelite radio.
I had the honor ,as the Master Of Ceremonies, last month to first hand observe the Junior Pro/Am divisions in hustle ( where teenagers competed).  The hustle dance continues to grow but maybe not as fast as it could. It does need to be energized.
How do we win back the youth? 
That is a  Herculean challenge and highly complex issue. There is no silver bullet or fast fix remedy. The disco era was more then just the music and dance, it became a life style supported by clubs, radio, motion pictures and fashion. The hustle of the 70's crossed over, capturing the interest level of all ages - young and old.  
Dancing and music are cyclical. The two must meet at the right time to create that symbiotic relationship. Since the music has favored rap for the last few years the songs cater to free style and hip hop dancing, but......it too, will run its course. The planets appear to be aligning for a touch dancing come back. Dancing is everywhere on television. Partner dancing is gaining momentum. But it will take everyone to encourage and welcome the next generation of dancers to get involved. Everyone has to play a part. Has the hustle changed over the years? I don't know if changed is the appropriate word. I believe the dance has evolved. New patterns and steps have been implemented.  The beauty of the hustle has always been the freedom for one to express themselves. The hustle has a rich history. One goal of DanceTalk (over the last eight years) has been to share the roots, biographies, memories and land mark events, that created the foundation for the hustle. It is never acceptable to degrade or criticize fellow dancers based on their style, skill level or age. Nobody wins. We currently have many dance events that provide a wonderful opportunity for new and seasoned dancers to learn, compete and socialize. The organizers take a high financial risk when  providing these events. They deserve our praise and support, as they all strive to grow and constantly improve their weekends.   
Before the disco era, Rock & Roll ruled.  There will never be another band quite like the " Beatles", but, Rock & Roll will live on forever. The hustle may have experienced some of  its better days but the fun and pleasure it brings will continue for new hustle dancers for generations to come.

Stardust Cruise 
 The Stardust Dance Cruise III sets sail on January 25 and returns on February 1, 2009. This popular cruise has entertainment for everyone. Your enjoy the magnificent Costa Cruise Line’s 5-star Costa Fortuna which features some of the finest ballroom dance facilities on the high seas. But there is more then just dancing.
Join Stardust for our third 7-night exotic Caribbean fantasy trips with dancing under spotlights, sunlight, moonlight and the stars. Our finest instructors, performers and dance hosts will be joining us for this week long celebration where friends, old and new, can enjoy the amenities of an Italian style luxury ship along with our hallmark dance classes, dance sessions and top entertainment. The cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.  The last two cruises were early sellouts so reserve your stateroom now. Trip cancellation insurance is highly recommended and “La Dolce Vita” is guaranteed!
And, best of all,the fares start at only $615 plus taxes / port charges / fuel surcharge, The trip includes:
7 Nights Accommodations, 5 Theme Nights: Circus of the Seas, Tropical Calypso, Festa Italian, Captain’s Gala Reception, Roman Toga, Fabulous meals, gourmet buffets, and 24-hour room service, Separate dining level in the Raffaello Restaurante, Over 50 hours of dance workshops , Over 40 planned hours of social dancing sessions in various onboard venues, Gorgeous pools, spas and Jacuzzis, Stellar Broadway shows in the Rex Theatre and Gambling in the Neptunia Casino. It's time to greet old shipmates and meet new ones. There will be a hospitality desk set-up during the entire cruise. Start the new Year off in style. To register and gain more details visit the web site at:  http://www.stardustdancecruises.com/
 

NY Hustle Congress

 
This is the weekend we have all been waiting for. The NY Hustle Congress comes to town. Hostess Lori Brizzi has pulled out all the stops. Well, it is New York of course. Where else will you be entertained by such talented musicians as The Trammps singing "Disco Inferno",  a dinner show that includes choreographers from "So You Think You Can Dance" and the top female DJ/Mixoloist in the country, Jenny Costa
It all takes place this Labor Day weekend. Everyone is going, including the top pros, teachers, judges and DJs. The summer is ending, so send it out with a bang at the NY Hustle Congress. Its all new, a big ballroom with more dance space, an exciting dinner show featuring some of the top couples in dance and a live performance by the Trammps. Lori has stepped it up as she has separated from the Salsa Congress. She wanted to provide a larger more elegant room for her attendees. Several choreographers from America's favorite dance show "So You Think You Can Dance" will be performing in the Saturday night dinner show. The exciting dinner show also includes ballroom choreographer Eddie Simon who has recreated a dance number with former partner Lori Brizzi. Hip Hop judges and choreographers Cicely & Olissa will perform one of their numbers that they choreographed for the show. In addition, Raul Santiago & Sergia Anderson,  Billy Farjdo & Katie Marlow, Dave Paris & Zoe Klein and Derrick Allen &  Lori Brizzi will perform. For all the details please visit the website. But what ever you do, don't miss it. http://www.nyhustlecongress.com

DanceTalk * 8-19-08

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Happy birthday wishes to  MadonnaRosalee Lapergola,  Rosa Peredes, Stanley Smalanowicz,  Elizabeth Craner,  Johnny "O" Ortiz,  Jason Myra,  Doreen Casali,  Susan Conn,  Marybeth Mernin  and Jerry Hobbs.

