PDF - Sheer Dance

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PDF - Sheer Dance

Dancers wow the crowd at
the Twin Cities Open.
Photo by Libby Ryan.
August 1 • Friday
Intro to Tango & Dance Party - Four Seasons;
1637 Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 9:00 p.m. 12:00 a.m.; $5
Variety Dance - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.
Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 p.m. tango & WCS
lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. dance; $10
Variety Dance - Mill City Ballroom;
2382 Hampden Ave, St. Paul; 8:00 p.m.
tango & cha cha lesson; 9:00 - 10:00
p.m. dance; $10
August 2 • Saturday
Swing Dance - Social Dance Studio; 3742
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 7:30 p.m. lesson; 8:30
p.m. - 12:30 a.m. swing dance to live music
August 3 • Sunday
TC Rebels WCS Dance - Social Dance Studio;
3742 23rd Ave S, Mpls; 7:00 - 10:30 p.m.;
$11, $7 members
August 4 • Monday
WCS Social - Social Dance Studio; 3742 23rd
Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 - 11:00 p.m.; $5
Uptown Swing - Famous Dave’s; 3001
Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 7:15 p.m. swing
lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. live band; free
Rhythm Junction - Four Seasons; 1637
Hennepin Ave S, Mpls; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m.
swing dancing; $5
August 5 • Tuesday
Salsa Social - Social Dance Studio; 3742 23rd
Ave S, Mpls; 8:30 p.m. lesson; 10:00 - 11:00
p.m. dancing; $5
August 6 • Wednesday
Practice Party - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.
Clair Ave, St. Paul; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.; $6
WCS Dance Party - Dancers Studio; 415
Pascal St N, St. Paul; 9:00 - 9:50 p.m.; $5
August 7 • Thursday
Late Night Swing - Social Dance Studio; 3742
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.;
$6, $4 students
Variety Dance - Dancers Studio; 415 Pascal St
N, St. Paul; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.; $5
August 8 • Friday
MN WCS Dance Club - B-Dale Club; 2100 N
Dale St, Roseville; 7:30 p.m. lesson; 8:30
p.m. - 12:00 a.m. dance; $10, $7 members
foxtrot & swing lesson; 9:00 - 10:00
p.m. dance; $10
Club Swing - Social Dance Studio; 3742 23rd
Ave S, Mpls; 7:00 p.m. west coast swing lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. WCS, ECS, nightclub
2-step, waltz dance; $10, $5 dance only
Café Bailar - Balance Pointe Studios; 5808 W
36th St, Mpls; 7:30 p.m. lesson; 8:30 - 11:30
p.m. variety dance; $10, $8 members
August 11 • Monday
Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 - 11:00 p.m.; $5
swing dancing; $5
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.;
$6, $4 students
N, St. Paul; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.; $5
August 15 • Friday
Club Salsero Bachata Blast - Social Dance
Studio; 3742 23rd Ave S, Mpls; 7:00 p.m.
bachata lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. bachata,
salsa, cha cha, merengue dance; $10,
$5 dance only
Variety Dance - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.
Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 p.m. foxtrot &
bolero lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. dance; $10
Viennese waltz & samba lesson; 9:00 10:00 p.m. dance; $10
August 17 • Sunday
TC Rebels WCS Dance - Social Dance Studio;
3742 23rd Ave S, Mpls; 7:00 - 10:30 p.m.;
$11, $7 members
Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 - 11:00 p.m.; $5
swing dancing; $5
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.;
$6, $4 students
N, St. Paul; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.; $5
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MN WCS Dance Club - B-Dale Club; 2100 N
Dale St, Roseville; 7:30 p.m. lesson; 8:30
p.m. - 12:00 a.m. dance; $10, $7 members
Salsa Fusion - Cinema Ballroom; 1560 St.
Clair Ave, St. Paul; 7:00 p.m. salsa & cha
cha lesson; 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. dance; $10
quickstep & merengue lesson; 9:00 - 10:00
p.m. dance; $10
Tango Fusion - Social Dance Studio; 3742
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 p.m. - 1:00 a.m.
Argentine tango milonga; $10, $5 students
Café Bailar - Costa Rica Ballroom; 816
Mainstreet, Hopkins; 7:30 p.m. lesson; 8:30 - 11:30 p.m. variety dance;
$10, $8 members
Ave S, Mpls; 9:30 - 11:00 p.m.; $5
swing dancing; $5
23rd Ave S, Mpls; 10:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.;
$6, $4 students
N, St. Paul; 8:00 - 9:00 p.m.; $5
waltz & rumba lesson; 9:00 - 10:00 p.m.
