DanceTalk - The Archives
August 2008
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Visiting the Archives of Ron's Dance Talk
Ron Bess & daughter
picture courtesy of Eric Novoa
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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 Madonna,
Rosalee 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
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
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
-
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
SOME DANCE LINKS
Webmaster & Sponsored by Mark James
TO MARK