March-April 2015
“THE BEST ROAD TO PROGRESS IS FREEDOM’S ROAD.”
—John F. Kennedy A CELEBRATION of DANCESPORT OPPORTUNITY
in AMERICA
LET
FREEDOM
RING!
Turning-Point Year Ahead for Social Dancing and DanceSport Opportunities in America. A Time To Celebrate and a Time To Embrace Positive Change.
Countdown to Nationals 2015
Official publication of USA Dance Inc.
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AROUND THE G N
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March-April 2015 Ron Turner
DEPARTMENTS
22 Grassroots
5 President’s Message
30 Ask A Social Dancer
Yang Chen, President of USA Dance
6 Milestones
Action Report from USA Dance National
10 USA Dance Celebrates 50th Anniversary Ask A Social Dancer…like Dallas Chapter President Diane Montgomery (blue dress), “One thing is certain -- where there is dancing, joyfulness follows.” Ryan Kenner Photography
20 Socially Yours
By Jean Krupa, Social Dance VP
Chapter Highlights & Achievements Diane Montgomery, Dallas (TX) Chapter
33 USA Dance 2015 DanceSport Calendar 36 In The Public Eye
By Angela Prince, Public Relations Director
46 A Champion’s Perspective: Erik Linder
& Rickie Taylor, a 10-year partnership and journey to the World Championships.
FEATURES
12 Cover Story
America’s Best: The Athlete’s Journey to Nationals
16 The Competitive Edge:
Mastering Sport Psychology By Dr. Joel Minden
26 Inspired By Dance: Author Joe Sepesy
Carson Zullinger
A Wounded Warrior’s Love Story
28 Chapter Revelers Ring In The New Year Tidewater NYE, a Growing Tradition
32 Inspired By Dance: Singer Lyn Stanley From Ballroom Champion to International Recording Artist
34 Islander’s DanceSport Challenge (NY)
Top of the Podium for First-Time DanceSport Competition In Staten Island, NY
38 On the Podium: Erik Linder & Rickie Taylor (WA)
WDSF Junior II World Championships, from Denmark to Riga, Latvia
Triumphant Team Match trophy co-winners at the MAC 2015.
March-April 2015
“THE BEST ROAD TO PROGRESS IS FREEDOM’S ROAD.”
—John F. Kennedy A CELEBRATION of DANCESPORT OPPORTUNITY
in AMERICA
LET
FREEDOM
RING!
Turning-Point Year Ahead for Social Dancing and DanceSport Opportunities in America. A Time To Celebrate and a Time To Embrace Positive Change.
Inspired Vision for the Next 50
Official publication of USA Dance Inc.
The Learning Experience in Latvia:
Kinsley Lin & Michelle Yiu (CA)
USA Dance Nationals in Baltimore Expecting 1,000 Athletes, Top 65% in America
40 The Manhattan Amateur Classic’s 25th Anniversary
Hosting WDSF Junior II Open Latin, Standard Events
Judge’s Perspectives:
Sandra Fortuna, Dan Calloway
44 PDX Classic NQE in Tigard, OR
Qualifying the West Coast for Nationals
45 In The Diamond Trade Center of the World WDSF Senior III Standard World Championship
FRONT COVER: At the 25th annual Manhattan Amateur Classic, Mike Lynch & Rose-Ann Lynch (VA) placed first in both Senior II and Senior III American Smooth Championship Divisions. They are the 2014 National Vice Champions in Senior I and Senior II Smooth. Photo Credit: Ryan Kenner Photography. BACK COVER: The USA Dance 2015 National DanceSport Champions in Baltimore, Mar. 27-29, celebrates its 35th Anniversary and the 50th Anniversary of USA Dance. In the 2014 Nationals spotlight – Nikita Malakhov & Nadezda Vlasoca (NJ). Photo Credit: Al Parker/Parkwest Photography. CORRECTION: In the Nov-Dec 2014 issue, at the Snowball Classic in Vancouver, Bob Blank & Martha Estevez also placed 14th in Senior III Open Standard; Valeriy Ort & Rita Lynn Ort placed 5th in both Senior I and II Open Latin. In the Jan-Feb 2015 Chicago NQE story, Jeffrey Forbes should read Jeffrey Forth.
March - April 2015
3
regular contributors ANGELA PRINCE Public Relations Director
March-April 2015
Official Publication of USA Dance, Inc.
Angela Prince is the publisher/editor in chief of American Dancer Magazine. She has served as National Public Relations Director for USA Dance, Inc. since 2007. Her responsibilities include integrated communications, publicity, social media relations, sponsorship development, promotional support and brand management.
2015/Issue 53
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: President – Yang Chen, NY Vice President – Shawn Fisher, ID Secretary – Greg Warner, MN Treasurer – Michael Brocks, PA VP, DanceSport – Ken Richards, DE VP, Social Dance – Jean Krupa, FL DanceSport Rep – Inna Brayer, NY DanceSport Rep – Roger Greenawalt, IN
JEAN KRUPA
Social Dance Vice President
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jean Krupa is the Social Vice President for USA Dance, Inc., and is serving her second three-year term of office. She is responsible for the programs, communications and a 11-district representation for 160+ local chapters and its members.
Publisher/Editor In Chief Angela F. Prince Design and Production SPARK Publications sparkpublications.com Photography Advisor Carson Zullinger Advertising Angela F. Prince Printing Publishers Press, Inc. SUBSCRIPTION: American Dancer, the official publication of USA Dance, Inc., is published six times a year for the membership and is included in annual membership dues. Subscription cost to non-members within the USA: $25/year SUBMISSIONS: American Dancer welcomes submissions of unsolicited articles, photos and other graphics. All submissions become the property of American Dancer magazine and are not returned to the sender. American Dancer reserves the right to edit all materials for space, content, grammatical and preferential reasons. Preferred method of editorial submissions is by written proposal to the editor who will initially review the story ideas and materials and make a final decision whether to request more information and/or publish. Submissions should be sent to americandancer@usadance.org with AMERICAN DANCER submission/name of sender/story header on the email subject line. Photo submissions must be high-resolution jpegs (minimum 300-600 dpi and preferably 2400 x 3600 pixels) and American Dancer retains all first-usage rights to submitted copy and photographs/digital images. PUBLISHER’S OFFICE: AF Prince Associates 11101 Robert Bost Road Midland, NC 28107 704-888-3073
CENTRAL OFFICE: USA Dance, Inc. 800-447-9047 Fax 239-573-0946 Email: central-office@usadance.org
MEMBERSHIP: Online registration or renewals at www.usadance.org WEBSITE: www.USADANCE.org NATIONAL SOCIAL MEDIA: Facebook: USA Dance, Inc. American Dancer Magazine Social Dancers USA Dance
Twitter: @usadanceinc LinkedIn: USA Dance Inc. YouTube: usadanceinc
USA Dance Chapter websites and Facebook pages are listed at www.usadance.org. © 2015 USA Dance Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
KEN RICHARDS
DanceSport Vice President Ken Richards is the DanceSport Vice President for USA Dance, Inc, and is serving his fourth three-year term of office. As head of the DanceSport Council, he is responsible for all DanceSport programs, including athlete relations and educational opportunities, Adjudicator Congresses, the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships, the National Collegiate DanceSport Championships, all Sanctioned and Qualifying Events, USA Dance University and all industry DanceSport relations. He also serves as an elected Presidium member of the World DanceSport Federation of which USA Dance is a member organization.
USA DANCE, Inc. is the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States as recognized by the United States Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the World DanceSport Federation. With nearly 160 local chapters, soon to reach 20,000 national members, from pre-teen to collegiate to seniors and an estimated outreach of more than 200,000, USA Dance is also the representative association for all social and recreational dancers in the country. Membership includes both social and DanceSport, pre-teen through senior, amateur and professional classifications.
MISSION STATEMENT:
To improve the quality and quantity of ballroom dancing in America.
P
resident’s Message
All Photos By Zaya Xavier
D
uring this 50th anniversary year of USA Dance, we remember that USA Dance was founded in 1965 with the goal of getting ballroom dancing into the Olympics. The first step towards fulfilling that dream came in 1997 when DanceSport -- which includes competitive ballroom dancing -- was recognized as an Olympic Sport. Then, in 1999, USA Dance was recognized by the United States Olympic Committee as the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States. In that capacity, USA Dance -- and only USA Dance – has the sole responsibility to select the United States’ official DanceSport representatives to The World Games and the World Championships organized by the World DanceSport Federation, which the International Olympic Committee (IOC) recognizes as the global governing body for DanceSport. In December 2014, the IOC approved the Olympic Agenda 2020 which contains the recommendation for the IOC to begin collaborating closely with the International World Games Association (IWGA) in sports program composition and evaluation. The potential for DanceSport represented by this collaboration was made clear at the IOC meeting with photographs of DanceSport athletes compet-
ing at The World Games 2013 in Cali, Colombia, to illustrate the future of The World Games. USA Dance selected the USA representatives to The World Games 2013 in Cali from our top couples in standard, latin and salsa. Our athletes proudly represented the USA before a live audience of tens of thousands of cheering fans. On Jan. 22, the IWGA announced that in 2021, The World Games will be held in Birmingham, Alabama -- the first time that the World Games are back on American soil since the inaugural World Games took place in Santa Clara, California in 1981. DanceSport will be in The World Games 2021, and USA Dance will be selecting our country’s representatives for those Games through the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships. This is an exciting time for DanceSport. The collaboration between the IOC and the IWGA may point the way towards a path to the medal program for DanceSport in the Olympics. Until that time comes, USA Dance will continue to crown champions at the National Championships, supporting National Qualifying Events and other training and competition opportunities for our athletes to pursue their dreams.
Dream with us, and let’s make our Olympic Dreams come true.
Yang Chen
National President USA Dance, Inc. March - April 2015
5
Milestones
BIRMINGHAM, AL TRIUMPHANT! THE WORLD GAMES 2021 IN USA;
DANCESPORT ON THE PODIUM (from the IWGA Press Release) – The World Games 2021 will take place in Birmingham/Alabama/USA. This decision was announced by José Perurena, President of the International World Games Association…on Thursday, 22 January 2015, at a press conference in the Mövenpick Hotel in Lausanne. [T]he IWGA Executive Committee had made a final assessment of the Bids from Birmingham (USA), Lima (Peru) and Ufa (Russia), and evaluated the delegations’ final presentations. The IWGA Executive Board took the final decision on the host city for the 11th edition of this multisports event at its meeting….The 10th edition of The World Games will be staged in 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland. The IWGA flag will be handed over to the representatives of Birmingham during the closing ceremony in Wroclaw on 30 July 2017.