dance; $10 E
American Classic Ballroom 952.934.0900
550 Market Street, Chanhassen
www.acballroom.com
Balance Pointe Studios
952.922.8612
5808R W 36th Street, St. Louis Park
www.balancepointestudios.com
Ballroom & Latin
Dance Club
952.292.0524
1103 W Burnsville Pkwy, Burnsville
www.ballroom-club.com
Ballroom & Wedding
Dance Studio
612.371.0300
2717 42nd Street E, Minneapolis
www.myballroomdancestudio.com
Blue Moon Ballroom
507.288.0556
2030 Highway 14 E, Rochester
www.BlueMoonBallroom.com
Cinema Ballroom
651.699.5910
1560 St. Clair Ave, St. Paul
www.cinemaballroom.com
Costa Rica Ballroom
Dance Studios
952.303.3339
816 Mainstreet, Hopkins
www.costaricaballroom.com
Dahl Dance Center
507.252.1848
4204 North Highway 52, Rochester
www.dahldance.com
Dance and Entertainment
651.605.5784
www.danceandentertainment.com
Dance with Us America
612.564.5483
10 Southdale Center, Edina
www.dancewithusamerica.com
Dancers Studio
651.641.0777
415 Pascal Street N, St. Paul
www.dancersstudio.com
Four Seasons Dance Studio 612.342.0902
1637 Hennepin Ave S, Minneapolis
www.fourseasonsdance.com
Mill City Ballroom
612.562.2733
2382 Hampden Ave, St. Paul
www.millcityballroom.com
North Star Dance Studio
612.799.4147
Bloomington
facebook.com/northstar.dancestudio
Rendezvous Dance Studio 612.872.1562
711 W Lake Street, Suite B, Minneapolis
www.theplacetodance.com
Social Dance Studio
612.353.4445
3742 23rd Ave S, Minneapolis
www.socialdancestudio.com
320.266.4137
701 St. Germain Street W, Suite 201,
St. Cloud
www.studiojeff.com
Scott Anderson
612.816.4446
[email protected]
www.scottadance.com
Harry Benson
763.843.2285
Rachel Damiani
612.718.6823
[email protected]
www.racheldamiani.com
Nathan Daniels
763.545.8690
Jennelle Donnay
651.357.2060
Julie Delene
612.598.5355
[email protected]
Donna Edelstein
612.910.2690
[email protected]
www.donnaedelstein.com
Jennifer & Robert Foster
952.922.8316
Shane Haggerty
612.705.3588
[email protected]
www.shanehaggertydance.com
Lindsey Rebecca Hall
612.940.9546
Julie Jacobson
651.261.6442
Jay Larson
651.387.3886
Kristina Lee
715.821.9039
Deanne Michael
612.508.9255
Monica Mohn
612.874.0747
[email protected]
www.monicamohn.com
Laia Olivier
612.388.4370
Mariusz Olszewski
612.242.5159
[email protected]
Karin Rice
612.242.2188
Lisa Vogel
651.208.0818
[email protected]
Aqua Gliders Dance Club
612.869.3062
Café Bailar
www.cafebailar.com
Cotillion Dance
Club of Stillwater
651.388.1231
[email protected]
LaDanza Dance Club
651.439.3152
facebook.com/LaDanzaDanceClub
Lakeside Dance Club
320.763.6432
[email protected]
www.lakesideballroom.org
Linden Hills Dancing Club
952.412.7230
www.lindenhillsdancingclub.org
MN West Coast Swing
Dance Club
651.487.6821
mnwestcoastswingdanceclub.com
REBELS Swing Dance Club 952.941.0906
www.tcrebels.com
Stardust Dance Club
[email protected]
Suburban-Winterset
Dance Club
952.894.1412
www.suburbanwinterset.com
Tango Society
of Minnesota
612.224.2905
www.mntango.org
Tapestry Folkdance Center 612.722.2914
www.tapestryfolkdance.org
University of Minnesota
Ballroom Dance Club
[email protected]
is.gd/umnbdc
Uptown Swing
612.217.1087
[email protected]
www.uptownswing.net
Twin Cities Dance Events
2
Twin Cities Dance Contacts
3
2014 Competitions
5
2015 Competitions
5
About Us
6
Volunteer Openings
6
Contribute
7
Volunteer Report
8
Gaining Perspective
10
Expert Advice
11
Life Through Dance
12
Results from Around
the Country
14
Exploring Your Passions Through Dance
20
The Twin Cities Open All-Star Weekend
22
Highlights of TCO’s American-Style Congress
23
The Rhythm Cookie
26
Photo from TCO by Libby Ryan
Local Amateurs Participate and Perform at TCO 27
Beyond Ballroom Dance Company Dance Fest, Grand Jete, Harvest Moon Ball,
Minnesota Ballroom Blast, Rapit Printing, Lisa Vogel
Libby Ryan, The Studio MPLS
Executive Editor:
Events Editor:
Design & Layout:
Proof Editor:
Mary Beth Beckman
Lee Wintervold
Nicholas Westlake
Libby Ryan
Elizabeth Dickinson, Daniel O’Connell, Libby Ryan, Joel Torgeson, Christine
Trask, Kevin Viratyosin
Events labeled NQE are qualifying events for the USA
This is a forum where people
are invited to express their true
feelings about issues in the dance
community (while still adhering
to our submission guidelines) and
propose solutions to the problems we often face. Statements
made in the Discussion section do
not necessarily reflect the views
of Sheer Dance, even when written
Dance National DanceSport Championships.
Derby City
DanceSport Championships – NQE
Louisville, KY; derbycitydancesport.org
New England
Waltham, MA; nedancesport.org
Carolina Fall Classic – NQE
Charlotte, NC; carolinafallclassic.com
August 1 – 3
September 20
October 3 – 5
Northwest
October 11 - 12
Portland, OR; nwballroomcompetition.org
Chicago DanceSport
Challenge - NQE
October 31 - November 2
Chicago, IL; usadancechicago.org
by one of our volunteer staff.
Unlike the other sections,
there is no cohesive theme to
From the Community; it is a
catch-all for the unique gems
that are submitted by people
California State
DanceSport Championships - NQE
San Jose, CA; usadance-norcal.org
National Collegiate
DanceSport Championships
Columbus, OH; usadance.org
November 15
November 22 - 23
like you. Here you’ll find contributions
like
event
recaps,
interviews, tales from a far-off
competition, and photos from a
local dance event.
We have a handful of generous
writers who contribute regularly.
Each explores a unique, overarching theme of their choice. Each
month, in a volunteer report,
one of our volunteers fills you
in on what they’ve been doing
to make the dance community
a better place.
Some issues focus on a particular event or theme, and all content
relevant to that theme belongs to
the Special Features section.
E
The Snow Ball
January 10 - 11
Minneapolis, MN; thesnowballcomp.com
Manhattan Amateur Classic - NQE
Manhattan, NY; nyusadance.org/mac
January 18
Mid-Atlantic Championships - NQE
Bethesda, MD; usadancedc.org
February 14 - 15
Dance Fest
St. Paul, MN; udancefest.com
2015 National
DanceSport Championships
Baltimore, MD; usadancenationals.org
March 7 - 8
March 27 - 29
Chicago DanceSport
Challenge - NQE
October 30 - November 1
Chicago, IL; usadancechicago.org
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E
SHEER DANCE
WAS KIND ENOUGH to loan
us their volunteer report for this month,
so we thought we’d take the opportunity
to let all of the wonderful dancers in the
Midwest know what is new and different
about Minnesota Ballroom Blast, now in
its third year.
