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Happy birthday wishes to Roberto Pagan, Anthony Lee, Karen Pomager, Diane Weinberg, Rosalee Bucci, Shelly Cutler, Eddie Marks and Roy Tator.

We send our heart felt condolences to Bob Davis (editor of Soul-Partrol) on the loss of his father Robert S. Davis. Please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers.

Its magic time, for the inaugural debut of Miami Dance Magic July 17 - 20, at the   Miami Hyatt Regency, WCS, Hustle & Salsa. Lots of competitions, workshops, social dancing and the beauty of Miami. For details: Debra Lynn (954) 270 - 0232 - e mail - MiamiDanceMagic@aol.com   http://www.CoastalDanceConnection.com 

Hey DJs and dance music lovers, DJ Fancy has his new CD available for only $15.00 (included shipping & handling). These are all new dance songs by Donna Summer, Natasha Bedingfield, Kylie Minogue, NeYo, Danity Kane, PussyCat Dolls, 16 hot new songs in all, write to sparda3636@yahoo.com    for details.

Five time world champions, Ronnie DeBenedetta & Brandi Tobias are choreographing a "Two Step" for one of the couples this week on "So You Think You Can Dance" Wednesday, July 16th, 8PM EST, Fox network. Be sure to tune in to watch. 

Dance pro Susan Fritz has a new video on YouTube  featuring her dance team, from Sandra Cameron Dance Studio - Stephanie Hakun, Seth Asher & Irene Mou, Michael Zurich & Gail Brunje.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Da07UBR_a3E

The King of Swing returns to the Philly area on Aug 8, 9 & 10 - Mario "Swing Daddy" , with hosts Rob and Sheila. Private lessons are already sold out. Wow, see more details below.

Discoamerica was a blast, special thanks to David Padilla for arranging the bus trip from NY to King Of Prussia and to our gal Slinky (Sheryl Freas) for stepping up as the lead in the dinner show. 

The blonde bombshell, Ginger Rogers was born this week in 1911 in the great state of Missouri. She passed in 1995, but left behind an incredible legacy. 

Check out the images from Alan's birthday celebration at Michael' Cafe, courtesy of Fred  http://whatsnew.fredf.fotki.com/  and photos by Scott Michielli at
http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=8FYuW7Rw5aTo&emid=sharview&linkid=link2

This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by the World Hustle Dance Championships taking place July 25 to 27th. visit http://www.hustledanceworld.com