The great one, Gene Kelly was born this week, 1912, in Pittsburgh, Pa. 

Junior & Emily Alabi, brother and sister World Salsa Champions in 2007, moved on to the next round of competitions on "America's Got Talent". Their fate is now in the hands of the viewing audience. They have lightning speed. Keep your fingers crossed.

Its an all star weekend at Hudson Swing Affair with Nicola & Robert Royston on staff. For all the details please visit
http://www.HudsonSwingAffair.com

An incredible Christmas concert is scheduled for December 13, 2008. Vincent Montana, Jr. and The Philly Sound Orchestra, will be performing live. The "Godfather of Disco", will play his Christmas medleys and more. The Sigma Sound Girls and Denise Montana will accompany him at the Commerce Bank Arts Centre, 519 Hurffville – Cross Keys Road in Sewell, New Jersey 

DJ Fancy picks the "PussyCat Dolls" single, "When I Grow Up" as his song of the week. Its climbing the charts nationally.

He turns 50 this week, but Jerry Hobbs has been under the weather. We look forward to him getting back out on the dance floor soon.

Actress Danica McKellar, best known from the hit show "The Wonder Years," has just finished a motion picture that will feature Swing dancing, one of her real life hobbies. Expect a 2009 release 

The deadline for registration for NY Hustle Congress and to post an ad has been extended to this Friday, August 22.  To be a sponsor go to the website.
Its not to late to purchase tickets for the Saturday night dinner show. Visit  http://www.nyhustlecongress.com

Congratulations to Debbie Lynn Tuttle on being awarded the Top Teacher at this years Swing Fling. She has been bestowed this honor for the last four years.

Great images from Ron's birthday party at Michael's Cafe courtesy of Fred.
http://whatsnew.fredf.fotki.com/

This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by Swing Niagara. Read all the details below.  http://www.swingniagara.com

Make it a great week,
Ron

Time Capsule

In 1979, Bob Fosse put his signature touch on the motion picture "All That Jazz" gaining great reviews. It was a box office success on the big Silver Screen but on the small tube, a new game show was breaking ground and would ultimately become the Grand daddy of today's TV dance competitions. Merv Griffin always loved dancing. In his youth he performed on Broadway and was later discovered by actress/singer Doris Day. Griffin launched many game shows and ultimately became a media mogul. He went on to host his own afternoon talk show. In efforts to promote the motion picture "Thank God Its Friday," Casablanca records executives co-oped with Griffin to host a two day promotion event for TGIF. The pre party included clips shown from the movie, Donna Summer performed and they hosted the finals of a national dance contest. The ratings were so overwhelming that Griffin created a spin off of the dance contest, developing a pilot show called "Disco Fever". After testing and using  focus groups, results concluded tweaking the show name. Looking for a more generic title, "Dance Fever" hit the mark.  Producer Paul Gilbert traveled the country bringing in winners of regional contests from various cities. These couples would now compete (four couples per episode) head to head on the syndicated show.  In 1979 Dance Fever debuted.  Merv Griffin, the progressive entrepreneur, was on top of the dance frenzy. With multiple game show hits on his hands (Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune) Griffin could smell a winner. More then 14 million viewers watched weekly, which was 65% greater then the ever popular "Johnny Carson Show".  The show was seen in 125 markets. Dance Fever was aired in most cities on Saturday evenings, via CBS. Lets put this into perspective. The current hit show "So You Think You Can Dance" according to the Nielsen Media research, has been in the top 5 shows all season but has a viewer ship of almost half the original "Dance Fever". Shows like "Survivor", "CSI", "Lost", "Cold Case" and "Deal Or No Deal" all fall short of the numbers that Dance Fever generated. Now here is the killer.
Dance Fever was ranked #1 as the original syndicated weekly show in every major category. Homes - women 18 - 49, 18 +, Men 18 - 49, 18 +. Hosted by Denny Terrio and Motion (his two females dance partners) they would have celebrity judges and musical acts...such as Catherine Bach, Steve Garvey, Anthony Geary, Charlene Tilton, Connie Stevens, Jayne Kennedy, Ann Jillian, Sammy Davis Jr, Rick Springfield, Barry White, Thelma Houston and the one time heart throb - Leif Garrett.
Dance Fever enjoyed a 9 year run. Many of the players changed but the theme stayed the same opening the competition to all styles of dance.  The show was relaunched on cable in 2005 but had lost its punch. Dance Fever became a spring board for many of the dance couples as well as for one lucky competitor that then became a member of Motion and would go on to a film career. Janet Jones/Gretzky.
Merv Griffin passed away last year.