11 FACTS ABOUT 11TH ANNUAL THE WORLD GAMES 2021 . . .
• The World Games 2021, the 11th annual, is under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and organized by the International World Games Association (IWGA). • The World Games is an international quadrennial and multidisciplinary sporting event. • More than 25 sports will be represented. • Approximately 100 countries and 4,500 athletes and officials will participate. • The City of Birmingham, known as “The Magic City,” won its bid over Lima, Peru and Ufa, Russia. • The World Games will cost Birmingham approximately $75 million. • Birmingham estimates at economic impact of $256 million. • DanceSport will be an official medal sport in The World Games 2021. • USA Dance, member of the U.S. Olympic Committee and World DanceSport Federation (WDSF), will select all DanceSport couples to compete in The World Games. • Only USA Dance DanceSport members will represent the USA. • Judges from the USA and other countries eligible to officiate at The World Games will only be chosen from those holding a WDSF Adjudicator’s License. More Information: www.theworldgames.org, www.worlddancesport.org, www.ioc.org and www.usadance.org
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
USA Dance DanceSport athletes proudly represented the United States at The World Games 2013 in Cali, Colombia.
Ken Richards
Giving reasons for the decision in favour of Birmingham/ Alabama, President José Perurena mentioned the excellent bid presented by the host city. “We are happy to showcase our sports in Birmingham in July 2021, and we are sure that we will be offered optimal conditions for our sportsmen and women there. All the bids we received were of very high quality, and it was not easy for us to reach a decision. We have to deliver nothing less than outstanding World Games. We are convinced that Birmingham will exceed these expectations.” José Perurena stated. So, after Santa Clara 1981, the inaugural edition, The World Games will return to the USA. Birmingham is the largest city in Alabama, with more than 210,000 residents. It will be the first time that the city hosts an international multi-sport event.
ABOUT THE IWGA Founded in 1980, the International World Games Association (IWGA) is a non-governmental and non-profit-making international organization constituted under Swiss law. Made up of International Sports Federations, it administers a quadrennial and multidisciplinary sports event, The World Games, which aspires to equal and exceed the importance of world championships organized by each federation individually. The principal aim of the IWGA is to develop the popularity of the sports governed by its Member Federations, to improve their prominence through excellent sporting achievements, and to conserve all the traditional values of sport through The World Games.
USA DANCE OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
IN RESPONSE TO NDCA RULE
BARRING NDCA-REGISTERED ADJUDICATORS, OFFICIALS FROM PARTICIPATING AT NON-NDCA EVENTS On January 7, 2015, USA Dance, through its legal counsel, sent a demand letter to the National Dance Council of America’s Board of Governors. This letter informed the NDCA that its rules, approved in July 2014, barring NDCA-registered adjudicators and officials from participating at non-NDCA events are unlawful, that the NDCA rules are in restraint of trade, represent a group boycott against USA Dance, and that the NDCA has violated and continues to violate federal antitrust laws. USA Dance has further demanded that the NDCA take immediate action to eliminate all related rules that prevent NDCA-registered adjudicators and officials from being able to judge and officiate at non-NDCA events, specifically at USA Dance National Qualifying Events and the National DanceSport Championships. As the USA Dance demand letter to the NDCA states, in part: “The NDCA’s use of coercive enforcement mechanisms, such as NDCA- registration suspension and cancellation and fines for noncompliant judges, constitutes a classic group boycott in restraint of trade by
the competitors who serve on the NDCA Board…. The United States’ antitrust laws do not permit entities that dominate the marketplace to act as governmental regulatory bodies and restrict others’ freedoms to associate and do business with whomever they wish.” With a five-decade history in the dance industry and as the United States Olympic Committee-recognized National Governing Body for DanceSport, USA Dance has consistently advocated Freedom of Participation for everyone in the dance industry, both at home in the USA and abroad. The NDCA’s actions have threatened these freedoms. Since July 2014, the NDCA’s continuing actions, both direct and indirect, have resulted in USA Dance National Qualifying Events losing valued judges who have declined NQE invitations out of concern for future career opportunities and loss of income. In January 2015, at least two valued judges to USA Dance and the WDSF received NDCA-issued letters imposing immediate six-month suspension of their adjudicator’s license, or the option of a $500 fine to gain reinstatement under the condition that they breach the rules no further.
USA Dance’s letter makes the following demands:“ Accordingly, USA Dance demands that (1) the NDCA immediately withdraw all rules restricting judges’ and others’ participation in non-NDCA-sanctioned ballroom dance competitions; and (2) within 14 days of withdrawal, the NDCA notify all NDCA-registered judges and other officials in writing of the removal of all restrictions against their participation in non-NDCA-registered ballroom dance competitions.” USA Dance asks that everyone who believes in Freedom of Participation in dance to support our national organization, our athletes and social dancers, our chapters and all of the professional instructors, adjudicators, officials and studios in our local communities. Let us stand together as one dance community that excludes none, guarantees the essential freedoms of participation and reunites an industry whose mission, whether nonprofit or for-profit, is to bring enrichment and opportunity to everyone’s lives. Announcement to Membership Issued Jan. 8, 2015 by Governing Council of USA Dance, Inc. The Demand Letter to NDCA Issued Jan. 7, 2015 by USA Dance Legal Counsel.
2015 WDSF ADJUDICATOR’S CONGRESS memo from Wayne Crowder
The 2015 WDSF Adjudicator’s Congress will take place March 26, the Thursday before the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore, MD. The Congress will start around 9:00 AM. This year we are excited to have Fabio Bosco, from Italy, and Robert Albanese, from Germany, as our guest lecturers. Those that attended last year will remember Fabio’s slow motion analysis of some of the top competitive couples and the interesting discussion that followed. Fabio has been preparing a new lecture for this year’s congress and will be trying it out first in Melbourne, Australia in December. This will be Robert’s first time lecturing here in the USA and his topic will be the Latin Style.
The WDSF Adjudicator’s Congress is a closed event intended for USA Dance Adjudicators, WDSF Adjudicators, and those wishing to apply for a WDSF Adjudicator’s License. The main purpose of the congress is to: 1. provide updated information on WDSF judging system. 2. Familiarize the adjudicators on the Code of Conduct 3. T rain adjudicators on the system of “absolute judging”. 4. Train adjudicators on the judging and assessment standards.
Fabio Bosco lecture at the WDSF Adjudicator’s Congress 2014. Carson Zullinger
5. P rovide information on anti-competition fixing. 6. General upgrading of adjudicators. If you are interested in attending, contact Certification Dance Chairman Wayne Crowder, ds-certification@usadance.org
March - April 2015
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USA DANCE NETWORK NOW Milestones
USA DANCE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
DANCE THE NIGHTS AWAY ABOARD CUNARD’S ELEGANT QUEEN MARY 2 5 NIGHTS - DEPARTING JULY 30 - NYC
USA Dance takes to the open seas once again in July to celebrate its 50th Anniversary in grand style. This time, USA Dance members and guests will board the flagship of all cruise ships, Cunard’s elegant Queen Mary 2, departing July 30th from New York City harbor for an absolutely unforgettable five-night cruise to Halifax, Nova Scotia and the historic Boston, MA harbor. More ship facts to consider: The Queen Mary 2 is one of the largest passenger ships afloat, three football fields in length. It has the highest passenger to space ratio in the cruise industry, which translates to hundreds of “nooks and crannies” where you can escape to read a good book, play cards, have a cup of cappuccino or simply gaze out to sea. In an era of noisy cruise ship bells and Nightly dancing in the whistles, the Queen Mary 2 is a throwelegant Queens Ballroom back to the quieter values of yesteryear aboard the Queen Mary 2 -- exactly what Cunard’s passengers crave To book your cruise cabin today, most. The captain makes one noontime please contact: announcement a day; otherwise, total Travel Ventures (FL) 1-800-999-9302 peacefulness is the order. travelventure@aol.com. The Queen Mary 2 daily program, along with Canyon Ranch’s onboard spa and fitness facilWebsite: ities, provides plenty of diversions, but they’re www.DANCECRUISEUSADANCE.org more sedate than rock-climbing competitions For general inquiries, please contact: and waterslide races, typical of many ships toUSA Dance Cruise Director Jean day. The ship also features a planetarium with Krupa social-vp@usadance.org daily shows, a lecture hall and movie theatre. You’ll appreciate Cunard dress code on board. Donning a sport coat or cocktail dress does instill a little elegance in your evening affairs. The Queen’s Ballroom is the largest ballroom at sea, and the setting for afternoon teas, dance classes, occasional bingo, as well as ballroom dancing to a live orchestra at night. The ballroom actually spans the full width of the ship (134 feet) and its vaulted ceilings showcase exquisite crystal chandeliers. Multi-level seating around the dance floor ensures great views to the dance floor and the sea beyond. Single ladies needing an experienced dance partner will appreciate Cunard’s onboard Gentleman Host program. 8
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
158 CHAPTERS 11 DISTRICTS
The USA Dance network of chapters is actually divided by states into 11 districts. Each district has a volunteer director and assistant director responsible for outreach communications and assisting chapters in ways that increase membership, activities and overall success. DISTRICT 1 - AK, ID, MT, OR, UT, WA, WY Erin Retelle, Director AC-Dist1@usadance.org DISTRICT 2 - IA, IL, KS, MN, MO, ND, NE, SD, WI Leland Whitney, Director AC-Dist2@usadance.org DISTRICT 3 - MI, IN, OH Bobbi Jo Gamache, Director AC-Dist3@usadance.org DISTRICT 4 - ME, VT, NH, NY, MA Tony Ross, Director AC-Dist4@usadance.org DISTRICT 5 - PA, CT, RI, NJ Gerry Scharfenberger, Director AC-Dist5@usadance.org DISTRICT 6 - CA, NV, AZ, HI Herbert McGurk, Director AC-Dist6@usadance.org DISTRICT 7 - AR, CO, LA, NM, OK, TX Diane Montgomery, Director AC-Dist7@usadance.org DISTRICT 8 - AL, GA, KY, MS, TN John White, Director AC-Dist8@usadance.org DISTRICT 9 - FL, PR Don Davenport, Director AC-Dist9@usadance.org DISTRICT 10 - NC, SC Susan Johnson, Director AC-Dist10@usadance.org DISTRICT 11 - DE, DC, MD, VA, WV Phil Sisk, Director AC-Dist11@usadance.org National Leadership Team: Jean Krupa, Social Vice President Social-VP@usadance.org Marta Pascale, Director, Chapter Liaison ChapterLiaison-Dir@usadance.org Mary, Central Office central-office@usadance.org To find a local USA Dance chapter and background information, please visit the USA Dance website www.usadance.org/find-a-local-chapter/. To learn about USA Dance Districts, please visit http://usadance.org/chapters/our-regions/.