For those who don’t know, Minnesota
Ballroom
Blast
is
a
low-stress,
feed-
back-based event. It’s structured in the
general format of a dance competition,
but instead of being judged, you receive a
concise critique of your dancing written by
experienced ballroom professionals. This is
a great first event for social dancers looking
for tips, as well as newcomers looking to
see what a dance competition might be
like. It is also very helpful for experienced
dancers looking to get a jump-start on their
competitive season and experiment with
choreography and costuming.
This year we’re in the North Star
Ballroom at the University of Minnesota’s
St. Paul Student Center. It’s a large, wonderful venue where many ballroom dance
competitions have been held in the past.
We’re excited about what we can do with
the space, and we believe it will be a more
comfortable and better decorated venue
than we have had in years past.
Since the event is on the Saturday before
Halloween, the evening session has been
turned into a Halloween ball. Costumes are
encouraged, and there will be food, games,
performances from national-level talent,
and a whole lot of great dancers. Even if
you don’t participate during the day, you
should consider attending the evening
session; you’ll have a ball (pun intended).
Admission to the Halloween ball will be
just $5!
For more information about the event,
you can check out the ad we’ve placed in this
issue of Sheer Dance, or you can check out our
website at www.mnballroomblast.com. We
also have a Facebook page if you would like
to get updates as soon as we announce them.
We hope to see you at Minnesota
Ballroom Blast on October 25th!
E
BY THE MINNESOTA BALLROOM BLAST VOLUNTEER TEAM
BY JOEL TORGESON
“WHAT
DO YOU MISS MOST about
it—about ballroom?” I asked.
“I don’t miss competing,” she said
immediately. “And I guess I don’t really
she’d like to go down to Florida to try
partnering with a pro he was working
with. This was where her experience
really took off.
miss teaching, either.” She glanced at
“I went down there and started
the pool, full of elementary-schoolers
dancing, and I loved it! I was working
strengthening their swimming skills,
for Arthur Murray Dance Studios at
to see how her daughter was doing.
that time,” Katie said. She went on to
“I do miss the practice, though. It was
explain how her days went. “I’d have to
nice to go to the studio and just work
be at meetings at 10:00, which would
on dance for a few hours. The other
go for a while. I’d have to grab lunch
thing I miss, and I get it a little bit from
and be ready to teach at 1:00. After
teaching in a different field, is seeing
that, I’d work out, eat dinner, and
those aha! moments from others. It
practice.”
was really rewarding to see people
Things weren’t all good in the
struggle at something and then make a
dance world, however. “I partied a
breakthrough. You could see it on their
lot,” she told me. There was also an
face.”
ever-present pressure to lose weight.
Joel Torgeson is a member of the University
I’d met Katie at the University of
In a previous conversation I’d had with
of Minnesota Ballroom Dance Club who
Minnesota on several occasions and
Katie, I distinctly remember her saying
enjoys dancing both socially and competi-
through conversation learned that
she smoked and took diet pills to curb
tively. If you have feedback for Joel or would
she’d been a professional ballroom
her appetite. Still, she couldn’t get
like to pitch an article idea, email him at
dancer before going back to school at
down to a desirable weight. Eventually
[email protected].
the U. Further talk led me to believe
she burned out.
that she would have a unique perspec-
Katie moved north and left the
tive on all things ballroom; after track-
ballroom world behind for the birth of
occasions. “If I was teaching and Carly
ing her down at the pool, I’d like to
her daughter, Carly. “Florida was not
was with me, you know, people would
think I guessed right. You be the judge!
where I wanted to raise my family,”
play with her, or help out. It was really
Keep in mind that, due to anthro-
she said. “I started working at a fitness
nice. The Twin Cities just have great
pological ethics, names and pertinent
place in Minneapolis, and one day a
people.”
information have been altered in ways
friend said he needed some help teach-
that do not affect the main content
ing a dance class.” She paused to laugh.
form of a husband and second daugh-
Her next big life event came in the
“I ended up teaching that class after a
ter, Brittany. She told a great story
Katie got her start dancing here in
few weeks, and I was back into dance!”
about her second daughter’s birth:
good old Minneapolis. After teaching
She started her own small dance com-
“Well, the baby was several days
ballet at a small operation, she tried out
pany and would teach at studios across
overdue, and I was ready for her to just
for and got a position at a Fred Astaire
the Twin Cities.
be out of there! So what did we do?”
of the story.
dance studio and began her ballroom
One thing she mentioned repeatedly
She laughed. “We went salsa dancing!
journey. After a few years there, while
was how much she liked the people of
I got my mom, her friend, and some
dancing at the Twin Cities Open, she
the Twin Cities dance scene. “They’re
students, and we went out dancing to
was noticed by a coach who asked if
just good people!” she said on several
see if some salsa would convince her to
come out. It didn’t work, unfortunately.
women, especially, take care of your
to me that we all go through difficul-
She did come a few days later, though.
bodies and personal space.”
ties in the journey.
She was definitely a dance baby!”
With the addition of the third and
fourth members of her family, Katie
decided that dance coaching would take
“Oh! And don’t date your dance
partners!” she said with a wry smile.
“What would you say to someone
thinking of going pro?” I asked.
“What else do you miss about it?”
I asked her.
“I guess I miss seeing people change
and develop. Marriages rekindled, you
too much time away from her family,
“Stay amateur!” she said with a
know? A couple would come in and you
so she dissolved the company and went
laugh. “If you insist on going pro,
could tell the communication wasn’t
back to school. Several years later, here
just know how much dedication and
there. But after a while you could see
we were, poolside, talking about dance.
self-motivation it takes. Dance is differ-
the connection change and there was
When I asked what it was like to be
ent when it’s your job. I think it lost
more understanding on both sides of
a professional dancer, she replied, “It’s
some of the fun for me. I’m looking for-
the partnership. That was great. And
sexy, glamorous, fun, and exciting.
ward to returning as an amateur in the
I also liked working with the aging
However, everybody wants to get to
future. Have an independent source of
women, empowering them. It’s so easy
heaven; they just don’t want to die to
income and just do it for fun.”
in our culture to go, as a woman, from
get there."