Swing Niagara Dance Championships

It is recognized as the most powerful waterfall in North America.  The Niagara Falls are beautiful and the perfect back drop for this exciting Swing and hustle event. Swing Niagara Dance Championships is only one month away. Its an incredible event in a wonderful town. Break away for a great weekend in the fall setting of Buffalo New York. The event begins September 12th thru the 14th. It is being held at the Adam's Mark Hotel, located at 120 Church St., Buffalo, NY 14202 - (800) 444-2326 There is a special room rate for dance guests of only $110 per night. (rate effective until 8/28/08). The weekend will be memorable with competitions in Swing, hustle and plenty of social dancing to some of the finest DJs around. Whether you like to watch or compete in Swing and Hustle: Jack & Jills, Pro/AMs, the Pro/AM Challenge, Strictly Hustle and open dance divisions...its all here. 
You have the luxury of registering for this event on line by using Paypal, a safe and secure way to make payments without incurring additional fees (Swing Niagara absorbs them for you).  There are two ways to pay for your registration through Paypal:
  1)  Email  mcirino@twcny.rr.com they will then send you an invoice for the entire amount of your registration, or
   2) For those more familiar with Paypal, once you log onto http://www.Paypal.com select the "send money" tab and type in mcirino@twcny.rr.com email address in the "to" box, put the correct amount in and select Service/Other.  They will receive notification of your payment and then will contact you via email to verify your payment and other information.  There is no extra charge for payment via Paypal.
The top talent in dance will be at this years Swing Niagara Dance Championships. Including 10 US champions:  Mario Robau Jr.  (two time US Open Champion and 2007 GNDC Entertainer of the Year),  Angel Figueroa (US Open Cabaret Champion and many time Classic and Showcase Champion), Mary Ann Nunez (two time US Open Champion & many time Jack n' Jill Champion),  Parker Dearborn & Jessica Cox (2007 US Open Showcase Champions),  Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake (two time US Open Champions),  Arjay Centeno & Melissa Rutz (2007 USA Grand Nationals Showcase Champions)  Bill Cameron (US Open Classic Champion),  Heather Stants of Urban Tribal Dance Company (Totally Awesome Belly Dance Instructor & Performer),  Jason Miklic & Sophy Kdep (2007 Americas' Classic Showcase Champions),  Fred & Tina Price (many time Hustle Champions) 
  Larry & Heidi Mongeau (many time Jack 'n Jill Champions), Marc Levetin & Stephanie Brown (Marc is the 2007 Americas' Classic Rising Star Classic Division Champion),  Lindsay Edgerton (belly dance teacher in Upstate NY who also is a member of the Northern Lights Dance Team),  Julie Epplett (Jack 'n Jill competitor & awesome instructor in the Toronto dance scene),  Mike & Inge Evans (wonderful instructors from London, Ontario that teach  dance on the high seas),  Antoinette Giancursio (Jack 'n Jill competitor, instructor from Rochester, NY, US Champion in Pro-AM Latin competition), Alysia Bonvino (advanced hustle competitor and popular instructor from Syracuse, NY) , Barb & Joe Tomasulo (beloved instructors from the Buffalo, NY area that add energy & enthusiasm to any class they teach and any dance they attend)
World-Class DJs: Victor Loveira, Fred Price, Wes Carrajat, Tim Johnson & Joe Mahoney. Plan to attend now before the hotel rates go up.
You can contact the Adam's Mark Hotel at (800) 444-2326 ask for the special $110 per night rate (effective until 8/28/08). You can also take The WestCoastGroove Bus to Swing Niagara this year. The Premier Limousine motor coach bus is leaving from Connecticut and is picking up passengers in Springfield and Albany.  Ride in style with other WCS dancers!  Space is limited - visit their site to see more information  http://www.westcoastgroove.com/event_niagara.html
For more details visit http://www.swingniagara.com