USA DANCE CHAPTERS PLAN OLYMPIC DAY EVENTS FOR 2015 Olympic Day, held annually, is celebrated by thousands of people, in more than 160 countries. Commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well-being in addition to Olympic ideals of fair play, perseverance, respect, and sportsmanship. Judi Chapman/Orlando Chapter
USOC NOTES: HOW
TO BE PART OF OLYMPIC DAY IN THE USA Each year, USA Dance is an active participant in the annual Olympic Assembly, which brings together the entire Olympic family throughout the USA to support the USOC’s efforts to promote Olympic Day and deliver the message of physical fitness for people of all ages. Commemorating the birth of the modern Olympic Games, Olympic Day is not only a celebration, but an international effort to promote fitness and well being in addition to the Olympic ideals of Fair Play, Perseverance, Respect and Sportsmanship. It is celebrated annually on June 23rd, by thousands of people in more than 160 countries. In 2014, more than 500,000 Americans celebrated Olympic Day by participating in 1,055 Olympic Day events hosted in 813 cities across all 50 states. Americans also celebrated in 11 overseas locations, making last year the most successful Olympic Day celebration ever in the United States.
This year, organizations can host an Olympic Day celebration between May 31 – July 1, 2015. Communities across the United States will celebrate Olympic Day through educational programming and other activities and may also include Olympic Day as part of a pre-existing event. Often times, a local Olympian or Paralympian in your area will participate at an Olympic Day event to share their personal story and inspire those in attendance with Olympic messaging. To help Chapters stage more memorable Olympic Day events, the USOC provides the following free services and resources: •A ssistance contacting Olympians, Paralympians or Olympic Hopefuls to speak. •A ssistance connecting with key community organizations (Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCA, etc.) USOC account managers are available to assist chapter volunteers with planning. Please call 1-719-866-4535 or email OlympicDay@usoc.org. The complimentary Olympic Day Tool Kit includes: •R ecommended Olympic Day agenda, FAQs, Certificates, etc. • Olympic Day event materials and logos •P ublicity Resources -- press release & flyer template, mayoral proclamation, etc. •A thlete Speaking Points on Fair Play, Respect, Perseverance and Sportsmanship •P romotional Videos
USA Dance is a member of the Multisport Organizations Council (MSOC) of the United States Olympic Committee, comprised of communitybased organizations such as the YMCAYWCA, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Boy Scouts, AAU, Police Athletic League and others that provide athletic opportunities for millions of Americans. The MSOC also includes as members those organizations that have been recognized by the USOC as National Governing Bodies of their sport, but where that sport has not yet qualified to become a Pan American or Olympic Sport. This includes USA Dance, which is recognized by the USOC as the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the USA. USA Dance athletes already participate in the IOC-patronized The World Games (2013 in Cali, Colombia, 2017 upcoming in Poland and 2021 in Birmingham, AL.) USA Dance is presently working with other North and South American countries to gain a foothold for DanceSport in the PanAmerican Games, which would be one giant step closer for DanceSport to the Olympic Games. And at that time, USA Dance would move from the MSOC to the NGB Council of the USOC. OLYMPIC DAY HOTLINES: 1-719-866-4535 or olympicday@usoc.org OLYMPIC DAY WEBSITE: http://www. teamusa.org/About-the-USOC/In-theCommunity/Olympic-Day.aspx Resource: Lydia Scardina, USA Dance Past President.
March - April 2015
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USA DANCE 50th ANNIVERSARY (1965-2015) TIMELINE OF DANCE
A
MOVING TO THE
H
NEXT50
istorians have called the 1960s a turning point in American history. It was often a tumultuous time and historical events during the decade redefined people’s lives, from the War in Vietnam, the Civil Rights and Women’s Movements and the assassination of President John F. Kennedy to the first U.S. space walk, the Beatles invasion and the start of Social Security benefits. It was during this decade that USA Dance found its humble beginning as the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association (USABDA). The year was 1965 and the USABDA leadership believed that competitive ballroom dancing (today referred to as DanceSport) could one day become an Olympic sport. Although the Olympic dream was the founding mission, the leaders also believed that ballroom dancers – whether social or competitive – and a network of social dance chapters could make a measurable difference in people’s lives and their communities. Fifty years later in 2015, USA Dance celebrates the dedicated leaders and volunteers who have made this 501c3 charitable organization what it is today. The USA Dance 50th Anniversary is a time of great celebration. And chapters have every opportunity to promote their programs, grow their membership and create the support alliances they need for continued success in their communities. Happy National Ballroom Dance Year. The celebration continues!
THE VISION OF COMMUNITY, MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES.
USABDA to USA DANCE the PROGRESSIVE Milestones and Turning Points. A Timeline of USA Dance History.
There were several Interconti- as the National Governing nental Ballroom Dance Festi- Body of DanceSport in the vals held alternating between United States. England and the USA.
1995
1997
The International Olympic Committee granted to the International DanceSport Federation provisional IOC recognition, crowning six years of intensive effort by IDSF officials.
Shawn Fisher’s team acquired publication of the now bimonthly national magazine 2002 and changed the name to NDCA voted to cease requir- American Dancer. ABC-TV’s ing amateurs participating Dancing With The Stars in NDCA competitions be hosts Junior Championship members of USABDA. with USA Dance couples.
2009
USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore aired on CN8.
2010
USA Dance hosted the IDSF (now WDSF) Adult Latin World Championships in New York. ABC-TV’s 2003 2007 Dancing With The Stars Michael Fitzmaurice acquired USA Dance DanceSport Judge Carrie Ann Inaba publication of Amateur Danc- Council reorganized from became Honorary Judge for 1997-1999 er magazine until mid 2006. geographical representation USA Dance Nationals Star 1996 Chapter growth exploded to its current national strucQuality Awards in LA. USA 2005 Efforts to promote and guide with 24 chapters added to ture. DanceSport moved from Dance reaffirms in writing the growth of social dancing the network in 1997, another USABDA name was changed regional events to sanctioning its “Freedom to Participate” to USA Dance, Inc., a better through development of a 10 in 1998 and 18 in 1999. National Qualifying Events. Core Policy. reflection of the National Govnetwork of chapters across 2008 2011 erning Body role and USOC the country were in full swing. 1999 In 1999, the United States IDSF changed name to membership, and the broader USA Dance created The Youth College Network Olympic Committee (USOC) National Organizing Team to WDSF, World DanceSport based goals of encouraging worked to promote dance manage the annual National Federation. NDCA, no longer programs in colleges as well granted Affiliate membership to and educating the public USABDA, including recognition about the benefits of dancing. DanceSport Championships. in association with the as middle and high schools.
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In 1997, the WDSF (formerly IDSF) was granted full recognition by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the world-wide global governing body for DanceSport.
2006
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
USA Dance history is well documented in its publication, from the first Amateur Dancer in 1979 to today’s American Dancer. In the early years, the magazine was a very detailed newsprint publication. This was long before the internet, email and social media. The USA Dance organization was then registered as the United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association, and an “s” was soon added to the magazine name to become Amateur Dancers. The January-February 2015 issue included a sampling of various archived print covers from 1981 through 1997 – the first two decades. Beginning in 1980, the first year of the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore, Amateur Dancers became a bi-monthly publication (6 issues a year), as it is today.
AMATEUR DANCERS TO AMERICAN DANCER. A CHRONICLE OF HISTORY:
THE 3RD DECADE
November/ December 1999 Headlines: Nationals, Growth, Social, Facilities, Funding President Archie Hazelwood
July/August 2002 Headlines: Growth, Seniors, NDCA Registrations President Archie Hazelwood
May/June 2004 Headlines: Alzheimer’s, Membership, Nationals President Archie Hazelwood
November/ December 2003 Headlines: Funding, Future Communications, Transparency President Archie Hazelwood
July/August 2005 Headlines: Funding, DWTS, USOC, IDSF President Esther Freeman
YEARS (1995 – 2015) WDSF and now part of the WDC, canceled USA Dance membership.
2012
National Dance Council of America (NDCA) withdrew its determination that USA Dance shall be the NDCA’s “official amateur ballroom dancers association” in the U.S. and terminated the Affiliate Membership of USA Dance in the NDCA. DanceSport VP Ken Richards elected to WDSF Presidium.
2013
USA Dance pioneered DanceSport Training Camp for Junior II and Youth World Team members at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Lake Placid, NY. USA Dance hosted first annual WDSF
through events, chapters and media connections of approximately 250,000. USA Dance announced new Teacher-Student DanceSport competition category and same-gender dance opportunities for USA Dance sanctioned events. NDCA 2014 changed rules to restrict/ USA Dance brought WDSF penalize NDCA-registered World Ranking Tournaments adjudicators and officials who to the USA. Angela Prince’s provide services to nonteam acquired publication of NDCA sanctioned events. American Dancer, creating USA Dance opposed action new editorial direction, format as violation of “Freedom to and content. American Dancer Participate” in dance and won global 2014 MARCOM demanded change of the new Award for magazine rule affecting adjudicators excellence in first year. and officials in the U.S.
Adjudicator’s Congress for certification of U.S. judges. Ken Richards re-elected to WDSF Presidium. USA athletes competed at The World Games 2013 in Cali, Colombia and World DanceSport Games in Taiwan.
2015
USA Dance with 158 local chapters has an outreach
Resources: USA Dance Central Office, Jean Krupa, Past Presidents of USA Dance.
USA DANCE PRESIDENTS –
1993 TO 2013 1993 – 2004
ARCHIE HAZELWOOD. Created the structure, guiding principles and policies for the organization. Responsible for significant chapter and membership growth and the value of social dancing as well as DanceSport in America.
2004 – 2007
ESTHER FREEMAN. Carried out Archie Hazelwood’s
programs and initiatives upon his untimely death in 2004. DS Council moved from regional to national representation. National Championships now organized by the National organization. Finalized USA Dance, Inc. name change.
2008 - 2009
PETER POVER. Responsible for the rebranding of
National DanceSport Championships, collaborations with national media and dance organizations. Secured 2010 WDSF Latin World Championships, Star Quality Awards, major sponsor programs.
2009 – 2013
LYDIA SCARDINA. Organized WDSF 2010 World
Adult Latin Championships, NY. Successfully worked to stop banning of USA Dance athletes, officials by WDSF. Organized first Junior-Youth World Team Dance Camp at USOC Training Center, Lake Placid, NY.
March - April 2015
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over Story
DANCESPORT IN
AMERICA
Defining Moments for Athletes, Adjudicators, Officials Who Value The ‘Freedom To Participate’ In Dance
F For DanceSport. . . Let The Games Begin. Furthermore, with the IOC’s unanimous approval in December 2014 of the Olympic Agenda 2020, the IOC and the International World Games Association (IWGA) have agreed to work in collaboration to determine the event composition and the future of DanceSport in both the Games and the Olympic programs.
ifty years ago in America, it was the Olympic Dream for DanceSport that inspired amateur dancers to form The United States Amateur Ballroom Dancers Association. These early leaders were successful in organizing amateur dancers to petition the Olympic Committee to include ballroom dancing in the Olympic Games. And although the journey for DanceSport would involve the sustained efforts of 92 countries around the world and for USA Dance already a 50-year journey, DanceSport’s dream of the Olympics moved far closer in just the last two years – The World Games 2013 in Cali, Colombia, The World DanceSport Games 2013 in Taiwan and the upcoming The World Games 2017 in Wroclaw, Poland and The World Games 2021 to be held in Birmingham, AL. DanceSport in America. It’s an exciting and promising time.