Make it a great week,
Ron

World Hustle Dance Championships

The three C's, to a great dance event: Community, Camaraderie, Competitions.
Its time for the second leg of this summers "Triple Crown of Hustle" dancing.  Get ready for the World Hustle Dance Championships, taking place July 25th till the 27th at the Hilton East Brunswick Hotel. Come join Diane Nardone as she presents her 8th annual event which is a "Dance Explosion." Situated in central New Jersey, only a short drive from Philadelphia, Staten Island, Connecticut, Long Island, the DC area and all the burros of NY. There is something for everyone, Come out on Friday night and dance to the fabulous music of all the DJ's competing in our second annual "Battle of the DJ's."  They will be playing their best music for your listening and dancing pleasure and then you'll have a chance to vote for your favorite DJ. Bobby Gerard, from Florida, won last year, will he repeat? Also on Friday evening, the new and exciting Dance Explosion Hustle Team Match Challenge. Friday will be a fabulous evening for all who those in attendance, .... get ready to wear out your dance shoes. Competition entries close on July 15th so if you are planning to compete, be sure to get your forms in soon. Here are the Jack-n-Jill schedules: Pro J&J Swing and Hustle competition entry will be available at the event until 4 PM on Saturday (no exceptions).  Entries for the Amateur Jack-n-Jill Swing and Hustle plus our NEW Jill-n-Jack Swing & Hustle competitions will remain open until Sunday at noon (no exceptions). The Jill-n-Jack competitions on Sunday are for amateurs only. There's still time to register for the World Open Dance Championship competition before the July 15 deadline!  This is the premier dance comp open to all levels, if you think you have what it takes to take home the Gold. The Saturday Dinner last year was so fabulous that they are keeping the menu of mixed greens salad and the fantastic Balsamic Glazed Flank Steak with Roasted Rosemary Potatoes & fruited wild rice with delicious vegetable medley.  The Chocolate Fudge Cake Drizzled with Raspberry Sauce will be a delicious ending!  So get your dinner ticket now as the tables are going quickly and no dinner/show tickets will be available at the event.
After dinner, you will remain at your 'reserved' table to watch a Dance Explosion show with a variety of All Forms of Dancing for your enjoyment.  This year a special performance by American Dance Wheels, the organization that World Hustle has chosen to benefit this year, as part of the dinner show. The hotel is almost sold out ... only 26 room nights are available at our special $99 room rate so don't lose out on this fabulous rate. There will be vendors available all weekend as well as fabulous workshops and competitions.  The hotel has a heated indoor pool and whirlpool and a state-of-the-art on-site Fitness Club as well as a newly renovated casual restaurant, The Cafe, in an atrium setting.  There is also the Atrium Bar and Sips Coffee shop. Come join the fabulous line up of invited World Class Instructors, Judges, Performers and DJ's: Anthony Lee,  Bobby Gerard, Brian Gallagher, Chris Bates, Dave Muzii, David Flynn, Derrick Allen, Diane K. Nardone, Donna Boyle, Donna DeSimone, Fred & Tina Price, George Garcia, Jason Miklic &  Sophy Kdep, John Festa,  John Lindo, Kim Vanaman, Krisna Creque Dodig, Mark James & Karen Lupo, Mark Routzahn
Michael Frank, Ron Bess, Silvana Gallagher, Tony Pace, Tybaldt & Hazel Ulrich
For more details visit http://www.hustledanceworld.com