Letters to the editor

Our dance friend Chris Bates lost his mom not too long ago from Alzheimer's.  Let's all walk in honor and in memory of Geneva Jeffries on October 26th, 9am-1pm at Riverside Park in Manhattan for Memory Walk 2008.  Please view the following link for more information on how to donate in Geneva's name.  Click on "Find A Walker" and put in Susan Lazar.  Then you can donate and/or sign up to walk by emailing Susan at susan_lazar@eisai.com. Eisai will match our donations.

http://nycmw08.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=273214&lis=0&kntae273214=2F6D7E6D2CD545A68421EE86D64A01C2

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On behalf of my family, I would like to extend our gratitude for the overwhelming generosity and loving support that was received from the dance community at Michael's on Wednesday night for my Sister Nancy's Leukemia benefit.  Words cannot begin to adequately express how deeply grateful my family is for the kindness, care and concern expressed, prayers offered, and for the generous contributions. It is needed more than you know!  I would also like to give a special thank you to Scott Michielli, Patrick Stewart, and DJ Mark for their tremendous help. It would have been difficult for one person to juggle. Scott and Patrick handed out flyers, made themselves available around the room for anyone wanting to buy
tickets, and helped man the post, so we could all take turns to get on the dance floor for some dancing in between! DJ Mark did a fabulous job of making announcements throughout the night. It was definitely a team effort, and the support received from the dance community was truly remarkable!  An overwhelming “thank you’ from the entire Keegan family. Sincerely, Mary Keegan

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Hi Ron, thank you for including me in your newsletter subscription. I have enjoyed the letters and different topics you cover. I did want to weigh in on the music, speed and advancing the hustle dance. I live in Mechanicsburg Pa and teach/coach high school soccer. In the summer I use to manage a night club outside of Lebanon (2003 - 2006). When I arrived the club had dance bands on weekends. To reduce the over head we hired DJs. Thursday nights were progressive/house night and weekends were pretty much top 40/disco. I agree with some of your readers that new music is what the college kids and young adults want to dance too. When our weekend DJ Nate would pop on an old disco anthem, the floor would get packed by mostly girls jumping up and down in a frantic. New music was the way to get people on the floor dancing together. We would get in some young couples that would hustle and swing dance. (Not sure if it was west or east coast). But the point was that people loved the current music regardless of the speed. From my experience it is not so much the speed of the songs but staying current is what made the difference in central Pa.
Thanks,
Bruce T.  
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Hi Ron!
I want to thank you and everyone else at Michael's for making my birthday so special. I had a great time. Thanks to Denise for the cake, DJ Mark for the slammin' music, Carole and Andre for the awesome table and decorations, video by Denise, Carole and Jeff, and special thanks to Patricia, Tim, Devon, Evie etc! I am grateful to the beautiful line of women who danced with me. They help me continue to earn my title of: "The King of Birthday Dances"!!!
Steve Salerno

DanceTalk * 8-12-08

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Happy Birthday wishes to Billy K, Diane Breccia, Stacy Redler, Hilary Chasin, Susan Cohen, Jami Josephson, Steve Salerno, Rick Weinstein,  Karen Hill, Derrick Allen, Teri Santeramo, George Maderski, Mike Angeletta and Chris Bates.

Music legend and actor Isaac Hayes passed away this weekend. A Grammy and  Oscar winner he gave us "SHAFT" and the classic song "Pursuit of the Pimpmobile". Isaac would have turned 66 years old next week. 

Patrick Wayne Swayze turns 55 this week. The star from Dirty Dancing fought back for "Baby" and now he's in the real life battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Coming December 13, 2008, the return of the "God Father of Disco", Vincent Montana, Jr. and The Philly Sound Orchestra, Live in Concert, featuring the Sigma Sound Girls and Denise Montana. More details coming next week. 

This Thursday is the premier of the newest dance event, Grand Pacific Dance Championships, Aug. 14 - 18th at the Doubletree Hotel in San Jose, Calif.  Hosted by Billy Fajardo, Raul Ante, Debra Hampton.
http://grandpacificdance.com/

Philadelphia magazine voted the Bucks County Dance Center,  located in Bensalem, Pennsylvania as the winner of the "Best of Bucks" dance studio.

Dance At the Ranch, don't miss this special dance party in Medford New Jersey, hosted by Wendy Lippincott. Aug 16th, Saturday evening for Hustle, WCS, Latin & Salsa,  7:30PM to 1:30AM,  See more details below.

Get ready for the Grand Opening of Hustle/Salsa Wednesdays at Dance Manhattan, in NYC with David Padilla. The party kicks off on August 27th, with DJ Chilly Willy from 9:30PM to 12:30AM. 39 West 19th st. 5th floor, NYC, see more details below.