CELEBRITY MOMENTS on the RED CARPET
30-Seconds of Fame on the Red Carpet all photos this page by Carson Zullinger
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
On the Red Carpet at the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships, where “family paparazzi” and friend take thousands of photos, everyone is a star. And for the 500 or more competitive couples at Nationals, the Red Carpet is a special place to share the fun and excitement with everyone on social media. This year, American Dancer will be looking for the Best Red Carpet Celebrity Moments that are posted from Nationals (March 27-29) on the USA Dance, Inc. Facebook page. Time to get creative!
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT USA Dance Approves Teacher-Student Divisions, Events for USA Dance Competitions in 2015 Feb. 9, 2015 NEW YORK CITY – The DanceSport Council and Governing Council of USA Dance, Inc. officially approved the new competitive category of Teacher-Student for all USA Dance-sanctioned DanceSport competitions. The new category becomes effective with the release of the USA Dance 2015 DanceSport Rulebook in April 2015, after the USA Dance 2015 National DanceSport Championships, Mar. 27-29. The new Teacher-Student competition category will replace the Mixed Proficiency category that was offered for many years at USA Dance-sanctioned events. This new division is in keeping with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) SportsFor-All initiative and the rules of the World DanceSport Federation, whereby opportunities are expanding world-wide to bring DanceSport to a wider range of Teacher-Student participants. “Teacher-Student is a new category that offers dancers and organizers everywhere increased opportunities to provide Freedom of Participation,” said National President Yang Chen. “USA Dance encourages and recommends to organizers to make Teacher-Student events available to dancers, either in existing or future planned events. Now is a great time to be a USA Dance member and to be part of the USA Dance community.” Event Organizer or DanceSport Competitor Inquiries to dancesport-vp@usadance.org. Media Inquiries to publicrelations-dir@usadance.org. ABOUT USA DANCE. USA Dance, Inc., a 501c3 nonprofit organization, is the National Governing Body for DanceSport in the United States, sponsoring and sanctioning the highest quality of competitive dance opportunities in the country, including nine National Qualifying Events, the National DanceSport Championships and the National Collegiate DanceSport Championships. With nearly 160 chapters across the country, USA Dance supports thousands of grassroots programs and opportunities for both recreational and competitive dancers. USA Dance is a Multi-Sport Organization of the U.S. Olympic Committee is also one of 92 countries within the World DanceSport Federation, sending USA DanceSport athletes to compete at WDSF World Championships and Games, The World Games organized by the IWGA and patronized by the IOC, and supporting the global movement to bring DanceSport to the medals program of the Olympic Games. www.usadance.org
Returning World-Class Event at Nationals
WDSF UNDER-21 OPEN WORLD RANKING TOURNAMENT STANDARD – 10-DANCE – LATIN At the upcoming USA Dance National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore, USA Dance will host the World DanceSport Federation’s Open Under-21 World Ranking Tournaments for Standard, 10-Dance and Latin, attracting America’s top Under-21 DanceSport couples, and contenders from other WDSFmember countries. Whether Standard, 10-dance or Latin, the Under-21 events are regarded as one of the most competitive and dynamic on the floor today. These couples are exceptionally athletic and artistic and come to win. At Nationals, the Under-21 events occur during the evening sessions: Standard on Friday, Mar. 27 10-Dance on Saturday, Mar. 28 Latin on Sunday, Mar. 29. Ticket pricing and schedules are available on the Nationals website www.usadancenationals.com Following Nationals, the Gumbo DanceSport Championships NQE in June will host the Open Senior II and IV Standard in June which parallels the Senior IV National Championships at the Gumbo. In October, the Carolina Fall Classic NQE will host the Open Senior I and II Standard and Latin events. (see DanceSport Calendar p. 33) In January, the Manhattan Amateur Classic NQE hosted the Junior II Standard, 10-Dance and Latin open WDSF events with growing success. The distinguished panel of WDSF-licensed adjudicators for Nationals and the WDSF Open World Ranking Tournaments are professional members of USA Dance and are often invited to judge WDSF world championship events around the world.
Florin Vlad & Natalia Linda O’Connor (VT) Winners, WDSF Under 21 Standard USA Dance 2014 Nationals (both) Carson Zullinger
March - April 2015
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over Story
ASK THE COSTUME GUY COSTUMING RULES & REGULATIONS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF DANCERS By Todd Kirrane, DanceSport Observer, aka “The Costume Guy” While volunteering in the on-deck area at last year’s National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore, a pre-teen competitor asked my son if he was Todd Kirrane’s son. A second pre-teen dancer asked the first one ‘Who is Todd Kirrane?” To which the first dancer replied, ‘He is the destroyer of children’s dreams everywhere.” Yup, that’s me. I’m the costume check guy. Now, I get a chuckle out of that every time, especially since I know the dancer and parents, but sadly this is how the onsite DanceSport Officials (commonly known as The Observers) are looked at by parents, dancers, coaches, organizers, and even some judges when we enforce the dress code and other rules at the competition. But what I know, and hope they someday realize, is that by enforcing the DanceSport rules at competitions, we are not only protecting the athletes, but we are also playing an integral part of bringing DanceSport to the Olympics. The United States Olympic Committee has embraced a holistic set of principles that allow American youth to utilize sport as a path toward an active and healthy lifestyle, and create opportunities for athletes to maximize their full potential. These principles include universal access to create opportunity for all athletes, developmentally appropriate activities that emphasize motor and foundational skills, and fun, engaging and progressively challenging atmospheres. Costuming regulations, although seemingly restrictive, are created to achieve these goals by preserving and fostering the healthy development, well being and reputation of the children who choose to dance competitively. USA Dance leadership and the DanceSport Council, all who have been dancers or have parented children who dance, believe it is not a responsible practice to put young children into high heels while their feet are still developing, nor do they believe heavy adult-like makeup and costumes that mimic adult costuming (especially those for latin/rhythm dancing) is a healthy practice. Sequins, rhinestones, elaborate mesh and cutaway panels and other adornments, no matter how attention getting on the floor, make children appear more like a pageant contestants than a developing athlete participating in the sport of competitive dance. Such practice can also cause event organizers, coaches, instructors and parents to be misunderstood as to their purpose and pursuits. So, it is the job of “The Observers” to make sure that the emphasis is placed on the holistic development of the athletes and their skills as dancers…and not on their costumes.
Any Question? Ask The Costume Guy – Todd Kirrane at toddmkirrane@gmail.com. 14
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
DANCERS, TAKE YOUR PLACES ON THE FLOOR. . . ADJUDICATOR’S PERSPECTIVE: INEZ SAHLIN (FL) & WAYNE CROWDER (NC) Heading to Nationals? Whether you’re on the floor, giving advice in the practice room or watching from the bleachers, knowing what “the judges” are thinking might be helpful. American Dancer asked two distinguished adjudicators on the Nationals 2015 panel to tell what they’re thinking when they mark their final score sheets. By showtime at Nationals, in the Championship level, what does an adjudicator expect to see? Sahlin: I would like to see that the performance is “in music,” meaning not off time. If you are breaking in Chacha on 1, you don’t belong here. I would also like to see proper technique. That is an absolute must. US A D a n I am often surprised that ce Natio n als 2014 Carson Zullin ger some couples enter this division without fully understanding and having well developed fundamentals and couple, every heat in every round, characteristics of each dance. you are not going to have the Crowder: The competitors at the mark from me. The good news is I championship level in each division am not the only judge on the floor. have the ability to combine a high It is unlikely that we all see you at degree of technical and partnering that precise moment. skills with strong musicality. Crowder: A couple that has These competitors, after years of experience, have developed a high made it to the final round may have better quality of movement, level of overall presentation that truly sets them apart from the rest cleaner footwork, or a higher level of performance. They often have of the competitors. more confidence in their ability What distinguishes couples in and this shows on the floor. Finalround dancers are rarely tentative a semi-final round versus a in their movement. final round? Sahlin: The finalists most likely So, what really separates a have better movement, cleaner Champion from everyone else? shapes, more readable patterns. Sahlin: It is the smoother, I also have to say that it is not effortless, yet more intense always so cut and dry, and we display of all the fundamentals all have to understand that the judge has only few seconds during within a great performance of patterns, with outstanding use a particular dance. If your “big of music. Of course stamina, mistake” happens during those few seconds, and I am a very good charisma and grooming are very much part of this. judge, who really looks at every
Crowder: While many couples may have the technical skills needed to dance at a high level, a champion couple has the confidence to use their skills and their charisma to connect with the audience to create a total overall performance.
Inez Sahlin is a USA Dance National Certified Adjudicator, a WDSF-licensed Adjudicator and ISTD-Certified in all dances and Championship Adjudicator with NDCA/WDC. She is a former Amateur World Championship Finalist and later a Professional North American Championships finalist and U.S. Open semi-finalist.
Athletes ‘Playing True’
USA DANCE SUPPORTS ‘THE PURSUIT OF ATHLETIC EXCELLENCE THROUGH NATURAL TALENT’ In strict compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) vision of a world where all athletes compete in a doping-free sporting environment, USA Dance, member organization of the United States Olympic Committee and the World DanceSport Federation, strives to establish a level playing field in the sport of ballroom and latin dancing in America. At the USA Dance 2015 National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore, as in years prior, USA Dance will randomly test DanceSport couples upon completion of their final rounds to ensure that they, as athletes, are, in the words of WADA, concentrating “on the pursuit of athletic excellence through their natural talent” – “playing true”. Amy MacDougall is the new USA Dance Chair of the Anti-Doping Committee. She is a helpful resource to USA Dance athletes and encourages all athletes, adjudicators, coaches, officials and even social dancers to explore the following resources online to understand the importance of athletes “playing true” and why this is an important priority for not only USA Dance, providing competitive DanceSport opportunities in America and sending USA World Teams abroad to compete in the global arena — at the World DanceSport Federation’s World Cups and
MUSIC TEMPI, LENGTH USA DANCE COMPETITIONS Music Tempi (Rulebook 3.5) Wayne Crowder is a USA Dance National Certified Adjudicator, a WDSF-licensed Adjudicator in Amateur and Professional Divisions, certified at the A+, B+, C+, D+, and E+ classifications with the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). He is a four-time USA Dance Latin Amateur Champion, a National Standard finalist and a 3-time representative to the WDSF World Latin Championships.
Championships and at The World Games and World DanceSport Games.