Letters to the Editor

Greetings Ron, congratulators on 8 years for Dancetalk, I did want to speak on the hustle and disco topic and how it is portrayed on TV. A pervious person wrote that Alex from California that does Salsa does a good job. He does an incredible job making the Salsa sexy, spicy and hot. What hot blooded women wouldn't want to dance with him.  That is what makes folks want to learn to dance. Hustle needs a face lift. 
Sammie 
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Ron - I had a question and maybe some of the dance instructors can answers this - maybe you can. What do you think is the going rate for dance lessons and let me be more specific. I have been taking Hustle and Salsa lessons from a very well known franchised dance studio. They are all over the country need I say more.  I am a mother of three kids so you know I have to watch my dollars.  Every time I go to this studio all they care about is getting their money. If you don't sign up for a group class - a party class they offer private lessons for $100.00 bucks a pop. I cannot afford $100.00 per class. My daughters both dance and they both dance Salsa they pay $70.00 and that is for a whole  month of classes. Why does this franchise take advantage of the public. I have been dancing  for years, I just started getting back into it now that my kids are older. If I was taking lessons from Alex Di Silva then maybe I wouldn't mind so much. Can somebody comment on this? 
Thanks,
 Phyllis in O-town
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May I add a comment to the lady who felt that Cyd Charisse "did not get the attention" that was given to Fred and Ginger and she based it perhaps on fair skin and fair hair color.  Fred and Ginger danced in the early 1930s and early 1940s.  They had no competition with other dancers at that time of early musicals.  Fred was dark-haired in the early films and may have lightened his hair when films went to Technicolor because it made him look younger.  By then Ginger no longer danced w/him for she had become a dramatic actress years before Technicolor films.  Fred was still dancing until his 60s. Ginger stopped in her 30s. Studios wanted "younger, newer" dancers.  Cyd Charisse, also fair skinned, danced in the late 1940s and 1950s, a decade - two after Fred/Ginger when there were many more female dancers who could sing, dance and act, so they all faced a triple threat.  Musical films ended soon after but continued on Broadway.  Cyd Charisse was a gorgeous dancer but she had so much competition.  Studios had a "stable" full of dancers - Ann Miller (dark hair) Mitzie Gaynor, Leslie Caron (dark hair), Jane Powell, Debbie Reynolds (brown hair), Audrey Hepburn (dark hair); and too many others to mention.  It was not the same during the very early days of Fred and Ginger.  By the way, Fred and Ginger were never really known for their singing and neither was Cyd Charisse.  Ginger went on to become a terrific non-dancing actress.  Her lack of ballet training shows but who else had it in the 1930s?  Certainly not Ruby Keeler nor Joan Crawford - both awkward dancers at the time of Fred/Ginger. Ginger was better than they but Cyd Charisse, who would be much better, was just a pre-teen at that time. I just wanted to clarify that "skin/hair color" had absolutely nothing to do with it.  They danced in different eras and in worlds entirely different but they are all memorable.
Irene Jankowski ....................................................
 Hi Ron
I'd like to warmly thank everyone for the all the birthday wishes, cards and overall gestures of friendship I received at Michael's on July 2.  A very special thank you to all the great guys who participated in my birthday dance - you were all fabulous partners; to Mark for always playing a song - two he knows I love; to Ron for acknowledging my birthday in DanceTalk year after year (amongst the hundreds he tracks every week); to Scott and Fred for their expert photography; and last, but not least, to Terri my very, very good friend, who made all the arrangements for the party and convinced me to celebrate at Michael's that night.  I am blessed to know you all.   Love, Susan ....................................................
By the way Ron,.....my student Frankie is only 19 years old and loves the hustle the way we do it and teach it nowadays. Frankie has only been learning our hustle for 8 months and he placed in all of his comps at Discoamerica. His sister Rosa (21 years old) is going to be something special in a couple of years. They both love our style of hustle at the events. When Frankie is not practicing hustle - taking classes he's on hi I-POD listening to new club style music, hip-hop, regaetton and salsa,......I think that's very cool. He's a normal young guy that just happens to be in love with our hustle. They will be competing at the "Big Apple Comps" then Diane's WHDC.
I'll see you at Diane's.
Jaime
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Hi Ron, Even with several other dance events happening in NYC and NJ, the Crossroads at Mahwah Sheraton’s event had a great turnout with experienced and newbie dancers. Our Queen Bee of Hustle Diane Nardone conducted a beginners class to get the ball rolling.  After the class Johnny O and Tom played a great California style mix and both, yes both, dance floors quickly filled up. The DJs kept the music going till 12:45AM. Dancers came from Poughkeepsie NY, Port Jervis, Staten Island, NYC and the Pa area.  Diane provided a wonderful dance demonstration calling from the audience students (Ron, Debbie, Regina, Cathy and Gene) cheers, whistles and applause filled the ballroom as Diane and her students strutted their stuff. Dance pro George Garcia & is lovely wife Roesel graciously joined Diane to complete the demonstration.  Here is a sample of feedback from the night. “Friday nights at the beginning of the month is a great time as not much is usually going on”   “We had a great time we came to dance the space was great, the music was great, Diane was great and the Dancing was great, I guess all in all it was “great”,  “I have been trying to get my husband into learning how dance and when I saw the news about the event we and another couple came. Such a nice group of people friendly, helpfully and my husband said damn those people are really good dancers. I really learned something from the lesson and felt confident enough to practice what was taught”  The Sheraton is planning to have its next event after Labor Day so keep watching Ron’s Newsletter for updates.  We would like to thank all of those you came out to support the event and am glad you all had a wonderful time.  Any day that you can dance is a good day. 
Thanks,  George McMahon 

DanceTalk * 7-8-08

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Happy Birthday wishes to  Melissa Walker,  Nancy Merle,  Punkin Habet, Jeff Gessner,  Nina Rosado,  Paige Shoyer,  Loriann Greenhouse, George Azpura,  Roma Moon,  Gregory Harrison,  Manny "Gizmo" Alvarez, Paula Bove/Edgar,  Giant Gene,  Al Schmidt  and  Judy Smith. 

Congratulations to Shana and the Society Hill Dance Academy. They are opening a second dance studio - SHDA West, in Manayunk, Pa. at Beat Street Station, just one block off of Main Street.  Stay tuned for updates.

