DanceTalk - The Archives
June 2003
Thank for
Visiting the Archieves of Ron's Dance Talk
Ron Bess & daughter
picture courtesy of Eric Novoa
LINKS of INTEREST - for HUSTLE
Click on Flames to Burn on to the -
From iTunes & Mark James
DanceTalk * 6-24-03
Happy Birthday wishes to Lynnette Allen, Jamie Serna, Angela McCabe,
Lori Brizzi, Louise Symington and David Padilla.
Best wishes to Jennifer Nitka and Jeff Gessner on their wedding this coming week.
Photos from this years Disco America are now available for your viewing and/or purchase at www.swingshoes.net Thanks to Erik Novoa for the great work.
July 5th is the competitors pre-registration deadline for this years
World Hustle Dance Championships, July 24 -27th. For more details visit www.hustledanceworld.com
We listed last weeks "Professional Jack & Jill" winners, at Disco America, in the wrong order. Here is the correction:
1 Brian Gallagher and Diane Nardone
2 Louie Orlando and Silvana Gallagher
3 Keith Gussoni and Elizabeth Darchi
4 Chris Bates and Susan Fritz
5 Erik Novoa and Arte Philips
6 Billy Fajardo and Gladys Torres
Make it a great week,
Ron
Now U Know
So, where did the term "hustle" come from? You've heard of the "Charlie Hustle,"
and "hurry and hustle over" or the expression to be "hustled" (by a pool shark) but where did the Hustle dance get its name?
The word "Hustle" originates from the Dutch word meaning "shake." It became a common street term. Don de Natlae, was one of the first dances to start teaching the hustle back in 1973. He remembers someone asking the young dancers, in a Spanish Bronx neighborhood, what was the dance that they were doing? "Oh" was the answer, "We're jus hustlin around."
As the Hustle dance began to evolve it initially took the form of other social dances. For all intensive purposes, it is a hybrid dance. It lacks a documented history, formal structure and syllabus. It was similar to a six count Lindy but was embraced by the young generation of dancers as it could be danced to the new popular disco music that was beating its bass drum to new levels. This fresh new sound helped drive the hustle dance. Since the Latin dances had such a big influence on the early hustle dance it commonly was referred to as the "Latin Hustle" by many.
Once Van McCoys hit song "The Hustle" charged up the radio charts (it hung there for 18 weeks) the dance teachers and club owners knew that touch dancing was back. Kids of all ages responded with a new enthusiasm for partner dancing. That was 25 years ago. (Next year there will be a celebration to recognize the contributions of Van McCoy and his Grammy Award winning song.) The New York Times called "The Hustle" the biggest dance record of the seventies....."
In the US, the Hustle dance got it's biggest push in the Black and Latino bars and clubs in the New York region. Ballroom dancing was rebounding from a decade of "nose dive" business in the "hippie like" 60's. Touch dancing lost its appeal but the 70's opened the door for changes in music, fashion and style. With the hippie age, rebellion and Vietnam behind us, college students and young folks, yearned for structure, one to one relationships, a permanent monogamous relationship. Couple dancing (as opposed to free style) was back in fashion then expressed as being "chic." The music of the 60's became somewhat political, what was referred to as head music. The 70's music was for your feet.
Looking back, it appears that the timing was perfect for this dance explosion. A new sound called disco emerged, a new dance to bring people together backed by hundreds of exciting Discotheques opening and new motion pictures featuring both the dance and music were in the theaters.