USA Dance Nationals 2014 Carson Zullinger
IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL ATHLETES: Athletes, parents, coaches and others should review the substances banned on the WADA Prohibited List and should consult the Anti-Doping section of the USA Dance DanceSport Rulebook, available online at www.usadance. org. If any athlete, for medical reasons, is using a substance on the WADA Prohibited List, he/ she must complete a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) form and acquire final approval 30 days in advance of the competition. This procedure is detailed on the National Anti-Coping Agency’s website at www.USADA.org under the Athlete Tab. Section 4.42 of the USA Dance DanceSport Rulebook 4.4 Doping section explains this further. * (MPM = measures per minute).
Dances International Waltz International Tango International Viennese Waltz International Slow Foxtrot International Quickstep
MPM* 28-30 31-33 58-60 28-30 50-52
International Samba International Cha Cha International Rumba International Paso Doble International Jive
50-52 30-32 25-27 60-62 42-44
At all USA Dance DanceSport Competitions, the tempi for each dance shall be as specified by the World DanceSport Federation (WDSF). www.worlddancesport.org
Music Length (Rulebook 3.4.5) For all International and American style dances, the competition music length is 90 seconds minimum and 120 seconds maximum. Exception is International Paso Doble with a 2nd highlight minimum and a 3rd highlight maximum (All Championship Finals go to the 3rd highlight). Additionally, the length of each dance shall be determined by the competition event’s Chair of Adjudicators on a dance-by-dance basis, provided that
Dances American Waltz American Tango American Foxtrot American Viennese Waltz
MPM* 28-30 30 30-32 53-54
American Cha Cha American Rumba American East Coast Swing American Bolero American Mambo
30 30-34 34-36 24-26 47-51
American Peabody American Merengue American Paso Doble American Samba American West Coast Swing American Polka American Hustle
60-62 29-32 58-60 48 28-32 60-62 28-30
Rules 3.4.4.1 and 3.4.4.2 are followed. Exception: When there are no more than three uncontested events on the floor, the duration of the music per dance may be reduced at the Chair of Adjudicator’s discretion, to no less than one (1) minute per dance. Note: Music length for every dance is monitored so that all heats in a round are equal.
USA DANCE DANCESPORT RULEBOOK ONLINE AT www.USADANCE.org. March - April 2015
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E
AMERICAN
DANCER
xclusive
By Dr. Joel Minden
THE COMPETITIVE EDGE:
SPORT PSYCHOLOGY FOR COMPETITIVE DANCERS
Joel Minden, Ph.D., CSCS, is an International Standard dancer, exercise science and dance writer, and lecturer in the Psychology and Kinesiology Departments at California State University in Chico, CA. He provides strength and conditioning, nutrition and sport psychology services for dancers and other athletes. Additional articles of interest are found at www.joelminden.com. Nataliya Tarbeeva
Y
ears of physical training can prepare dancers for the athletic and technical demands of competition, but psychological training is equally important. Many coaches recognize the importance of goal setting, concentration, and anxiety management, but suggestions like “be confident” or “relax” can cause dancers to become frustrated if they don’t understand how to achieve these mental states. Instead of vague suggestions, dancers need practical strategies for optimizing mental toughness when they need it the most. In this article, I’ll share some mental skills training tips you can use to take your competitive performance to the next level.
GOAL SETTING
Goal setting is an important element of athletic performance that many dancers overlook or don’t take seriously. Goal set-
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ting is important because it helps athletes create a mental model of success. Stop reading for a moment and consider your competitive goals. If you thought “to practice more” or “to win” and then immediately looked back at the page, it’s time to revisit your goals. There are three keys to effective goal setting: The first key is to be specific about what you hope to accomplish. Discuss with your partner or coach what went well in your previous competition and then identify areas for improvement. Suppose you believe your dancing needs to be more dynamic. Refine this idea until your goal is as specific as possible. Are there postural changes you need to make? Should you be more focused on creating compression through the standing leg? Does your right
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
shoulder come forward? Ideally, the goals you select will be clearly defined and measurable, so that after each competition, you can quickly determine how well you were able to achieve them. The second key is to set process goals rather than outcome goals. The problem with goals like “making finals” or “winning” is that you have little control over these outcomes. They are determined by judges. On the other hand, you do have control over how you dance -- your posture, breathing, or foot placement, for example. Research consistently reveals that failure to achieve outcome goals results in frustration and anxiety, so your best strategy is to concentrate on behaviors you can truly control. The third key to effective goal setting is record keeping, Goals should be recorded on your computer or a journal so you can revisit, evaluate, modify, and add to them for the future.
CONCENTRATION
Once your goals have been clearly defined, and you’ve taken the appropriate steps to achieve them, it’s important to prepare yourself to be mentally focused during competition. Maintaining concentration during competition can be extremely difficult. Some dancers are easily distracted by concerns about body mechanics, timing, performance quality, other dancers, floor craft, the audience, judges, fatigue, past performance, or competitive outcomes. Successful performance depends on attending to a manageable level of meaningful details and ignoring irrelevant stimuli. For each competition, attempt to identify two or three things to concentrate on. Any more is likely to be overwhelming. To make the process easier, determine whether your attentional focus should be internal, external, or a combination of the two.
Internal focus refers to body mechanics, thoughts, or feelings. External focus refers to aspects of the competitive environment, such as tempo of the music, behavior of other dancers, slickness of the floor, or audience reactions. Be specific about your attentional goals. Once you’ve identified what you believe are the most important focus areas for you, plan on redirecting your thoughts to these details whenever you become distracted by anything else. This ability takes practice, so set aside time during training to work on competitive focus.
ANXIETY MANAGEMENT
No matter how prepared you are, on the day of competition, performance anxiety can mean the difference between dancing your best or suffering a disappointing setback. Anxiety symptoms include panic, perceived loss of control, muscular tension, and shortness of breath. These unwanted reactions are likely to occur when competitions are particularly important or meaningful. If you struggle with physical anxiety, spend 10-15 minutes each day on exercises that help you to distinguish between relaxation and tension. For muscular tension, sit in a quiet space and alternately contract then relax each muscle in the body. For shortness of breath, lie on an exercise mat and focus on breathing not just through the chest, but through the back and abdomen, too. If you struggle with cognitive or mental symptoms of anxiety, practice replacing undesirable thoughts with brief motivational (“I’m prepared to dance my best”) or instructional (“hips over feet”) thoughts. The thoughts you use to improve concentration may be useful here. Plan on returning to these thoughts as often as necessary to help you manage symptoms of anxiety.
CONCLUSION
Psychological skills training is an important part of reaching your potential as a competitive dancer. If you incorporate these techniques into your practice, I’m confident that you’ll experience greater competitive success.
ASK MIKE & ROSE-ANN LYNCH (VA)
2014 WDSF International Standard Senior II Finalists 2009 USA Dance Smooth Senior II National Champions (2014 Vice Champions) 2012 USA Dance Smooth Senior I National Champions (2013-2014 Vice Champions) 2010 USA Dance International Standard Senior II 2013 Finalists (2011-2014 Semi-Finalists) 2015 Entering 7th USA Dance Nationals, in Championship Smooth, Standard • Chapter: Mid-Eastern 6001 • Careers: Mike – retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel; currently senior analyst with Marstel-Day, LCC; Rose-Ann – Retired Marine Lieutenant Colonel; currently protocol officer for the Pentagon Force Protection Agency
• Relationship: Married (met at the Pentagon); 3 children (19, 21, 27) and dogs • Years Competing Together: 9 •D ance Practice Schedule: 11-13 hours per week (same pre-competition, but different content)
MAC 2015 competition
on finger tips, we know we are ready. The same is true with our costumes; everything is purchased and ready to go months in advance. We have checklist for each comp and ensure that nothing is forgotten. Very little-to-nothing is done last minute; even the care for our dogs is prescheduled and checked off. The day of the comp, we stretch out and practice everything through once…then we are ready. Rose-Ann has to be a little tired when she dances, so if necessary, she runs up and down the hall before she gets dressed. Mike usually takes a 20 minute nap. Hey, whatever works, right? When it is the actual time to get on the floor, we approach it as instructed by Garry Gekhman, “Prepared, Calm, and Determined.” Ryan Kenner Photography
How do you manage stress as competitors? What works best for you? We are pretty disciplined and believe in planning. We eat right and walk in prepared. For Nationals, we have all of our choreography in place by the end of January. After that, it is a matter of perfecting it. When we can concentrate
What has been your most stressful time as a competitor? The 2014 Nationals were tough. Mike had knee surgery the previous May and that took us out of our practice routine for four months. Even when he came back, he couldn’t keep up with our regular pace. We went into the competition less than prepared and psychologically questioning if we
March - April 2015
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ose-Ann Mike an d R outd oors. e th in g in hik
were ready. We went out there as determined as possible and danced all out, but the polish was lacking. When has stress helped you compete? The 2013 Championships was definitely the example of stress helping us to compete. Mike tore his meniscus two weeks before competition and was in need of surgery, but we decided to hold off the surgery until after Nationals. We danced a round of standard the first day, but scratched all our pre-championship rounds; instead there was a lot of ice and elevation. The morning of American Smooth, Mike’s knee was huge and very sore, and everything indicated that we were going to scratch from the rest of the competition. Instead, he decided to go for it, but he wasn’t going to dance warm up. Rose-Ann did her own rounds on the practice floor and then ran up and down the hall to tire herself out. The first dance of the day was when we hit the competition floor. Adrenaline got Mike through it, and Rose-Ann knew she
had to make up for anything Mike couldn’t do. Although he limped between dances, we were successful. That said, we wouldn’t want to repeat the whole ordeal. What are the main contributors of stress in your lives that affect your dancing? Work, work, work, and work. Why does this work stuff get in the way of our ballroom dancing? The truth is, as amateurs, we have to balance our work and dance lives; no surprise there. The other stressor is probably injury. We aren’t getting younger with age…but enough said about that. What is the Lynch team’s way of collaborating to make competing a healthy and productive situation? We learned a powerful lesson at our first USA Dance competition in 2009. We were down on the floor warming up and overheard a man say to his partner, “If you don’t lighten up, we’re going to have a lousy weekend.” We both thought, wow. That is so opposite of us. The key to success is to have fun and to put everything into perspective. Compared to all that we have been through in our Marine Corps careers, this is easy and we do it because we love it. No one is dying; no one is shooting at us. This is pure fun. We stay organized to reduce the stress and try to take into consideration each other’s needs: Mike needs sleep, Rose-Ann needs to eat, Mike takes his time getting ready,
ASK ANGUS SINCLAIR & DARA CAMPBELL (CA)
2014 Senior Ballroom, Blackpool, 17th place 2013, USA Dance Senior I National Championship 2014 Standard, 4th place 2013 U SA Dance Adult National Championship Standard, semi-finalists 2007, IDSF/WDSF International Open Senior I 2010 Championship, Snowball Classic, 1st 2015 Entering 6th USA Dance Nationals, in Senior I Championship Standard • Chapter: Orange County 4018 • Careers: Angus - Scientific Director, Cancer Research, biopharmaceutical company; Dara - Examination Manager for the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
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• Relationship: Partners and friends • Years Competing Together: 8 • Dance Practice Schedule: 12 hours plus lessons
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
Rose-Ann needs to be down at the floor well before our events. There’s no big secret here; this sport takes two people and you have to work together; the more you are in tune with each other, the better it will be. How important is cross-training or specific workouts to competing? Cross training is extremely helpful and we wish we could do more of it. The knees don’t do well with the running anymore, so we have bikes, walk, and have dabbled into a little yoga. Stretching really is the key before and after dancing, and Rose-Ann does her push-ups and crunches every night before she goes to bed. How do you balance your life competing and doing everything else? We love competing and we love our dance friends. Our competitions are our vacations. That said, we are organized and we plan everything as much as possible. Work gets in the way, but work also allows us to dance, so that’s ok. Rose-Ann’s commute to the Pentagon each day is long (almost two hours each way), so she often uses her time on the train to review lessons or study our practice videos. The kids are out of the house, so that’s not an issue. Our together time starts when Rose-Ann gets off the train and we head directly to the dance floor. We think we are successful in balancing the huge load on our plate.