Talking with Katie, it’s clear that she
sexy to unnoticed as we age. I liked
“I didn’t have the determination to
misses dancing, but there are parts of
helping women find that feeling again,
be a championship dancer,” she told
her experience with ballroom that she
and to be comfortable in their bodies as
me, flat out. “To go pro, you need to be
wishes were different. No two dance
they danced.”
dedicated, consistent, and motivated.
experiences are the same, but it seems
E
You need to be a self-starter. Young
Expert Advice is a Q&A column where an
anonymous panel of current and former
BY THE EXPERT
dance champions answers your questions
about ballroom dancing. Email questions to
[email protected].
“Is there any possibility for smooth to
become popular outside of the US?”
EASY
of
any
ANSWER:
style
YES!
or
POPULARITY
dance
comes
have trend appeal, it bodes well for
is the first step to having it recognized
American styles as a whole.
in other countries, much like how we
recognized international style here.
from two elements:
There is no doubt that the American
In Europe and across the world,
style will be a strong force worldwide
franchise studios have opened their
in the near future. Keep watching the
popular. For a long time, American-
doors
American-style
trends while America leads the way to
style dances overseas have been popu-
social dancing. Eventually what results
bring this style to every competition
lar based on the trend of a particular
from introducing all styles of American
in the world. Thanks for writing, and
dance: mambo, swing, etc. Because
social dancing is American-style com-
keep those quesitons coming!
individual
petition. The WDC recently added
What becomes a trend becomes
American-style
dances
to
introduce
American style to their program, which
“Never miss a chance to dance.”
E
BY ELIZABETH DICKINSON
HERE
ARE
SOME
DANCE
FACTS to
rock your world:
marching drills in 1590 after it had been
• Dancing predates speech.
neglected for a thousand years, it was
• We
are
possess
time,
the
a
only
brain
where
an
who
such a success in bonding soldiers and
to
keep
reducing fatigue that other command-
auditory
beat
ers soon copied him. How often have
primates
geared
elicits synchronized movement.
Elizabeth Dickinson is a life/executive
coach and amateur ballroom dancer. If
you enjoy her writing and would like to
receive her weekly emailed coaching newsletter, visit www.pursueyourpath.com
and sign up.
When a military commander revived
For neuroscience geeks, we are the
only primates with a functional connection between the auditory and the dorsal
pre-motor cortex. However, unless you
want to be mistaken for a Big Bang Theory
actor, I discourage asking a potential
dance partner, “Would you like to integrate with me in the functional connection between our mutual auditory and
dorsal pre-motor cortexes?” Could lead to
unpleasantness … but I digress.
So what does this mean? We are the
only primates able to dance, and we were
capable of doing this long before we
were able to communicate with words.
Neuroscience also indicates that our
brains go into ecstatic overdrive when
several cognitive systems get fully synchronized, all firing in unison—which
is basically a long way to say dance
can be enjoyable.
It’s easier to remember things when
more than one sensory mode is employed.
For instance, rhythm and rhyme of
all kinds are easier to remember than
non-rhyming speech. No wonder science
considers dance, particularly partner
dance, to be the best exercise for preventing Alzheimer’s. (The mother of the Greek
muse Terpsichore, or goddess of dance,
was called Mnemosyne, or memory.)
The muscular bonding of moving to
a beat, whether marching or dancing,
increases social ties and lessens fatigue.
you been able to keep dancing long
after you would have stopped any other
sweat-inducing activity?
I have long believed there is something
spiritual about dance. When invited to
present an archetype at a Working with
the Sacred workshop, I chose the goddess
Terpsichore and led the entire group
in a spontaneous, drum-driven dance.
The effect of synchronized movement
can promote a spiritual connection by
keeping a dancer in the present of the
Big Mind, similar to meditation. It’s
very hard to stay in the Small Mind and
to worry about the past or future when
dancing; people often say they dance to
forget their troubles. Dancing shamans
and Sufis have also used dance as a way of
entering trances and healing people.
So whether you dance socially or competitively, you are tapping into a deep
reservoir of history, neuroscience, muscular bonding, positive psychology, and
even spirituality, all through the simple
actions of moving your body rhythmically with a partner to music.
The Indian teacher Osho said, “To be
creative means to be in love with life.
You can be creative only if you love life
enough that you want to enhance its
beauty, you want to bring a little more
music to it, a little more poetry to it, a
little more dance to it.”
So let us be creative and in love with
life. Let us dance.
E
returns!
7-8 March 2015
(Saturday & Sunday)
udancefest.com
Dancers Studio
415 Pascal Street N
St. Paul MN 55104
brought to you by the
Twin Cities professional
dance community and:
Ballroom Dance Club
Andy Nordberg and Janie Nordberg
1st (of 11) - Amateur Open Hustle
2nd (of 19) - Amateur Open International Viennese Waltz
1st (of 13) - Amateur Open Salsa
1st (of 3) - Senior I Championship Smooth
1st (of 7) - Senior II Championship Smooth
2nd (of 4) - Senior I Pre-Champ Standard
4th (of 5) - Senior I Championship Standard
3rd (of 8) - Senior II Championship Standard
Nels Petersen and Theresa Kimler
1st (of 3) - Adult Championship Smooth
Greg Warner and Jill Smith
4th (of 10) - Senior III Silver Rhythm
2nd (of 6) - Senior IV Silver Rhythm
2nd (of 14) - Senior III Silver Smooth
3rd (of 7) - Senior IV Silver Smooth
Leland Whitney and Leslie Whitney
4th (of 10) - Senior II Pre-Champ Rhythm
3rd (of 5) - Senior II Championship Rhythm
3rd (of 8) - Senior III Pre-Champ Rhythm
3rd (of 9) - Senior III Championship Rhythm
5th (of 8) - Senior II Pre-Champ Smooth
3rd (of 7) - Senior II Championship Smooth
3rd (of 8) - Senior III Championship Smooth
2nd (of 7) - Senior II Novice Standard
2nd (of 6) - Senior II Pre-Champ Standard
2nd (of 6) - Senior III Pre-Champ Standard
Golden Parker with Eileen Arcilla
2nd (of 5) - L-B Pro/Am Open American Rhythm Scholarship
1st (of 2) - L-A3 Advanced Rhythm Cha Cha
1st (of 2) - L-A3 Advanced Rhythm Rumba
1st (of 2) - L-A3 Advanced Rhythm Swing
1st (of 2) - L-A3 Advanced Rhythm Bolero
1st (of 2) - L-A3 Advanced Rhythm Mambo
Liz Rocco with Eric Hudson
1st (of 9) - L-B Pro/Am Open American Smooth Scholarship
1st (of 3) - L-B Pro/Am Open International Latin Scholarship
1st (of 3) - Advanced Smooth Waltz
1st (of 3) - Advanced Smooth Tango
After dominating her division at Gumbo, Theresa Kimler finds
1st (of 3) - Advanced Smooth Foxtrot
time to visit her aquatic friends in New Orleans.