The term Discotheque was coined in Paris. It was a play on the word Bibliotheque (Library). Originally, a disco was a record library, and eventually a place to dance to records in a record library, instead of live bands. Chubby Checkers (the original Twister), wrote a song called the Discotheque and was known to use the expression first in the USA back in the early 70's. The first Parisian Discotheque was called the Whiskey a Go - Go. New York followed this format with Le Club. The Hustle dance was well received by all. It represented a bridge back to ballroom dancing. It was embraced by all ages. The dance sound during the late 70's was influenced by all types of music: R&B, punk and new wave. At first, the imports and deep disco music was limited to clubs with minimal late night air play on the radio. After the release of Saturday Night Fever and Donna Summer's string of hit songs (five songs hit the top ten which were all recognized on Billboards Top 40), disco music could no longer be ignored. Mrs.Summer's still collects nearly two million dollars a year in royalties alone from all those hits. After Disco became a dirty word, the sound continued but under the guise of the name "Dance music." Everyone at one point jumped on the Disco train and watered down the quality of the music, resulting in a commercial sound which meant poor quality releases. Two musicians, Casey and Finch, wrote the seductive hit song "Rock Your Baby" which was recorded by George McCrae. The song went to No. 1 on Billboard's pop and R&B charts in 1974. ''Disco impacted everything you hear on the radio today,'' says Casey, ``It's part of our culture, and it's going to be there until the world ends."
Madonna currently holds the record for the most Dance Club play singles. To date she has had 22 singles reach the number 1# spot on Billboard Magazine's "Dance Club Play."
Now U Know.
R.I.P.
Veteran disco singer Jo - Carol Davidson passed away last week.
Jo - Carol, died from cerebral aneurysm at the early age of 47. She recorded for Megatone Records during the 80's and sung with many artists including Sylvester. More recently, she lent her voice to CD-Rom for Clifford The Big Red Dog.
DanceTalk * 6-17-03
Happy Birthday wishes to Carol Feldman, Christa Weaver and John Merisier.
Due to circumstances beyond their control, this year's Disco Step-by-step Annual Reunion has been canceled. (Scheduled for July 18, 2003)
Congratulations to Erik Novoa and Laura Cozik. They will be heading to Las Vegas for the filming of Dance Fever. They have made the final selection and have been selected to represent New York City. We hope they bring home the Gold.
DJ Mike Brooks from Oldies 98.3 FM, will be hosting dance parties on the beach at the new beach bar at Trump Plaza on Mondays June 22, July 7, July 21, August 4, August 18th -- come out and join the hustle and line dance party from 6PM to 10PM in Atlantic City, NJ.
The first "Liberty Swing Dance Championships" will take place next year hosted by
John Lindo and John Festa from June 25 - 27th, 2004
Make it a great week,
Ron
Disco America Dance Championships
Highlights
Congratulation to all the winners, performers and the staff at this years Disco America. It was an excellent nonstop weekend. The new location provided a bigger dance facility in a beautiful hotel setting. The dinner show lived up to the high expectations. Arte Phillips put together an exciting evening, combining the talents of Juan Calderon and Cultural Explosion, Jami Josephson and Rhythm Divas, the Studio 101 dancers, Shaka's dance troop, the ensemble from Top Hat dance studio, Kenny Gonzales & Nelly Cotto and Billy Fajardo and Katie Marlow. In traditional fashion, the weekend featured a spectacular bookends dance contest and the famous Philly freeze contest. The party went to the wee hours under the careful guidance of DJ's Bobby Morales, Nelson "Paradise" Roman and Dave Lach.
You can purchase a video of the entire weekends events by calling 800-761-9128.
Hats off to Donna Boyle for keeping the hustle dance alive and well.
Here are some of the highlights from the competitions.