How do you manage stress as competitors? What works best for you? Angus: Preparing for a competition and competing is always stressful both physically and mentally. To help prepare physically for practice and competitions I always stretch and warm up for a good 1520 minutes to help improve my flexibility and prevent injury. Being aerobically fit and having muscle tone and strength helps also with the stress of competing, especially when there are multiple rounds. This also helps with the mental stress: knowing that physically you can make it through the quickstep and not be exhausted provides confidence. Also for me, when we are lined up and about to step onto the floor, I remind myself why I have put myself into the stressful situation - that is because I love to dance and that I am learning from every competition which
we had more opportunities to dance them. But, for me, additional exercise/ training has become essential as I’ve gotten older in order to maintain the strength and stamina required for competition.
helps create a calmness and helps me perform better. Dara: To manage stress it is important to understand what factors are beyond your control and what factors are in your control such as your amount of practice and grooming, etc. Then satisfy yourself that you have taken care of the things that are within your control to the best of your abilities.
Angus & Dara at The MAC 2014 Ryan Kenner Photography
Dara: Most stressful times as a competitor are at large competitions but I doubt that they are unique to me. I do remember one unique situation that happened in England at an IDSF competition. We had danced the quarter final and for some reason we were not able to find where the recalls were posted. When we asked the officials about this, we were told that the semifinalists would be called from the stage. But instead of calling out individual couples, the emcee simply asked the semifinalists to take the floor. We decided at that moment to just go out there and hope that we actually made the round. My thought was that if we didn’t belong out there, we would surely find that out by the end of the Waltz. But my knees were really shaking in those first few bars of Waltz imagining the horror that they might stop the music at any moment and remove us from the floor. As the sole U.S. couple in the event, this was not the impression I wanted to make. But, as it turned out, we had indeed been recalled and everything turned out just fine. When has stress helped you compete? Angus: Competing against younger dancers that could be your kid’s age is sometimes stressful. However, having the younger energy on the floor helps push our level of performance beyond what we may have done otherwise competing with more senior couples. What are the main contributors of stress in your lives that affect your dancing? Angus: Dancing in one way, is a great stress reliever from my work – I can’t be thinking about the drugs my team is generating or experimental results when I am dancing, as it requires all of my focus.
Dara: Time is the biggest factor for me. Because of my work schedule, time for dancing is limited. I would love to have the time to do every exercise my coaches suggest, but because of limited time, I always have to prioritize and understand those limitations.
n an d Mixin g som e fu ’s ra Da at t workou LA . in m gy t sfi os cr Francisco Roriguez
What is the SinclairCampbell team’s way of collaborating to make competing a healthy and productive situation? A&D: We each pick one or two discrete areas we are working on that we plan to focus on during the competition. We discuss those areas we’ve chosen and agree on the fact that those will be our individual priorities before we go on the floor. How important is diet to competing? A&D: Diet is very important for competing…but often difficult to maintain while travelling. How important is cross-training or specific workouts to competing? Angus: We have found that supplementing the exercise we get from dancing with aerobic and strength training to be very helpful. Dara: Coaches have always advised me that the exercise that best prepares you for dancing is more dancing. And I do believe that rounds are an excellent preparation for competition. I wish that
How do you balance your life competing and doing everything else? Angus: At times it can be a challenge to balance work, family practice, travel and competing. Often when we travel for competition, I do some work when there is down time or on the plane. I also try to bring my spouse to the competitions to balance the family side.
Dara: Not sure that I have achieved true balance, although I have managed to have a successful professional career in addition to my dancing. In order to compete, I have had to put aside a lot of other, mostly social, activities. But that is the choice that I made and feel completely satisfied for having done so. Anything comments related to the challenge of competing that would be helpful to others? Angus: Competing is extremely helpful to multiple aspects of one’s life: it helps improve communication with others, improves fitness, it is mentally and physically challenging, helps you push yourself, helps you deal with success and disappointments. And best of all it is really fun. Dara: I would encourage anyone who has a desire to compete to get out there and try it and not to ever feel discouraged or intimidated....With my successes, I have gained confidence and with the disappointments, I have gained perspective.
March - April 2015
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S
ocially Yours
Grand Excursion in January USA DANCE 50th ANNIVERSARY CRUISE ABOARD THE CELEBRITY SILHOUETTE
W
hat better way to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of USA Dance than aboard the first of two “Dancing For AmericaTM” cruises sponsored by the Social Council of USA Dance. Departing from Ft. Lauderdale on Sunday, Jan. 25, 77 cruisers from many USA Dance chapters around the country were ready to dance and enjoy a great excursion to the beautiful islands of the Eastern Caribbean. Seven days later, upon their return, they had lots of photos, videos and memories to share with everyone back home. Some of the cruisers applauded the cruise as the best one yet. About half of the dancers were returning cruisers, the other half brand new. Professional instructor Dan Calloway (MD) was on board for his 6th cruise teaching for USA Dance. New instructor was Jonathan Evans (DE), an instant hit. Together they taught 38 workshops. Both international and American style dances were taught, tailored to all levels of dancers. New this cruise was the USA Dance take-over of the ship’s conference center. Cruise Director Jean Krupa had arranged for a dance floor to be installed in this area, which expanded on-board floor space for classes and gatherings. The Dance Host program was well received by the ladies without partners. Most of the male dancers are veteran USA Dance cruisers. Next 50th Anniversary Cruise is scheduled for July 30 – Aug. 4 aboard the Grand Dame of cruise ships, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 (see booking details and story p 8). 20
Dress up time before dinner.
Dan Calloway teaching lady’s part.
Nightly dancing.
Jonathan Evans teaching man’s part. Celebrity Silhouette docked during island excursions.
Nightly dancing.
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Grassroots
TWO OHIO CHAPTERS WORK TOGETHER TO BRING DANCE INSIDE HIGH SCHOOLS Report from Warren Parks, North Coast (OH) Chapter 2063
Establishing ballroom dance teams for teenagers at the high school level and generating that interest within the walls of the high schools pose many challenges. First, there must be internal contacts such as teachers and principals who can open the doors to “outsiders” like the representatives of USA Dance chapters. Being a teacher at Normandy High School in Parma gave me the opportunity to talk to my building principal about allowing me the opportunity to start a ballroom dance team. But we learned that in getting into other high schools without a direct representative such as myself might require incentives. This was our second major challenge. So, our chapter joined together with USA Dance Ohio Chapter 2024 to offer $1000 grants to schools willing to start their own dance teams. Our first high school to join Normandy was Mayfield High School in Mayfield Village, OH. A chemistry teacher at Mayfield accepted our grant offer and brought the school’s French teacher on board with her. Normandy already has more than 20 students on its roster. Practices are held immediately after school on Mondays and Tuesdays. Last report, Mayfield had 28 students on their roster. The programs attract a diversity of student ethnicity, but females often outnumber the male participants. Our ballroom dance community has been especially supportive. USA Dance chapter members have volunteered to help with organizing events and practices. Local studios have also offered
Two Ohio high schools now offer after-school dance programs thanks to volunteer time and funding from two USA Dance local chapters. Courtesy of Warren Parks
assistance with Kathy Longhurst from The Right Step Dance Studio taking an active role in training students. Since we didn’t expect students to be ready for competition during their first year, Mayfield and Normandy is hosting a joint fundraiser dance April 18 and inviting parents, friends and the local dance community. The school jazz band will play and volunteers will be invited to perform dance routines. The money raised will support both school programs and reach out to other interested high schools.
PHILLY DANCESPORT KIDS
BRAVE THE CHILL TO SHARE THE LOVE Philadelphia’s famous Love Park near City Hall was once again the festive setting for the city’s annual Christmas Village and holiday performances. Junior II Champions Yusif Amsatr & Naomi Spektor set lots of hearts on fire with their beautiful rhumba performance during “Love Weekend,” even though the weather was a brisk 30-degrees. They are members of the Delaware Valley Chapter 3012 and Rhythm DanceSport Center. The event was special for Yusif, who had moved to America from the Ukraine just six months prior. 22
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Yusif & Naomi at Love Park Courtesy of Anna Spektor
IN AMERICA’S HEARTLAND CAROLS ARE SUNG AND SANTAS MAMBO
DOCMA CHAPTER 3039
WINTER BALL 2014 BENEFITS LOCAL
FOOD BANK, TOYS FOR TOTS
Celebrating the Christmas season is a long tradition for the Heartland (IN) Chapter 2022. The annual holiday party on Dec. 13 was a “pitch in” dinner feast, with the chapter providing two meat entrees and coffee, and everyone bringing their favorite gourmet dishes. It was a night of special and surprise performances – a showdance routine by Chad Wright and Raquel Ward, a most enchanting “Santa Mambo” by Marvin and Greta Bechtel, danceable holiday songs performed by Dave Burkhart and the Chapter’s annual favorite, the reading of “It Was The Night Before Christmas” by Larry Gogel. Santa Mambo by Marvin & Greta Bechtel.