Dancing With The Stars returns Monday Sept 22nd. Early rumors have suggested that Florence Henderson, Toni Braxton, Kim Kardashin, Lance Bass and Dan Marino are competitors in this seasons broadcast.   

Get ready Floridians, Carl Charles is rolling out a weekly social. Starting August 18th, Monday nights, at the Sport Complex in Deerfield Beach. See details below.

Wanted, Male Ballroom Dance Instructor for "May I Have This Dance", in Chicago. Handle teaching groups, privates in silver & gold level in American Style Smooth.  Send dance resume, non-dance resume, interest level, recent headshot, picture in a dance hold, - dance video. Fax to 773-777-6263,  Mail to 5246 N Elston Ave, 2nd Floor, Chicago IL 60630  - e mail  info@mayihavethisdance.com -

This years New York Hustle Congress will have a different look & feel. Lori Brizzi has a bigger space at the NY Hilton. More room for dancing in a magnificent atmosphere, over Labor Day weekend. For details visit  http://www.nyhustlecongress.com

This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by Swing City Chicago
and the Hudson Swing Affair. See all the details below.

Make it a great week,
Ron

Hudson Swing Affair

Labor Day weekend marks the start of a new event. Mix the best of Swing, with glamour & style, a dash of the New York Flair and you have the Hudson Swing Affair.
This is a new venture with a new approach to the Swing weekends. It all takes place August 29th to Sept 1st (Labor Day weekend) at the beautiful Jersey City Hyatt. Dance professional John Festa invites you to experience a swing event like no other.
Get ready to be dazzled at this one-of-a-kind event. With years of experience competing, performing and DJing, John has arranged an event with many new twists. HSA is competition free, yes, no contests just social dancing. Leave your stress at home and plan to attend an exciting weekend at a scenic hotel where the focus is on fun. On Saturday evening your attend the Black & White Ball which will host a very special, glamorous show. This party will be like no other. A classy evening with the stunning Swing Affair Revue -- a variety show with showgirls, comedian John Morgan and the world-renowned burlesque dancer Jo Weldon, founder of the New York School of Burlesque. Ms. Weldon will be performing a classic strip tease. (Please see disclaimer) On Saturday Afternoon there is a Penthouse BBQ. This is a soulful BBQ in the penthouse ballroom at this stunning hotel. Your be overlooking Manhattan and the New York harbor while dancing to the swinging soul of DJ Peter Strom. What a Labor Day it will be.
The BBQ, along with all other parties and lessons, are included in your event ticket.  In addition there will be a show, free workshops - from top WCS teachers -- all included with your event ticket purchase.  Also available are two Broadway show outings (Wicked and Gypsy) for an additional charge.
The teaching staff includes: Robert Royston, John Lindo, Blake Hobby, Sharlot Bott, Ramiro Gonzalez, Charlie Womble & Jackie McGee, Mary Ann Nunez, Sylvia Sykes, DJs:  Victor Loveira, Peter Strom, Tom Hamrick, Greg Parmerton.
The discounted Room Rate has been Extended till August 4th. The gorgeous Hyatt on the Hudson is not the least expensive of all hotels on the circuit -- but surely is the most beautiful. The group rate of $175 has been extended until August 4th. Book your room! (The group rate is for double occupancy).   http://www.HudsonSwingAffair.com.

Dance Trivia

* Bob Power & Julia Gorchakova are the 12 time undefeated Professional United States Rhythm Champions and world Mambo Champions. They have won more US titles then any other couple in the history of American Ballroom dancing. 

* Do you remember the popular Televisions show, "Midnight Special", it was hosted by the late, Lou Rawls (Your Never Find Another Love) and co host Candi Staton (Young Hearts Run Free).

* Mary Murphy's will appear in the upcoming thriller "Killer Movie," starring Kaley Cuoco and J.C. Chasez. The long list of stars she has coached includes Julia Roberts, Mary Steenburgen, Donnie Wahlberg and Dennis Quaid.

* Dance star Hector Berrios continues to wow them, he is the pitching coach for The Brooklyn Cyclones (Mets minor league team). 

* Singer Cheryl Lynn struck gold with her classic song "Got To Be Real", her vocals were incredible. She was discovered on the old "Gong Show " back in 1977

* Pierre Dulaine was called a “Dancer and Teacher extrordianire" by the New York Times and (with Yvonne) he received the Astaire Award for "Best Dancing on Broadway" in Grand Hotel.