Pro/Am Novice - female
1) Lenore Moeser & Danny McGee
2) Kate Sopia & Lucas Jamie
Pro/ Am Novice - Male
1) Brian Schwartz & Katie Marlow
2)Gil Cottle & Silvana Gallagher
Pro /Am Intermediate - female
1) Wendy Dalal & Raul Ante
2) Angela Risser & Danny McGee
Pro/Am Intermediate - Male
1) David Raines & Kim Vanaman
2)Wajih Dalal & Yuko Snito
Pro/Am Advanced Female
1) Celeste Phefferle & Keith Gussoni
2) Angela McCabe & Silvana Gallagher
3) Mimi Doi & Brian Gallagher
Pro/Am Advanced Male
1) Stanley Smolanowicz & Silvana Gallagher
2) Joey Cammatuci & Silvana Gallagher
3) Raye Avery & Gladys Torres
Amateur Theater Arts Hustle
1) Raye Avery & Irena Griffin
2) Jeff Gessner & Jenn Nitka
Amateur Jack & Jill Novice Hustle
1) Frank Mazzarella & Jarka Slesingerova
2)Ingvar Ljungquest & Susan Montana
3) Scott Michielli & Karen Afflerbach
Amateur Jack & Jill Intermediate Hustle
1)Wajih Dalal & Wendy Dalal
2) Frank Mazzarella & Jarka Slesingerova
3) Luis Vargas & Susan Montana
Amateur Jack & Jill Advanced
1) Wingo Hom & Celeste Phefferle
2) Stanley Smolanowicz & Angela McCabe
3) Raye Avery & Punkin Habet
4) Joey Cammatuci & Irena Griffin
Professional Jack & Jill
1) Brian Gallagher & Diane Nardone
2) Louis Orlando & Silvana Gallagher
3) Billy Fajardo & Gladys Torres
4) Chris Bates & Susan Fritz
Pro/Am Jack & Jill
1) Joey Cammatuci & Elizabeth Darchi
2) Bobby O & Jenn Nitka
Pro/Am Classic Hustle
1) Keith Gussoni & Celeste Phefferle
2)Jorge Bello & Elizabeth Darchi
3) Joel Halsband & Joyce Szilli
Amateur Classic Hustle
1) Joey Cammatuci & Ettie Kurtz
2) Raye Avery & Irena Griffin
3) Richard Casamento & Georgiland Madera
Professional Classic Hustle
1) Joe Kerner & Tammy Harris
2) Erik Novoa & Laura Cozik
Just Hustle Amateur Novice
1) Frank Mazzarella & Karen Afflerbach
2) Gerry Kudach & Cheryl Lombardi
3) Michael Leyden & Maria Salizer
Just Hustle Amateur Intermediate
1)Jorge Bello & Ginny Carey
2)Wajih Dalal & Wendy Dalal
3)Ingvar Ljungquist & Jarka Slesingerova
Just Hustle Amateur Advanced
1) Wingo Hom & Angela McCabe
2) Joey Cammatuci & Ettie Kurtz
3) Raye Avery & Irena Griffin
Professional Just Hustle
1) Brian Gallagher & Silvana Gallagher
2) Erik Novoa & Laura Cozik
3) Keith Gussoni & Susan Fritz
4) David Sarul & Kim Vanaman
Philly Freeze
Silvana Gallagher & Louis Orlando
Book Ends
Erik Novoa & Brian Gallagher
DanceTalk * 6-10-03
Happy fathers Day to all the daddy's out there.
It appears the "social dance" world will be well represented on the new Dance Fever show. The one hour program will debut on July 13th. Dance Fever's goal is to present a top notch family show. Hundreds of dancers have been attending the auditions in each major market. Those lucky few selected are asked to return for a second audition then to "hold tight" until they receive that final phone call. Ultimately, they will select 40 dance acts (singles, groups or couples). The shows will be filmed in Las Vegas from June 27th to the 30th, leading up to the finals, for $100,000. We wish the best of luck to: David Padilla & Marelena, Robert Royston & Nicole and Erik Novoa & Laura Cozik all from NY, as they sit idlely by for that final call. Raye and Irene made it thru the first round qualifications in Chicago.
Did I mention,
This coming weekend is Disco America, featuring a dazzling dinner show with
Billy & Katie (featured on this months cover of Dancesport Magazine), world hustle champions Kenny and Nellie, Broadway dancers Artie and Kristine, Juan Calderone's salsa group, Jamie Josephson Latin girls group, Shaka from Washington, DC and Ron and Lauren. Order your tickets now. Please note: The Pro Hustle Classic, Pro Just Hustle, Pro Swing, Pro Salsa and Amateur Classic competitions will be held Saturday night. The Professional Theater arts will take place on Sunday. There will be dancing to classic disco by the pool, I hope to see you there. www.discoamerica.com
International Hustle and Salsa Competition is scheduled for April 1-4 2004 at the Radisson Deauville Hotel Miami Beach. For event info http://www.hustleandsalsa.com
The Broadway musical Hairspray captured 8 Tony Awards including best musical. Hooray for Broadway.