Larry & Cheryl Johnson
Cheryl Racco & partner
Courtesy of Anna Kovalyova
Doin’ the Charleston! Poise, Style & Motion Studio. All Photos by Priscilla Messenger
Showdance by Chad Wright & Raquel Ward. Courtesy of Anna Kovalyova
Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots
The Dancers of Central Massachusetts (DOCMA) Chapter 3039 always find a really good cause to dance. But every December at their Winter Ball held at the Lake Pearl Lucianio’s in Wrentham, MA, while they enjoy good friends and good times, they raise significant dollars and toy donations for needy families. The benefitting charities are the Worcester County Food Bank that annually feeds 4.5 million meals to 104,500 people and the Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots national program. Members of the Marine Corps Reserve are always in attendance at the Winter Ball to receive the generation donations of toys for children who otherwise might not have a Christmas gift. The Winter Ball, a buffet dinner affair, is usually attended by approximately 250 people. March - April 2015
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Grassroots
SOUTHERN OREGON CHAPTER’S K-12 DANCE PROGRAM NOW STUDENT FAVORITE AT LOCAL HIGH SCHOOL Resource: Jennifer Berry, Southern Oregon Chapter 1011, Marketing Chair
With the help of hardworking community volunteers and generous donations, USA Dance in Southern Oregon currently supports a K-12 ballroom dance program now in its third year at North Medford High School, which has become one of the most popular courses at the school. In December, USA Dance held the first of three rounds of the third annual Rogue Valley Youth Ballroom Dance Championships at the Evergreen Ballroom in Central Point, OR. Forty students between the ages of 10 and 18 competed for cash prizes and dance scholarships with 11 couples moving on into the exhibition round in February. The top four couples there received up to $200 in cash prizes and earned the 24
opportunity to compete at the Pear Blossom Parade on Mar. 28, where additional scholarships are awarded. The Southern Oregon Chapter 1011 has worked hard over the past 20 years to increase dance opportunities for the local youth community. And for the children and teens, it’s more than just a fun form of exercise. It offers them an opportunity to increase social skills and confidence, gain respect for others and develop teamwork skills.
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In 2012, Chapter board member June Kranenburg, together with McLoughlin Middle School Principal Linda White, who was North Medford High’s assistant principal at the time, worked to secure funding from the local USA Dance chapter to bring ballroom dancing to North Medford High. The main challenge has been funding ever since it started. The chapter hopes to expand the program to more high schools in the Southern Oregon area. Cori Grimm, Manager and Instructor at the Evergreen Ballroom, started the Rogue Valley Youth Ballroom Competition three years ago with June Kranenburg, long time instructor and volunteer for local dance. The competition grew out of a less formal dance competition at the Pear Blossom Pageant. “Jeff Palpant of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney had sponsored the Pear Blossom competition with prize money for many years, and he wanted to see competitors put more effort into their technical ballroom skills. That’s how the Rogue Valley Youth Ballroom Dance Competition came into being.” said Grimm. Sara Christensen, winner of the
All photos by Tara Behnke
The Compulsory First Round for the Rogue Valley Youth Ballroom Dance Competition, sponsored by the Southern Oregon Chapter 1011.
compulsory round with partner Adam Carlisle, participated in the competition all three years. She says that this year was the most challenging mostly because of an increase in the number of competitors. Like all the competitors, dancing has had a big impact on Sara’s life. “I love it because it gives me a time when I can just relax and let my true self show a little bit more,” says Christensen. Anton Drummond, who placed second with partner Sage Bushman, commented on the increased level of difficulty compared to the prior years. He also felt that the competition had a great impact on his life, “I have made many friendships through dance and people recognize me in the Southern Oregon dance community….”
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March - April 2015
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A WOUNDED WARRIOR’S JOURNEY THROUGH DANCE
…INSPIRATION TO WRITE By Guy D’Astolfo, Youngstown, OH
“J
Joe Sepesy and his instructor, Lynda McPhail, demonstrate their ballroom dancing moves during dance lessons at the Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center in downtown Youngstown. Dance has helped Sepesy regain the mobility he lost when he was injured in the Vietnam War. The Vindicator, Youngrtown, OH
oseph Sepesy remembers the first day he showed up for ballroom dancing lessons. His spirit was willing but his body was another story. The Poland resident wore a leg brace and had a noticeable limp when he met dance instructor Lynda McPhail at her studio. It was 2009, and the newly retired schoolteacher --then 59 -- was looking for a way to improve his life and heal the physical and emotional wounds he suffered in the Vietnam War. Sepesy was an Army helicopter pilot whose craft was shot down in 1970 while on a mission. He had graduated from The Rayen School in Youngstown just two years prior. Sepesy has dealt with back and neck pain, and problems with balance, since his stint in the war. He also suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, an anxiety condition caused by the emotional trauma of war. It never goes away. Teaching him to dance was not going to be easy, if it could be done at all. What followed was an immense challenge for both student and teacher, but one that would yield an amazing payoff for both. McPhail took a class to study the movement of bones and muscles to help her work with her new student. As for Sepesy, he threw himself into ballroom dancing, and day by day, his mental and physical limitations began to fade. Today, he dances effortlessly and skillfully, performing up to six times per week at events throughout the region. He recently published a book WORD DANCES that encapsulates his thoughts about dance, in the form of poems and short stories….His near-miraculous turnabout has been rewarding and touching. “It has been the best work of my career,” said McPhail. “There has been no one like Joe.” Sepesy took up ballroom dancing Joe Sepesy on the advice of a counselor at the & Lin da McP first tan go du hail perfor m ri n th g ei Veterans Affairs in Youngstown. Natio n al Bal r Week, spon lroo (OH) Chaptsored by th e Youn gstow m Dan ce The counselor urged him to come er 2015. n -War re
Margaret Carso n
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Excerpt reprinted with permission of The Vindicator ©
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n
“Approximately 5 years ago a very disabled gentleman stumbled across my dance floor. He was wearing a thick orthopedic shoe with a large metal brace up to his knee. He couldn’t stand straight and almost fell just trying to walk to where I was standing. When I started forward to assist him, he barked at me, “stay where you are, I will get to you.” He seemed frustrated and angry. It was only later I learned how much pain he was living in every day. When he reached me, he looked me in the eyes and said “Do you thing you can teach me to dance?” This was the beginning of five of the most interesting, challenging and rewarding years of my teaching career.
up with three ways to improve his life. Sepesy decided he would finish writing his memoirs, resume playing the guitar, and take up ballroom dancing. “A friend recommended I talk to Lynda McPhail, so I booked a lesson with her,” he said. “Ten minutes in, I fell in love with dancing and there has been no looking back. I was hooked. Dancing has turned my life around. I am having the time of my life.” To Sepesy, learning to dance was never so farfetched because he has always had music in him. “I started playing guitar at age 5,” he said. “I had a band at age 12. I was always in a band, always watching people dance. I always felt the music.” In 2009, he retired from his job as a teacher in Youngstown City Schools. Up until that time, he also had been in intensive group therapy at the VA in Youngstown
“…take that last step of a danceless life and fall into the enchanting embrace of the music, now set free to enjoy…to dance.” to help him with the lingering mental effects of combat. He does not like to talk about the horrors he witnessed in Vietnam when he was just 20, except as necessary to summarize his life. “I was shot down on April 18, 1970,” he recalled. He was not taken prisoner. “I have since had six operations, and had titanium bolts and pins put in my body. I have balance problems, and my left foot is ‘floppy.’ I can’t stand on my toes. “Lynda looked at me as a challenge. She adjusted my lesson to suit my broken down body. I practiced at home. Now I no longer have a leg brace and my limp has diminished. I do not limp at all when I’m dancing. When people see me dance, they have no idea of my problems.” He also lost 30 pounds in the first year alone. To go with his love of dance, Sepesy — a 1977 graduate of Youngstown State University — has also always been something of a writer. The 2003 inductee into the Ohio Military Hall of Fame has penned a 700- page memoir of his time in Vietnam, which he titled “Once We Flew.” It has not yet been published. In November, he self published “Word Dances,” his collection of thoughts on dancing (available at lulu.com).”
“Joe assists me with beginner’s group classes these days. He offers great encouragement to struggling, intimidated beginners. He performs as often as possible and is a very popular dance partner at local dances. The ladies have to get their requests in early to get on Joe’s dance card for the evening. He is now one of the happiest and most joyful dancers I know. The frustrated angry Joe seldom visits the dance studio these days.” — Linda McPhail, Dance Instructor
WORD DANCES A unique collection of verses and thoughts inspired by Joe Sepesy’s journey in the world of ballroom dancing; the experiences and enjoyment, music and memories -- all improving a life with PTSD. This work will appeal to all dancers, by evoking similar memories and aha moments. Truly a dance of words, this book will delight and enhance your own experiences on the ballroom floor.
Now available at Lulu.com, local book sellers, and on-line retailers. Watch for Word Dances 2 and 3 in 2015. Visit www.WORDDANCES.com March - April 2015
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Military Appreciation Day at Tidewater. Chapter President/Event Organizer Ray Smith and WheelChair Dancer Nick Scott of American DanceWheels Foundation.
RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR IN THE
Courtesy of Aubree Marchione
VIRGINIA TIDEWATER Four Days, Four Nights of Workshops, Gala Dinner Dances, Dance Rooms, Shows Yang Chen
International Standard Professional Performers Dimitriy Solomakha & Gabriela Sevillano
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s millions of television viewers at home watched TV network reporting until the Times Square ball dropped, social dancers attending the Tidewater Chapter’s annual NYE Weekend were oblivious, celebrating the New Year’s arrival in grand Tidewater style, as they have for the past 25 years. The Tidewater NYE’s four-day Silver Anniversary event at the Renaissance Hotel and Waterfront Conference Center in Portsmouth, VA, began on Wed., Dec. 31 and culminated on Sat., Jan. 3. Despite New Year’s Eve falling mid-week, approximately 400 dancers participate in the 60 dance workshops, taught by both area and guest instructors. The New Year’s Eve Dinner Dance Gala, which set the event in full motion, attracted more than 250 dancers; the Saturday night dinner dance sold 200 tickets. The 5,000 sf grand ballroom sported competition-grade wood dance floor, and there was an additional 3,000 sf for three workshop rooms, which later transformed into individual dance clubs. These alternate dance venues proved a hit last year, and this
TIDEWATER NEW GOAL: WHEELCHAIR DANCE TEACHER CERTIFICATION, CLASSES, DANCE OPPORTUNITIES FOR 2015 American DanceWheels Foundation (ADF) Wheelchair Ballroom and Latin Dancers Aubree Marchione and Nick Scott provided two amazing Latin ballroom dance performances during the NYE Military Appreciation Night dance, held Jan. 1. Many people may be familiar with Paralympic wheelchair athletics such as basketball and hockey, but this was the first opportunity that most of the event attendees had witnessed wheelchair dancing and how these athletes are taking the art and the sport to new levels. The agility of the performers and the depth of the dance patterns performed were dazzling and kept the audience in rapt attention. Next day, Aubree and Nick conducted a seminar and workshop on wheelchair dancing with the participants having the chance to sit in a competition wheelchair and get a feel of what is required to implement the moves, how the wheelchair performs, and the different techniques required for counter balance between partners to execute moves, similar to those in standard ballroom and Latin dancing. The Wheelchair Dance Workshop provided opportunity for able-bodied dancers to exchange roles to learn the wheelchair dancer requirements and needs. Instructors Aubree Marchione (standing 3rd from left) and Paralympian Nick Scott (center).