What a weekend. Discoamerica was the bomb. An incredible weekend of entertainment surpassing all expectations. Congratulations to co-directors Donna Boyle and Joyce Szilli. See the wrap up below. 

This Christmas look out for the motion picture Bedtime Stories, with choreography by Adam Shankman (Hairspray and Stuck On You) featuring Adam Sandler, Dana Goodman, Keri Russel and dance pros Lacy Schwimmer and Travis. 

Don't miss the premier of the newest dance social, Dancing At the Cross Roads, this Friday, July 11th, at the Sheraton Mahwah Crossroad Hotel Grand Ballroom - 1 International Blvd, Route 17 North, Mahwah New Jersey see details below.

Lori Brizzi has extended the early bird price package for the 4th Annual New York Hustle Congress.  The prices do go up next week. The hotel is sold out and the group rate almost gone so reserve your room at 1-800 Hilton and mention code SAL for the group rate immediately. http://www.nyhustlecongress.com

Nicky Siano, the legendary DJ will retire on his 55th birthday, March 2010, just 17 months away. He performs all over the world...best known from the Gallery in NYC and helping to launch the careers of so many artists. 
 
Here is the pick of the week from DJ Fancy, "We Break The Dawn" by Michelle Williams of "Destiny's Child" fame. This is her new single.   

It will be a high kicking weekend at The Big Apple Country Dance Festival, the party takes place at the Renaissance Newark see all the details at http://bigapplecountrydance.com/ 

Did you catch Raul Santiago, on "So You Think You Can Dance," he was assisting choreographer and friend Alex DaSilva.

This weeks edition of DanceTalk is sponsored by the Mediterranean Dance Cruise. Read all about it below.


Make it a great week,
Ron

Mediterranean Dance Cruise

There comes a point in life when you decide its time to create memories. There is no better way then to gather your loved ones, close friends - family and sail on the incredible Queen Victoria. This is bound to be an unbelievable journey that will be the topic of discussions for years to come. You will vacation for 12 wonderful days starting your trip in Athens which will include stops in Volos, Greece – Dikili, Istanbul, & Kusadasi Turkey, Port Said & Alexandria Egypt -  Valetta in Malta - Messina Naples and ending in Rome, Italy. Imagine the history and beauty you will capture. The sites will be breath taking.  This is a once in a life time event. The trip begins on November 17th thru November 29th of 2008. The rates start at approximately $2200 for the cruise, prior Cunard guests may get better rates. Please call now for the lowest rates, but don't wait. The level of interest is high.   25% of cruise fare due at cabin assignment & final payment due Aug.12, 2008.  All prices per person based on double occupancy & include special dance events open to our group only.  Call 215-855-2711 - info@blsdc.com for more information and a brochure. For the ultimate time to create special memories.

Discoamerica  ( the highlights )