La Luna every 2nd & 4th Saturday of the month for Salsa Party, lesson at 9PM, and dancing till 2AM, $10, BYOB, no jeans. Next party June 14th located in Bensalem Pa. Check out the website. www.wildonsalsa.com
He's back on the radio, Mike Brooks, every Sunday night 7pm til midnight on Oldies 98.3 FM, in Atlantic City, NJ Be sure to check it out on your way to the Jersey shore. Request line: 609-601-9830 or *983 from your cingular wireless (free call). It's Jammin Sunday nights to disco and funk of the 70's and 80's.
Luther Vandross continues to make progress since suffering a stroke. Still hospitalized, his new album will be released as originally scheduled on June 10th. "Dance With My Father" is a chilling ballad which could be his career song.
Make it a great week,
Ron
Spot light
"Rodney Harris"
He grew up in Queens but hustled the nights away in Manhattan. He was part of the mix when Floyd Chishom, Scott Nurse and James Stanford ruled the dance floor. While still in high school, Rodney Harris was drawn to the hustle, "It was all about the Girls," he remembers. After graduating from school and spending one year in the airforce, Rodney began to make his mark on the hustle. Along with dance buddies James and Scott, they became a crew frequenting some of the hottest clubs in NY: The Casa Blanca, Star Wars, The Ice Palace, Poor Peters Parlor and of course Roseland. "I think the best couple I ever saw was Floyd and Nellie. They had a style that no one could match and some of the moves that you see today, they started." Rodney first set out to tackled the club competitions along with partner Pam Roberts. At the time, this is where all the action was but as the club scene and competitions diminished, he teamed up with Maria Torres. Together they placed third in the United States Ballroom Championships.
By the 80's, his dance vision and direction started to change. "I took what I had learned dancing hustle and applied it to ballroom dancing," recalls Rodney. He started at PJ's Dance Charisma, in Queens. Having danced with so many different types of partners it made it easy for him to understand the other dances and how to lead them. Influenced and inspired by dance champion Rufus Dustin, "he was the only other person of color I saw at the competitions," Rodney checked his dance compass and where he should take his talent. He quickly elevated himself in the ballroom competitions. In the mid 80's he partnered with Anna Manthos, who had an extensive background in jazz and tap. Together they shared a partnership for 9years winning numerous competitions including: the Northeast Arthur Murray 9 Dance Championship (Foxtrot, Waltz, Tango, V.Waltz, Cha -Cha, Swing, Mambo, Rumba & Bolero), the Virginia State Professional Exhibition Champions and the New England Rising Star American Style Ballroom Champions. Rodney has the distinct honor of being the first Afro American to win a Ballroom title. As they advanced up the dance ladder, Rodney felt his sense of calling, "teaching is what I love the most." Rosemary Parker, gave me my first teaching job and made me believe that I could do it. Thru the achievements and competitions, Rodney saw his star rise. Many opportunities came his way on television and motion pictures. He appeared on "One Life to Live" (the soap opera) and more recently the motion picture "Let It Be Me." He competed on the syndicated TV show Dance Fever performing a swing and performed at the Apollo for the "Little Miss Black American Contest." But the competitions and performing stand second to the satisfaction he gets from teaching. "Its not the dancing as much as it is the teaching. To be able to change peoples lives is great. To help others with dancing to me is like being a doctor, I have empowered peoples lives, I've helped married people stay together and that feels good." Rodney continues to teach and compete in the pro-am divisions. His students have excelled in competitions all over the US.
Married for almost 22 years, Rodney recognizes his wife Stephanie as, his "soul mate." Earlier this year he completed his studies as he will take another turn pursuing a career in Hotel Management.
Rodney has given so much to the dance community and to his students - dancing will always be his first love.
Disco Ball 2 - review
The Ritchie Family, Peaches & Herb, Thelma Houston, Carol Douglas, The Pointer Sisters, The Trammps, France Joli (who simply tore the house down), Sister Sledge, and Evelyn "Champagne" King were just some of the disco legends who performed at the Taj Mahal's Mark Etess Arena in Atlantic City last Saturday night. Along with classic celebrities of the likes of "Epstein" & "Horshak" from "Welcome Back Kotter" and Karen Gorney from "Saturday Night Fever" there were also some stars from "The Sopranos."