1st (of 3) - Advanced Smooth Viennese Waltz
Cece Swanson with Eric Hudson
1st (of 20) - L-C Pro/Am Closed Bronze American Smooth Scholarship
1st (of 13) - L-C Pro/Am Closed Bronze International Ballroom Scholarship
1st (of 12) - L-B2 Closed International Bronze Waltz
1st (of 11) - L-B2 Closed International Bronze Tango
1st (of 12) - L-B2 Closed International Bronze Foxtrot
1st (of 9) - L-B2 Closed International Bronze Viennese Waltz
Gene Bersten and Elena Bersten
1st (of 1) Professional Rising Star International Latin
3rd (of 3) Professional Open International Latin Championship
Jonathan Chen and Nadine Messenger
10th (of 18) - Professional Rising Star American Rhythm
21st (of 26) - Professional Open American Rhythm Championship
Gene Bersten and Elena Bersten
10th (of 20) - Rising Star Professional International Latin
19 (of 29) - Open Professional International Latin Championship
Jacqui D’Souza with Gene Bersten
1st (of 3) - L-A1 Gold Closed International Latin 3-Dance Championship
1st (of 3) - L-A Gold Pro/Am International Latin Closed Scholarship
15th (of 16) - L-A Pro/Am International Latin Open Scholarship
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Intermediate Gold Star International Cha Cha
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Intermediate Gold Star International Samba
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Intermediate Gold Star International Rumba
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Intermediate Gold Star International Jive
Joan Endres with Gene Bersten
1st (of 2) - L-C1 Bronze Closed International Latin 3-Dance Championship
1st (of 3) - L-C1 Full Bronze International Cha Cha
3rd (of 3) - L-C1 Full Bronze International Samba
2nd (of 3) - L-C1 Full Bronze International Rumba
Noelle Ness with Gene Bersten
2nd (of 4) - L-A1 Bronze Closed International Latin 3-Dance Championship
5th (of 5) - L-A Bronze Pro/Am International Latin Closed Scholarship
Here you’ll find the results of Minnesota amateurs,
professionals, and pro/am couples from events around
the country. We’re proud of how skilled and dedicated
the Minnesota dance community is, and we’d like to
share their successes with you.
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Newcomers Bronze International Cha Cha
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Newcomers Bronze International Samba
1st (of 1) - L-A1 Newcomers Bronze International Rumba
Eliana Ramsey with Gene Bersten
7th (of 13) - L-B Gold Open Pro/Am International Latin Open Championship
17th (of 23) - Pro/Am International Latin Open Scholarships
1st (of 1) - L-A2 Open Beginner Gold Star International Cha Cha
1st (of 1) - L-A2 Open Beginner Gold Star International Samba
1st (of 1) - L-A2 Open Beginner Gold Star International Rumba
1st (of 1) - L-A2 Open Beginner Gold Star International Paso Doble
1st (of 1) - L-A2 Open Beginner Gold Star International Jive
Milana Tolins with Gene Bersten
2nd (of 4) - L-A2 Bronze Open International Latin 3-Dance Championship
5th (of 8) - L-A2 Open Full Bronze International Cha Cha
4th (of 7) - L-A2 Open Full Bronze International Samba
3rd (of 7) - L-A2 Open Full Bronze International Rumba
Therese Meszaros with Jeff Nehrbass
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze American Cha Cha
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze American Rumba
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze American East Coast Swing
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze American Bolero
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze American Mambo
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze Hustle
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze Merengue
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze Salsa
1st (of 1) - L-C2 Open Full Bronze West Coast Swing
Here’s a quick preview of results from the Twin Cities Open. Check out
the September issue of Sheer Dance for more results from this competition!
1st (of 3) - Matt Rivers and Maliwan Diemer
2nd (of 3) - Mykyta Serdyuk and Anna Krasnoshapka
3rd (of 3) - Gene Bersten and Elena Bersten
1st (of 7) - Slash Sharan and Meghan Anderson
2nd (of 7) - Jonathan Chen and Nadine Messenger
3rd (of 7) - Joseph Jadryev and May Lee
4th (of 7) - Jhondarr Lopez and Amber Osborn
5th (of 7) - Joel Thomas and Chloe Obrzut
6th (of 7) - Gordon Bratt and Kate Bratt
7th (of 7) - Nathan Bales and Yvette de la Torre
1st (of 9) - Andre Paramonov and Natalie Paramonov
2nd (of 9) - Slash Sharan and Meghan Anderson
3rd (of 9) - Jonathan Chen and Nadine Messenger
4th (of 9) - Jhondarr Lopez and Amber Osborn
5th (of 9) - Dustin Donelan and Kirsten McCloskey
6th (of 9) - Joel Thomas and Chloe Obrzut
1st (of 3) - Mykyta Serdyuk and Anna Krasnoshapka
2nd (of 3) - Misha Belfer and Julie Garczynski
3rd (of 3) - Jimmy Mulligan and Dani Atkins
1st (of 14) - Sergey Barsukov and Maria Sindnjova
2nd (of 14) - Adrian Dydynski and Hannah Dydynski
3rd (of 14) - Sergey Smolin and Anna Tomasini
4th (of 14) - Ben Seifert and Cheryl Seifert
5th (of 14) - Jimmy Mulligan and Dani Atkins
6th (of 14) - Dustin Donelan and Kirsten McCloskey
1st (of 14) - Mazen Hamza and Izabella Jundzill
2nd (of 14) - Sergey Barsukov and Maria Sindnjova
3rd (of 14) - Adrian Dydynski and Hannah Dydynski
4th (of 14) - Mark Short and Alyssa Kark
5th (of 14) - Sergey Smolin and Anna Tomasini
6th (of 14) - Ben Seifert and Cheryl Seifert
1st (of 3) - Dimitru Turcan and Christina Turcan
2nd (of 3) - Trent Quinn and Nandina Snow
3rd (of 3) - Eric Gillitzer and Deborah Gillitzer
1st (of 4) - Anton Lebedev and Ana Borshch
2nd (of 4) - Matt Rivers and Maliwan Diemer
3rd (of 4) - Dimitru Turcan and Christina Turcan
4th (of 4) - Eric Gillitzer and Deborah Gillitzer
E
Would you like to see your results or your studio’s results at an
event here? Email us at [email protected] with the name
of the event, some pictures, and your results, and we’ll be sure
to include them!