* The late, great, Eddie Vega (along with Laudes Jones) won the 1982 season Grand Championships on the popular TV show, Dance Fever.  Five years later he won the season Grand Championships on Star Search (along with Lisa Nunziella).

* The World Invitational Exhibition Championship title was won by an amazing team from Virginia in 1990. David and Sharon Savoy would return, fourteen years later, in 2004, to win this prestigious title for a second time.

Swing City Chicago


It's not to early to fall into Swing City Chicago. Its only ten weeks away so plan to join the Halloween Fest that will be taking place. The Westin Lombard Hotel is the home of Swing City Chicago, from October 31 - November 2nd, 2008. This is the perfect spot for a Halloween weekend. The event hosts numerous competitions including: Jack & Jill, Strictly Swing plus a pro-show/Exhibition, Friday night Pizza Party and Saturday, late night buffet and a very cool DJ Challenge. Swing City Chicago has an incredible staff featuring the best talent in Swing. There is also an Amateur Novice Championship event and the special "All Star Hour" where you can dance with a star - in the name of charity (all proceeds go to the Autism Society of Illinois). So You Think You Can Dance With the All Stars. Here is your chance. For $10 you get 10 minutes to dance, take a mini lesson talk shop etc...Many pro are donating their time.  Come join John Lindo, Jason Miklic, Maren Oslac, Christopher Hussey, Katrina Branson, Nino DiGuillio, Sheli Schroeder, Brian Faust, Jill Popick, Douglas Rousar, Carlos Garcia, Will Carlton, Melanie Wong - Jennings, Beverly Solazzo, Angie Cameron, Erica Berg, Jason Barnes, Bill Cameron, Mario Robau Jr, Fred & Tina Price. The music will be off the charts with some of the finest DJs on the planet, April Prince, Matt Cotherman, Capri Robles, Beth Bellamy and Fred Price.  
Swing City Chicago is ACNE qualifier, National Fast Dance and World Swing Council Member. For an incredible weekend of dancing, join the Halloween party of the season. For more details and registration information visit: http://www.Swingcitychicago.com

DanceTalk * 8-5-08

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Happy birthday wishes to  Marie Izzo,  Keith Gussoni,  Paul Meringola, Lana May,  Luis Rosa,  Tony Tanelli,  Lauren Gleason,  Hae Zang, Sandy Horne and  Brandon Bess. 

Our heart felt condolences go out to Elise Alvarado on the loss of her mother. Please keep Elisa and her family in your thoughts and prayers.

He's a daddy, DJ Noel Colon has a baby girl " Lucy" she was born last week, she weighs 8lb 10oz. Congratulations to Noel and Miriam.

In 1972, this DJ/dancer hustled over to the Joe Franklin TV show to audition along with dance pioneer Jeff Shelley. Enjoy below, the Spotlight feature which covers her illustrious career from the past to present. 

Dance Champion Tiffany Brown has become engaged to be married. We wish her and Rob only the best for their future together.

Looking for the best new dance music, here is the CD for you. DJ Fancy has his summer compilation, with the newest dance songs,  all on one CD.  For only $15.00 (includes shipping) your get remixes including "Closer",  "When I Grow Up", "Leavin", "Pocketful Of Sunshine", "Break The Dawn", "Fall", "Damaged" and many others.  Write to DJ Fancy at   sparda3636@yahoo.com  to order.

Great images from Susan Hiser and Danielle Odhner's birthday parties are now posted, courtesy of Fred,  Visit
http://whatsnew.fredf.fotki.com/

A dance benefit is being planned to benefit the Rockland County Hospice. A one day event combining open dancing, group lessons, dance show and competitions. Needed: Dancers to perform, Competitors, Judges, MC’s, DJ’s........the tentative date is October 19, 2008. Contact  catchthelight@hotmail.com

The Hustle Hall Of Fame has added lots of new photos and members. You can nominated new dancers as well. Visit the site at http://www.hustlehalloffame.com

Congratulations to Debra Lynn on her first Miami Dance Magic event. Here are the winners of the triple threat that took place. 1st Shay Dixon & Michelle Dixon,  2nd Nino DiGiulio & Dawn Lara,  3rd Michael Kielbasa & Jennifer Lyons,  4th Keith & Celeste Gussoni, 5th Aaron Frier & Vanessa Sampson. Save the date for next year, July 16-19th, 2009 at the Hyatt Regency Miami.