On July 4th the country celebrated 232 years of independence. Philadelphia, the first capital of the United states, is also the home of the longest running dance event, dedicated to hustle dancing. Discoamerica celebrated its 10th anniversary in grand style. Organizers Donna Boyle and Joyce Szili created plenty of fireworks on the dance floor. With so many surprises....many old friends returned to celebrate the 10 year anniversary. Many dance couples came back to encore previous performances. Hustle pioneer Arte Phillips was honored for his longevity in the dance world and for all of his contributions, the "Life Time Achievement Award" was bestowed on him.  Pre dinner festivities featured the return of some of the best acts over the years * a performance from "Dancing With the Stars" Brian Fortuna, along with his mother, Ballroom pro, Sandra Fortuna,  *an exciting acrobatic exhibition by David Paris and Zoë,  *a high energy show by Eli Torres and Yen Dorado dancing their ESPN world Salsa number,  *Donna Boyle and Jose Gonzales demonstrating a classic hustle.  The dinner show honored the past 10 years. A tribute created by choreographer Arte Phillips. The show reflected back on previous shows featureing  Loriann Greenhouse & Kelvin Roche,  Tybaldt & Hazel Ulrich, Wendy & Wajih Dalal and the cast: Patty McConnell, Elizabeth Darchi, Angela McCabe, Stephanie Risser, Carolina Almont, Joey Commentucci, Joe Kernan, Louie Orlando, Jose Gonzales, Steve Neeren and Billy Marti,
The fireworks shined brightly on the dance floor along with Andre Phelps, Bobby Morales, Lori Brizzi, Steve Neeren, Brian Gallagher, Silvana Gallagher, Wingo Hom, DJ Mark, Diane Nardone, Angela McCabe, Dara Patrusky, Barry Durand, George Garcia, Billy Marti, Wendy & Wajih Dalal, Nino Torre, Joey Commentucci, Etti Kurtz, Mark Sokowski,  Elizabeth Darchi, Louie Orlando, Tony & Shawn Nguyen, Carlo DeJesus, Jose Gonzales, Danny McGee,  Jamison Kilburn, Joe Kerner, Stephanie Risser, Ginny Carey, Roberto Pagan, Carolina Almont, Loriann Greenhouse and Kelvin Roche, DJ Mark, Rosa Paredes, David Padilla, Robert Ortiz, Tariq Brown,  Joanne "Fox"  Piazza, Jessie Casendino, Erika Smith, Anita Giacone, Scott Michielli, Michael Leyden, Elizabeth Craner, Mary Keegan, Evie Hoover, Trisha Caballero, Walter Levy, Kathy Young, Jamie Serna & Jerise, Lisa Sands, Bill Pouter, Pat McDonnell, Terri Murphy........
Winners of the Book Ends competition were: (girls) Silvana Gallagher and Stephanie Risser and (boys) Tariq Brown and Mr Anthony,
The traditional Philly Freeze was won by Sal and Wendy Dalal.
It was a wonderful weekend that will have folks marking their calendars now, for next years event. 
Here are some of this years results. For the complete list, visit the official website, http://www.discoamerica.com

Just Hustle Novice
1) Raymond Fabrisio & Michele Moyer
2) Mike Reher & Audrey Rigsbee
3) Gerald Marcus & Linda Marcus

Just Hustle Intermediate
1) Ricardo Villa & Sammy Shecter
2) Phil Dixon & Linda Marcus
3) Frank Paredes & Joan Matera

Just Hustle Advanced
1) Jesse Castenda & Erica Smith
2) Jack Cieka & Danielle Odhner
3) Scott Michielli & Elizabeth Craner

Classic Hustle
1) Joel Halsband & Mary Ellen Hood
2) Ricardo Villa & Sammy Shecter

Pro Just Hustle
1) Wajih & Wendy Dalal
2) Joe Kerner & Stephanie Risser
3) Daniel McGee & Ginny Carey

Female & Male Jack & Jill  Pro - Am Hustle (individual winners)
Novice
1) Sara Jones     Michael Couris
2) Judy Smith     Bryan Toder
3) Stacy Sansevenino     Daryl Pollansky

Intermediate
1) Joanne Piazza         Ricardo Villa
2) Eileen Erlich             Phil Dixon
3) Angelique Zuccolo      Patrick Stewart

Advanced
1) Cindy Lehning        Michael Leyden
2) Erica Smith            Patrick Stewart
3) Mihoko Ninomiya    Jack Cieka

Pro - Am 3 Dance Competition
1) Tybaldt Ulrich & Sammy Shecter
2) George & Roscel Garcia
3) Wingo Hom & Erica Smith

Professional Dance Off
1) Wajih & Wendy Dalal
2) Daniel McGee & Ginny Carey
3) Roberto Pagan & Rosa  Paredes

Professional  3 Dance Competition
1) Roberto Pagan & Rosa Paredes
2) George Garcia & Diane Nardone
3) Carlo DeJesus & Lori Brizzi

Professional Invitational Jack & Jill Hustle
1) Wajih & Wendy Dalal
2) Brian Gallagher & Lori Brizzi
3) Louie Orlando & Elizabeth Darchi

TO RON

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