Photos from TCO by Libby Ryan
DURING
MY
BIRTHDAY
MONTH of
June, I was granted the opportunity and
joy of meeting with Dr. Chris Hanson,
a salsa dancer and chiropractor in our
community. We met at Maeve’s, a cute,
comforting Northeast Minneapolis café
with a five-star review. What follows is
my story of our meeting.
Mike,
a
close
friend
of
Chris,
describes him as one of the most driven
people he knows, someone with the
mental and physical tools to excel at
anything he puts his mind to. He can
play multiple instruments, including
bass, drum, and saxophone. He has a
liberal arts degree from the University
of Minnesota, has earned a black belt
in traditional karate, and speaks fluent
Spanish. He’s a passionate rock climber,
BY CHRISTINE TRASK
loves spending time with his family, is
a very caring friend, and is a professional chiropractor of his own clinic,
NE Community Chiropractic.
Meeting Chris for the first time, I
wanted to know more about this young,
vibrant man with an infectious smile.
Chris is the middle child of three. He
and his brother take after their father;
they all have a love for comedy, especially Mel Brooks films. Chris and his
sister take after their mother in their
profound love for people, which is why
they both work in patient care. His
mother works as a personal trainer, and
sadly, his father passed when Chris was
eighteen years old.
Chris only started taking salsa lessons in August of 2013 but describes his
relationship with dance as an instant
love affair. He found himself so at home
surrounded by others who shared his
love for music and movement that he
remembers leaving Social Dance Studio
after his second lesson thinking to himself, “I’ve found my people.” He loves
dancing for its beautiful movement,
incredible music, and for the opportunity to create and share joy with others
from the dance community. Many of his
dance partners have remarked on his
week volunteering, a tired and worn
contagious smile and that he is almost
woman in her early sixties arrived at
always singing while dancing, which
his treatment table. She was at her wits’
comes naturally to him, as he speaks
end and in terrible pain from the stress
Spanish and loves to practice when he
and demands of caring for orphaned
goes out dancing.
children. It was her day of luck. Chris
Spanish was a part of Chris’s gradeschool
curriculum.
He
so
patiently listened to her challenges and
enjoyed
provided care to unwind the stress in
Mexican food that he made it his goal
her spine and nervous system, allowing
to learn Spanish well enough to order
her body to return to a relaxed state of
using the Spanish language—a goal
functioning. The next day, she arrived
he has accomplished and then some.
with tears in her eyes. It was the first
Over time, Chris has developed a great
time in longer than she could remem-
love for Spanish-speaking cultures and
ber that she had slept eight hours and
their values. He admires their love of
awoke without a severe headache and
community, family, and their honest
neck pain. In her hands she carried a
yet reverent view of life. One of his
thank-you card that read, “Que el Señor
favorite songs to dance to, “El día de mi
lo bendiga y lo proteja siempre por esa labor
suerte” by Hector Lavoe, tells the tale
tan grande que usted realiza.” (“May God
of lost family members and growing up
bless and protect you forever for the
impoverished. Despite his challenges,
great work that you do.”)
Lavoe continues to believe that one day
his day of luck will arrive.
Chris is able to combine many of his
life’s passions into both his work and
Chris shared with me a memory
dance: community, movement, Spanish,
from his volunteer trip to Costa Rica.
fitness, and joy. May we all someday
He was there for a month’s time provid-
be so lucky. In the meantime, fellow
ing chiropractic care to Costa Ricans in
dancers, pick a song, pick a dance, and
remote areas of the country. His second
dance to your heart’s content.
E
Photos from Dancers Studio’s Disco Fever Showcase by The Studio MPLS
EVEN
BEFORE THE SECOND weekend
of July, Minneapolis overflowed with
big names as athletes and celebrities
flocked to Target Field for the All-Star
Game festivities. But just blocks away,
another show was just beginning—one
with a lot more sequins.
The Twin Cities Open (TCO) began
on Thursday, July 10th, with amateur and pro/am rhythm freestyles
and scholarships. Friday showcased
smooth, Saturday displayed standard
and Latin, and Sunday featured workshops with top professionals from
around the country.
Over 250 competitors participated
in TCO, including many first-time newcomers and professionals new to the
event. The evening show on Saturday
sold out quickly, gathering over 500
spectators, including those who purchased standing-room-only tickets.
As the Hyatt Regency Hotel ballroom
began to fill Saturday night with ballroom aficionados dressed in their best
BY LIBBY RYAN
eveningwear, social dancers made their
way to the dance floor. Ladies in sixinch stilettos waltzed around the room
as if they wore low-heeled dance shoes.