This past weekend Mark & Karen (http://www.UltimateDanceZone.com) celebrated their 7th Year of running dances on Long Island. It was an energetic, packed & exciting evening.  The show starred Argentine Specialists Ana & Diego, then the crowd was entertained with comedy, magic & a Salsa Shine Routine by Mark & Karen and Ana & Diego. Their next event will be Aug 10, Karen's Awesome Ladies Styling in Farmingdale - http://www.mjames.org/awesomestyle.html - Mark & Karen want to thank all their supporters for the last seven years.

Philadelphia Magazine named the Society Hill Dance Academy their "2008 Best of Philly" winner for Best Ballroom Dance Lessons. Congratz to Shana and her staff.

This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by the NY Hustle Congress taking  place Labor day weekend, read all the details below.  http://www.nyhustlecongress.com

Make it a great week,
Ron

"Spotlight"
Jenny Costa
 Music has been refereed to as the universal language.  The right song can touch your inner soul, regardless of your age, sex - socioeconomic background.  Music can raise your spirits and bring hope to a potentially plight. Jenny Costa could relate to all these situations.....music is her life. 
When Jenny turned 11 years old, she experienced a fascinating new dance.  She was captivated. For the past few years she had been studying classical dances - tap, ballet and jazz, but this was different.  Jenny Costa really connected with the music and partner dancing, this was the hustle.  
"Gerry taught me some basic steps and I picked up the rest by watching people dance" explains Jenny.  Still a preteen, Jenny developed a deep rooted connection for the hustle as well as the music that moved her. The youngest of four girls, Jenny was born and raised in New York City. Her father was an orchestra musician which had a profound impact on her fascination with music. At this young age, this ambitious young lady became an avid collector of vinyl records, which included Latin, disco and R&B classics.  Like most kids her age, she began to attend teen, church and school dances, to practice her new found love, the hustle. "Gerry and her partner were awesome. That's how I learned by watching her and her partner practice at my friend's house," recalls Jenny. As the dance bug continued to grow internally, so did her love for the music all around her. By the age of just 12, Jenny was already DJing.  She was so enriched by the sound that she was compelled to express her love by playing and mixing the music. She understood that selecting the right song could make - brake that pinnacle point in a movie, that romantic moment - a critical dance routine.  At the time, very few women embraced DJing - were able to break thru this male dominated craft.  All along, she continued to develop her dance skills and seek out dance partners.  "My hustle dance partner, Henry was about 6 feet tall and could do one arm lifts with me, holding me straight over his head", explains Jenny.  Their dancing went beyond the traditional steps and patterns, they would execute difficult moves like death drops, dips and various types of sweeps.  "My dance partner Eddie was my Latin dance partner. Along with my friend Sandy, we performed dance routines for a Latin band back in the late seventies", shares Jenny.  With her partner Eddie, they won many dance competitions, including a round trip to Puerto Rico.  All along, Jenny was living a multi faceted life, channeling her artistic energy not only for dancing but for "spinning" the music.  She was already making a name for herself and was highly regarded for both her dancing and DJing skills. Jenny was popping up on everyones radar.  At just 16 years old, with such tenacity, Jenny mixed music for the original WKTU FM radio station in New York City.  Simultaneously, she was being recruited to teach all types of ballroom dancing. Jeff and Jack Shelley approached her at a club in Queens, NY, after she had won a big hustle contest. The Shelley brothers were innovators and the originators of the first chain of dance studios dedicated to teaching the hustle.  "They had asked me if I would be interested in helping them break down the hustle so they could teach it at their studio in Queens," details Jenny, " in exchange they would teach me ballroom so I could teach that as well." 
Under the direction of the popular Shelly brothers, Jenny began teaching at Dale Dance Studios, The Metropolitan Dance Club, that was located at 87-20 Parsons Blvd. in Jamaica, NY and at the New York Hustle Studio, that was located on Roosevelt Ave. in Flushing. She was able to take multi tasking to a new level, as she attended school full time and managed dual careers, all at once. " It was a win win situation until I started DJing which conflicted with my dancing, I had to eventually bow out of dancing for my DJ career" explains Jenny.  "I must admit, dancing was always my first love, but the love of seeing so many dance to the music that I mixed together was so much more gratifying for me", shares Jenny. 
 Jenny made a critical decision to hang up her dance shoes and take a position behind the scenes as opposed to being front and center dancing. With such a diverse love of music, Jenny has amassed a  wide spectrum of collectibles in all forms of music including her favorite artists:  Andre Bocelli, James Brown,
 P. Diddy, Luther Vandross, Whitney Houston and the late - Barry White. "I always felt that dancing gave me the edge in DJing because I could always feel myself out on the dance floor and know what music and mixes made me want to dance", explains Jenny. There at their beginning, Jenny has received platinum albums for her help as a billboard reporter in promoting artists such as Madonna, Jody Watley and Expose. Jenny's hard work and ultimate success has made her a well sought after DJ/mixologist. Her career has given her the opportunity to meet some of the most influential people in the field of entertainment as well as work in Europe, the Caribbean and various states through out the USA. Today, Jenny still adores the music that she grew up with as well as salsa. She still is in love with her craft, and has been working since 1997 at the number one radio station in the country, WKTU in NYC.  Her dedication and talent has not gone by unnoticed as she recently made radio industry history by becoming the first ever to win the New York Metro A.I.R. Award for Best Mix Show DJ. New York Governor George Pataki and Sean Puffy Combs were among the honored presenters and guest speakers at the awards dinner. She was commissioned by WKTU to do a midnight mix of current dance music on Diane Prior's "Ladies On the Turntable's Show", along with the Saturday Night Dance Factory, Midday Mix shows along with special event mix shows. Jenny can also be heard on Satellite radio, XM Chrome. As a young girl growing up in NY,  Jenny became entranced in the hustle. She went on to excel in the dance and would later teach others. Today, she continues to share her passion for dancing and the music that inspires us all. She will be the featured DJ at the 2008 NY Hustle Congress hosted by Lori Brizzi this Labor Day weekend.