An unbelievable retrospective of a period some of us will never forget. There were bellbottoms and afro wigs all around, and when the night filled with classic hit after hit after hit, the venue was electric.
I must mention that this period of music was quite the "little while ago" and the voices on these stars have withstood the test of time. The Trammps were especially impressive. And on the topic of voices, dancing in the aisles, screaming and applauding from 3 hours has left me speechless - literally. I'm not going to soon recover from this and that's good.
Provided by, JStar & Co. http://groups.msn.com/JStarCompany
DanceTalk * 6-3-03
Happy Birthday wishes to: Nellie Cotto, Erik Novoa, Colette Antonelli & George Dudley
Wishing Sonya Saamova only the best on her wedding this coming week.
Club 56, in Long Island, features HUSTLE dance lessons with Mark James during the month of June. Join Wednesday evenings, dancing to a HOT "California Mix" ... WCS and Hustle, lessons starts at 7:45 PM. http://www.LIDance.org/index.html Email - Info@LIDance.org Info: 631-744-7777
Good luck to Laura Cozik and Erik Novoa - they received call backs for Dance Fever auditions. DANCE FEVER - premieres on TV, the ABC Family Channel on Sunday, July 13, 2003.
Gene Hildner will be teaching Hustle for the month of June on the first 3 Wednesdays of the month, BUT the last Wednesday in June will highlight with a Dancing Party. A night of spotlight dances, mixers, line dances, and refreshments. Dance the night away from 8:00-11:00PM on June 25th. Christ Church Parish Hall 157 Shore Road, Somers Point, NJ for more info 609- 344-5366
One year ago, the dance community lost a wonderful dancer. Wanda Soto, left us way to soon. She had so much to live for but didn't have the opportunity to experience a full life. This young beautiful dancer is sorely missed by all those who were privileged to know her. Wanda will remain in our memories as being young forever. We know she is dancing as she helps the good lord.
Make it a great week,
Ron
Disco America - Preview - June 13 - 15
It's becoming a common theme, but one worth repeating, If we don't support the dance you love, these events will go away.
The fifth annual Disco America comes to town in under two weeks. This year the Philadelphia competition jumps the river to the garden state, New Jersey. Easy to reach from Pa, NY, Dela, VA, and MD. Well respected dancer, Gladys Torres, from the Lone Star State, made it very clear - Events like Hustle USA are unable to go forward without a strong attendance.
Cherry Hill, NJ provides a larger hotel in the Clarion with easy access.
This years event should prove to offer more for all dance buds. Three rooms will run simultaneously - Hustle, Salsa and West Coast Swing. The Saturday night dinner show has a Latin theme and, as in the past, will feature Broadway style numbers along with spectacular theatrical performances (Billy & Katie, Kenny & Nellie). Reserve your tickets now for the dinner show. The roster of teachers for the workshops cover all forms of dance and levels. The best music around will be provided by some of the finest cutting edge DJ's - Bobby Morales, Nelson "Paradise" Roman, Bill Cameron, Dave Lach, Jose Rodriquez.
The new location is easily accessible from New York, and northern New Jersey by simply taking the NJ turnpike to Exit 4 - this puts you on Rt. 73 North. Take this to 295 south get off at exit 34B. Make a right off the exit, the Clarion hotel is right there on your right.
Come relive the time, the dance and the music.
We look forward to seeing you there and appreciate everyone's support.
Visit the website at www.discoamerica.com
Retro
In June 1979, Billboard magazine listed the top Disco Action listings in the country.
Twenty four years ago - these were the top dance songs played in the discotheques thru out Philadelphia Pennsylvania, the city of brotherly love. Hopefully your remember a few of them?
1) Bad Girls - Donna Summer
2) Aint No Stopping Us Now - McFadden & Whitehead
3) Everybody Here Must Party - Direct Current
4) You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else - The Jones Girls
5) Ring My Bell - Anita Ward
6) Music Is My Life - Patti LaBelle
7) Baby Baba Boogie - The Gap Band
8) Poussez - Poussez
9) Bad Bad Boy - Theo Vaness
10) Double Cross - First Choice
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