The front-row seats were close
Scott Anderson, one of TCO’s orga-
enough to the dancers to see rhine-
nizers, walked from table to table hand-
stones flying off costumes and sweat
ing plastic hand clappers to spectators.
glistening on the faces of the dancers
The dance floor was a scene of social
dancing round after round.
dancers, with professionals weaving
around them as they warmed up.
After revealing the awards for the
Libby Ryan is an enthusiastic ballroom
dancer and a journalism major at the
University of Minnesota. If you have a story
idea, please email her at [email protected].
Photo by Libby Ryan.
night and weekend, the show numbers
The order of the evening was
began with a baseball-themed num-
smooth, standard, rhythm, and Latin,
ber from Dustin Donelan and Dora
To finish out the night, three
with the show numbers finishing the
Dolphin, who won the weekend’s Best
rhythm couples and two smooth cou-
night. From the first round of smooth
in Show award. This was only the first
ples danced a fusion number, with the
waltz, it was clear to see why the show
dance to fit perfectly into the All-Star
rhythm dancers in red and smooth
had sold out. The dancing was incredi-
Weekend theme. Mazen Hamza and
dancers in white. It perfectly blended
ble; it was impossible to know where
Izabella Jundzill, the TCO smooth
the competitive edge with the celebra-
to look. In every corner of the floor, a
champions, danced a waltz to “Take Me
tion of dance in itself.
couple was performing their choreog-
Out to the Ball Game.” Hamza rooted
The All-Star Show ended with all the
raphy with nothing held back. If you
for one team while Jundzill picked the
performers on the floor, taking their
turned in one direction, you could see
eventual winners in their adorably plot-
bow, and Scott and Amy Anderson
one couple flawlessly executing a lift,
ted choreography. Also in the program
thanking the audience and all the
but you would miss the développé and
was a sassy jive, a ‘70s rock quickstep,
participants for coming out to the
dip on the other side of the floor.
and two a cappella tap dancers.
Twin Cities Open.
E
I was still able to pick up something
applicable to bronze dancing.
The first lecture was on smooth
by Jonathan Roberts, a pro known for
BY KEVIN VIRATYOSIN
being on Dancing with the Stars. Michelle
Hudson from Cinema Ballroom assisted
him with his lesson. Jonathan talked
COMPETING
IN BALLROOM DANCE IS
of the competition, I was able to attend
still rather new to me. I’ve only attended
the American-Style Congress held on
two competitions, the first at Dancers
Sunday, the last event of TCO.
Studio (Dance Fest) and the other in a
I thought that I knew what to expect
high school gym (MichComp), so you can
from the Congress; after all, I had been
imagine the impression I received when
to the Dance Fest workshops led by
I stepped into the ballroom for the Twin
local professionals. I thought it was
Cities Open. The large floor was sur-
going to be enhanced group lessons or
rounded by tables decked in cloth, there
something along those lines. However,
were stage lights in every corner of the
as I walked in, I noticed people grab-
room, and the elegant chandeliers lent
bing notepads and pens. Notepads and
the ballroom a final touch of class. This
pens? I often write down what I learn
event was clearly something else.
or any questions I have, but I typically
I can only imagine how the compe-
do so after a lesson. It turns out that the
tition must have gone with all of those
American-Style Congress is more like a
expensive lights and heavy speakers.
series of lectures, and to my surprise,
While I had been out of town for most
the lectures were very enjoyable. Each
lecturer presented information primarily geared at the open-level dancer, but
about many things but stressed the
importance of technique. He also talked
about personalizing choreography and
not trying to do everything at once, but
rather focusing on one body part and
action at a time. This tidbit was mostly
for open choreography, but he also
explained that even for bronze dancing,
it’s extremely important to be clear so a
judge can immediately know what it is
you’re trying to do.
The second talk was by Ilya and
Amanda Reyzin. Their lecture was very
practical, as it was tailored to what
Amanda had seen on the dance floor
over the past weekend. As a judge,
she told us what they liked and didn’t
like about the Latin motion they saw,
their reasoning behind it, and how to
practice and improve.
M I N N E S OTA
BALLROOM
BLAST
25 OCTOBER 2014
BALLROOM DANCING
CRITIQUED ALL DAY.
SOCIAL DANCING, GAMES,
AND MUSIC ALL EVENING.
BEGINNERS WELCOME
(AND PREFERRED)
DANCERS
Dance your heart out.
Get critiqued by pros.
Have a blast.
SPECTATORS
See some great dancing.
Enjoy the games.
Rock out.
Admission is $5 per session.
WHEN
Day Session: 9 AM to 5 PM
Evening Session: 6 PM to 10 PM
WHERE
North Star Ballroom
Saint Paul Student Center
2017 Buford Ave
Saint Paul MN 55108
MORE INFORMATION AT
MNBALLROOMBLAST.COM
Photos from TCO by Libby Ryan
The third and last lecture of the
morning session was by Eddie Simon,
with Michelle to help again. The title
guests, the rhythm champions from
been able to attend the evening show
the previous night.
on Saturday. When they demonstrated
Rufus Dustin followed with smooth,
cha cha, my first thought was, “I didn’t
of his presentation was “The Illusion of
with
Maria
know that cha cha could look that
Dance.” It was fun to see some jaws drop
Sindnjova to assist him. Sergey and
exciting!” I don’t think I have the right
in the audience during this lecture. A
Maria had taken first place in Rising Star
words to describe this lecture aside
lot of the technique covered was over
and were a treat to watch. Rufus told us
from “pure fun." At this point, there
my head, but whether he was explain-
he had ten rules, or body dynamics, that
were many pros in the room, and given
ing cool moves like lifts or giving more
are required in smooth. He broke down
their long history with each other, they
foundational tips such as how to modify
the aspects of stretch and sway, as well
were bouncing jokes off one another
frame for each dance, it looked like
as telling us how to add story to chore-
without any mercy. I was laughing so
he really made an impact on the rest
ography. The most important idea he
much my sides hurt, and I’m sure I
of the attendees.
wanted us to take away (a theme with
wasn’t the only one.