New York Hustle Congress 2008

Get ready New York, its the end of the summer dance spectacular. This is the third leg of the triple crown of hustle, this is the New York Hustle Congress.  One of the premier dance competitions returns to the birth place of the hustle, NYC. Your host, Lori Brizzi, says Good - bye to summer in grand tradition.  The Congress kicks off August 28 - Sept 1st, and will feature a Saturday night party like you've never seen.  Headlined by the incomparable Grammy nominated singing group, the Trammps, it will be twice as nice, as Lori has the number one Female DJ in the country on board. Mega Super Mixer DJ Jenny Costa is this years special DJ. Direct from radio station WKTU, Jenny will be playing the hottest classics and fresh tunes as well. The event will also feature West Coast Swing, along with Competitions in Pro-AM Hustle, Latin, WCS, Amateur & Pro Strictly Swing, Just Hustle, Classic Hustle, Theater Arts Hustle and Jack and Jills.
Lori is no stranger to hustle dancing. With years of teaching, competing and performing, Lori hosts some of the biggest dance parties in the tri state area. Her "Hustle Millennium" dance socials are legendary. Lori is having the year of her life as she was voted, by thousands of DanceTalk readers, "Person Of The Year" and was just honored with the prestigious "Christopher M. Nardone Award" (for her spirit and caring) at this years World Hustle Dance Championships.
Lori continues to make things happen as she has assembled a weekend of non stop dancing. 
The Saturday night party features the artists that had the hit song from "Saturday Night Fever." The Trammps bring the Philly sound to NY, featuring Earl Young. They will be performing their hits. Their discography is endless, with some of the finest dance songs that include, " Zing Goes the Strings of My Heart," " Disco Party," "Where the Happy People Go," their monster hit from 1977 - "Disco Inferno," "Love Epidemic," "Hold Back the Night," "The Night the Lights Went Out"..... You don't want to miss this.
The 4th annual Hustle Congress brings dancers from all over the country together for the Labor dance weekend. Say good bye to summer as we dance the nights away. 
There will be an exciting Salsa party with DJ Henry Knowles. Terrific workshops, social dancing and competitions  with a great staff:  Arte Phillips, Henry Knowles, Billy Fajardo & Katie Marlow, Bobbi Petri,  Brian Gallagher, Derrick Allen, Diane Nardone, Donna Boyle, Donna DeSimone, Eddie Simon, Erik Novoa, Jenny Costa, Hazel & Tybaldt Ulrich, Jeff Sandler, Kim Vanaman, Lisa Nunziella, Lisa & Christopher Joe Schaupp, Loriann Greenhouse, Billy Marti, Mark James & Karen Lupo, Jami Josephson,  Joyce Szilli, Paul Pellicoro, Robert Vance,  Silvana Gallagher, Bobby Morales, Nelson "Paradise" Roman, Kelvin Roche, Ron Bess, Johnny O, Raul Santiago, Sergia Anderson, Robert Vance, Maria Torres, Herb Martin, NY Hilton Hotel 1335 Avenue of the America (1-800Hiltons).  Don't miss this exciting weekend of dance. For all the details, staff and more, visit the website at http://www.nyhustlecongress.com For more details visit the website and - contact Lori at  (516) 728 - 6101  e mail - Loribrizzi@aol.com


TO RON

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