Sergey
Barsukov
and
The second session of the Congress
the other pros, as well) was that, despite
Unfortunately, the fun had to stop
proved just as good as the first. Linda
having the same routine for a particular
when we ran out of time. The pros had
Dean started us off by giving us a
dance, one should never dance anything
planes to catch, and the floor needed
detailed breakdown of the bolero.
the same way twice, but rather interpret
tearing down. I have a notepad full
Personally, while bolero isn’t really in
the music at hand each time.
of notes, and I am incredibly glad I
my scope for dances, I do think that my
Up last, Sam Sodano ended the
attended the American-Style Congress
understanding of it has improved, how-
session with a detailed lecture on true
at TCO. I’m already looking forward to
ever slightly. Best of all, she brought
rhythm motion, with Andre and Natalie
next year’s workshops, and I definitely
in Andre and Natalie Paramonov as
to demonstrate. Watching them dance
plan to make it to the evening show!
made me wish even more that I had
E
Photo of Andre and Natalie Paramonov by Libby Ryan
NOW,
BEFORE YOU ASK WHAT A
Rhythm Cookie is, let me tell you how
exciting this moment was. Call me a
drama queen; call me a crazy fangirl—
you might be right. But unless you
were in the ballroom at the Saturday
evening show of the Twin Cities Open,
you’ll have to take my word for the
utmost importance of this little, plastic-bagged treat.
So the Rhythm Cookie … was a
slightly chewy snickerdoodle. It was
dry and leaning towards stale, but it
didn’t matter. It didn’t matter an ounce
because it was Andre’s gift bag cookie.
He gave it to us.
After drooling over the dancing of
Andre and Natalie Paramonov whenever they stepped onto the floor, Karen
Maldonado and I stood in front of them
while Theresa Kimler complimented
them on their performance.
“Luscious,” she said. “It was just
luscious.”
BY LIBBY RYAN
It was true. During their showpiece,
you could have heard a pin drop. The
entire audience was captivated by the
Natalie and Andre. Karen and I timidly
and handed the cookie to Karen; we’d
Paramonovs’ performance to an acous-
followed her onto the floor, Karen hold-
pass it back after I got a nice shot.
tic cover of “Hallelujah.” Mesmerized,
ing onto my arm in a death grip.
We chatted for another moment
I wished the song wouldn’t end, but
If you know Karen Maldonado, you
while I took their picture before letting
when it did, the silence in the ballroom
know she’s selectively shy. She’s not
them relax away from the dance floor.
was broken by thunderous applause.
shy around her friends, and she’s not
Karen and I tried to give Andre back his
Karen and I had easily agreed that
shy when she’s dancing, but put her
cookie, but he refused, telling us we
Natalie’s red dress was our favorite
in front of a pair of nationally ranked
should have it.
rhythm dress of the night. We’d giggled
professional dancers and she hides.
at the couple’s mambo during the free-
and
culation in my arm, Karen let me pull
style round and couldn’t help ourselves
explained I was taking photographs
her out of the ballroom so we could go
from pointing and screeching in laugh-
for the local dance magazine. Andre
congratulate other competitors of the
ter at Andre’s hilarious flourishes.
grinned before handing me some-
night—not that she managed to say
Everything they danced, they took
thing so he could pose with an
much to them.
and elevated into something entirely
arm around Natalie.
unique—a playful mambo, a clever cha
cha, a heart-stopping bolero.
Once the show ended, Theresa took
advantage of the fact I always have my
camera basically glued to my face at
ballroom competitions and asked me
to take a picture of her with the newly
awarded
TCO
rhythm
champions,
Theresa
introduced
me
Spellbound and still cutting off cir-
“They gave us their cookie,” Karen
I reached out with one hand, still
told most anyone who would listen,
balancing my camera in the other,
as she cradled it in her hands. We
and took the plastic-bagged cookie
gushed about the dancing we’d seen
he handed me.
that night until Karen dropped me off
Laughing, I said, “I’ll just hold onto
that while I take the picture.”
“No, keep it. Keep it,” Andre said,
nodding for emphasis. I just laughed
at my apartment, where we split the
cookie in half.
And
that
is
the Rhythm Cookie.
the
E
story
of
IT’S
SUMMERTIME IN THE
CITIES, and the
Twin Cities Open has come and gone once
again. Minnesota has produced some truly
exceptional amateur dancers, and several of
the state’s current top amateur couples performed on the night of Thursday, July 10th.
In the Latin division, Jacob Borg and Sijia
Wei performed their gorgeous open Latin
routines. Jacob and Sijia hail from St. Olaf
College, just an hour south of the Cities.
Michael Kasinkas and Taylor Wall, current gold smooth national champions and
runners-up in the gold rhythm division,
performed their smooth and standard.
Michael and Taylor have been working
on new routines, and it shows. Minnesota
expects them to earn another title in one
of the open smooth and rhythm divisions
this upcoming fall.
Nels Petersen and Theresa Kimler, current and many-time national champions
BY DANIEL O’CONNELL
in the smooth division, continued to look
strong performing their current routines.
Based on fundamental standard technique,
these routines show the strength of their
training and many years of experience.
Leland and Leslie Whitney, national
finalists in the Senior II and III categories
of the smooth, standard, and rhythm divisions, also performed. Leland and Leslie
made a good showing recently at the Gumbo
DanceSport
Championships,
qualifying
themselves for USA Dance Nationals 2015.
The primary feature that makes the amateur ballroom dance community so strong
is the sense of friendship and camaraderie
that binds everyone together. After the
competition, many of the amateurs in attendance, competitors and spectators alike,
went to grab some tasty ribs at Rudolph’s
BBQ, a nearby restaurant. For Minnesota
couples, a post-competition feast is a common feature of many events on the competitive trail, including the Chicago Dancesport
Challenge and USA Dance Nationals.
Congratulations to all of the amateur couples who participated at the
Twin Cities Open, and best of luck at
Om nom nom! 1 a.m. ribs at Rudolph’s BBQ. From left to right: Libby Ryan, Rosemary O’Connell,
your future competitions!
Daniel O’Connell, Taylor Wall, Michael Kasinkas, Janie Nordberg, and Theresa Kimler.
E

PDF - Sheer Dance

Transcription

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