The Chapter has now established a vision and goal for 2015 — to bring wheelchair dancing to the forefront in the Tidewater VA area. This includes working towards sponsoring a certification workshop for local dance instructors, reaching out to the community to identify potential candidates for the instruction and then organizing dances geared to this venue. Video of the two ADF performances may be viewed on the Tidewater Chapter website www.twcusadance.org. For more information: www.americandancewheels.org.
Scott & Melinda Mielock, Waltz. Scott Mielock Yang Chen
Courtesy of Aubree Marchione Courtesy of Aubree Marchione
Swing Time. Melinda Mielock & Student Samantha Wylde West
year the NYE Gala actually co-hosted an “event within the event” – the 1st Annual Urban Ballroom Dance -- hosted by “Steppers Flow.” This unique dance hub attracted 75-80 more dancers, as the Salsa Club once again drew dancers locally and outside of ballroom circles. Other rooms were set up for West Coast Swing, Country/Ballroom, Scott Mielock Argentine Tango, Shag/WCS, American Latin/Tango While catering to the Tidewater area local dance community’s normal “party times”, the Shag Club started in the early evening while the remaining Clubs opened at 9:00 p.m. Each Club featured an informal ½ hour lesson as part of their evening’s activity. Then all Clubs stayed active until at least 1:00 a.m. with most going until 2:00 p.m. or later. The Steppers further upped the ante with a “Pajama Jam” that started at 1:00 a.m. until “whenever” and included a game room and other activities. Thursday, Jan. 1st was designated Military Appreciation Day and Night and surprises were in store for guests that evening. The introductory ceremony included a moving vocal and video
International Latin Professional Guest Performers Riccardo Pacini & Sonia Spadoni
rendition of “There She Stands”, performed by Richard Arnold and the Fox TV video interview with Soldier-Dancer Kelly Long during her Afghanistan tour. Dance performances that night featured American DanceWheels Foundation wheelchair dancer Nick Scott and partner Aubree Marchione. Also performing were Professional DanceSport couples Dmitriy Solomakha & Gabriela Sevillano and Riccardo Pacini & Sonia Spadoni. On Friday, the Tidewater Chapter conducted its first Fun Dance Jack & Jill Competition, which was scheduled on the morning of a work day, but received positive feedback for a first-ever event. The Saturday night Dinner Dance in the Grand Ballroom again featured the professional featured performers, as well as 16 additional performances by amateurs of several local dance studios. All told, there were an impressive 40 dance performances and exhibitions during the four evening events. SAVE THE DATES FOR NYE 2015: Thursday, Dec. 31 through Sunday, Jan. 3. March - April 2015
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E
AMERICAN
DANCER
xclusive
DIANE MONTGOMERY
Residency: Dallas, TX Career: Marketing & Communications Consultant, Editor, Writer USA Dance Chapter: Dallas (TX) 5044 Tidewater Chapter Roles: Newsletter Writer/ Coordinator, 2008-2010; Event Co-Chair and Volunteer, 2008-2009; Chapter President 2010-present; District Director District 7 2014-present. USA Dance Dallas Dances; Annual November Showcase Co-Chair; representative at area events, competitions.
•B allroom Dancing Years: 9 • Preferred Style: International & American •D ance List: American and International Waltz, Tango, Foxtrot, Viennese Waltz, Quickstep, Rumba, Cha Cha, Samba, East Coast Swing, Bolero, Night Club Two-Step, Hustle, West Coast Swing, Salsa, Bachata,
Merengue, and Country Western (of course). • Dance Beginnings: Several years ago, I attended a business communications class where the instructor demonstrated communication concepts through dancing West Coast Swing. I had never heard of West Coast Swing or most other dances. Instructor invited anyone interested to attend his regular West Coast lesson. I went, never having an inkling of an idea about how my life was about to transform. After a month of West Coast Swing, I was eager to learn everything about dancing. • Competitive Experience: Competed Pro-Am once - fabulous experience. Currently, social dancing, occasionally performing. Keeping the door open to competing in future. • Dance Awards: Senior Division, American Style, placing consistently 1st, 2nd and 3rd places; semi-finalist at DWTS Road Show. •T ypical Weekly Schedule: My goal is to dance every weekend, and at least one-two times during the week. In a perfect world, I would dance more than I do now! Nearly every day, USA Dance Chapter or District items are also on my priority list too.
What attracted you to social dancing to start with? I wanted to put what I was learning in lessons into practice. I envisioned myself sweeping around the dance floor to all kinds of beautiful music. But I did not know where I could do that. When I walked into my first USA Dance Dallas event, I was overjoyed and shocked — an entire room was filled with dancers, all sweeping around the floor and having a great time. People were accepting and friendly. Despite not knowing anyone there and being a somewhat intimidated beginner dancer, I got on the floor and made friends. I have not missed many dances since that first night.
Sharon Bradford/The Dancing Image
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
What has inspired you to social dance the past 9 years? Dance and music revitalize every aspect of my life — physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. In addition to the obvious health benefits, I
enjoy the challenge of learning and freedom of creative expression. Partner dancing transports me to a joyful place in life. When I am fully present and focused on my partner and the movement, the ups and downs of life fade away. Dance has helped me grow personally. It’s constantly challenging. It’s also brought me new and novel dimensions of fun. I never could have imagined the phenomenal friends and diverse cultural experiences that dance introduced me to — on and off the dance floor. How would you describe the perfect Social Dance? The perfect social dance includes a mix of: a warm and welcoming environment; a variety of danceable music with a quality sound system; a good dance floor; and dancers of all levels and ages having a great time. But, at the end of the day, it’s always the people who make the place and experience. How important is Social Dancing in America and your community? As a means of expression, musical interpretation and communication,
“Partner dancing transports me to a joyful place in life. When I am fully present and focused on my partner and the movement, the ups and downs of life fade away.” there is nothing quite like social dancing. It takes many forms and unites all kinds of people through a universal language. Recent reality dance shows have raised
Craig Kunkel
awareness and increased the audience for all types of dance in America. I’ve seen music and dance lead to increased cross-cultural interaction and understanding in my community. It broadens our collective experience. One thing is certain — where there is dancing, joyfulness follows.
How do USA Dance chapters make a difference in their communities? Our joy and passion for dance are contagious. USA Dance can help spread this in communities. We can show people the exhilaration of learning and health advantages, in addition to a host of other benefits from dance. And, recent research continues to show even more health benefits than previously known. We love to “take our dancing to the streets” and expose the community to it. The world offers many dance venues. In addition to dancing at studios, dance halls, and indoor and outdoor concerts, I have danced Tango in a grocery store, Salsa in a temple, and recently, Quickstep and Swing in a library. Observers always want to know where they can learn. Sharing our joy never fails.
March - April 2015
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LYN STANLEY
FROM A DEEP PASSION FOR
BALLROOM
DANCING …inspiration to sing
W
hat jazz singer Lyn Stanley got from ballroom dancing is far more than the ribbons and trophies she earned as an International Standard competitor at USA Dance and ProAm competitions. On the surface, one would not realize the struggles or odds that stacked against her through much of her dance career. Yet her personal story of perseverance is a testament to what ballroom dancing can do to change one’s life and ultimately launch what Lyn calls “incredible experiences that most just see in their dreams”. In just four short years since her dance competitions, Lyn has become an international recording artist. Before that, she had won numerous ballroom championship titles. But the saying of “being in the right place at the right time” held true for Lyn as she has transitioned from ballroom to her incredibly successful singing career with two albums now selling to a worldwide audience. But ballroom dancing and its music became her continuing inspiration to break into a second career, one she didn’t know was possible until a lucky break. In 2010, Lyn Stanley was a finalist at USA Dance Nationals with her partner Walter Bloom and also won three Ladies B Pro/Am USA titles. She had stepped into the competitive world of ballroom in 2004, but a setback happened in 2005 when she was seriously injured in a car accident and subsequently ruptured her Achilles tendon losing all but one third of her left calf muscle during surgery. Basically, she had to learn to walk again, and did so with a walker and rumba rhythm songs and footwork. She recovered within seven months and in 2006 returned to the ballroom ParkWest Photograph competition floor. y 32
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
Bob Barry
In that same year, Lyn by chance met jazz legend Paul T. Smith, who was the arranger and conductor for more than 25 years to the legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald. Paul’s wife, singing star Annette Warren, remembered as the singing voice of Ava Gardner in the movie Showboat, asked Lyn if she could sing. Lyn didn’t know, but agreed to try. Paul and Annette were so overwhelmed by Lyn’s promising talent, they put her on stage within four months. Since ballroom dance music was so engrained in Lyn’s training, her rhythm knowledge came naturally and so did the songs she chose. By 2013, Lyn began development of her first album Lost In Romance with the help of Paul Smith, who had taught her songs from the American Songbook. Playing upon this instruction and help from vintage Fred Astaire movies, Lyn selected songs and had arrangements created with dancer rhythms, from American Rumbas to Sambas. The songs throughout also told a story of love. Then last year, Lyn created her second album Potions [from the 50s], which focuses on popular and jazz songs of the 1950s. In this album, she was compelled to include dancer rhythms from West and East Coast Swings, Cha Cha and Foxtrots. Critics have applauded Lyn’s lyric styling and dancer background and above all her unique, sultry voice. Last year, 12,000 albums were sold around the world. Lyn often reminds her audiences, who know the origin of her singing: “Dancing is Lyn Sta the ultimate teacher. It teaches you that if nley competi there is a limit, it’s mostly in your mind.” n g with
Rober tz Nemiro at Deser t Cla ssic .
DANCESPORT CALENDAR 2015-2016 March 2015 NJ DanceSport Classic – Spring Fling March 8, 2015 Organized by Wendi Davies Rogers Dance Center – Hackensack, NJ Phoenix USA DanceSport Challenge ** (see note) March 21, 2015 Hosted by Phoenix Chapter #4033 El Zaribah Shrine Hall - Phoenix, AZ WDSF Adjudicator’s Congress at Nationals March 26, 2015 Event held at USA Dance 2015 National DanceSport Championships Renaissance Harborplace Hotel – Baltimore, MD Registration form must be completed by March 15. Contact: ds-certification@usadance.org USA DANCE 2015 National DanceSport Championships Mar 27 – 29, 2015 Also Hosting WDSF World Ranking Tournaments: Open Under-21 Standard Open Under-21 10-Dance Open Under-21 Latin Renaissance Harborplace Hotel - Baltimore, MD
April 2015 Quest for the Best ** (see note) April 18, 2015 Hosted by Seattle Chapter #1004 The Verve Ballroom - Lynnwood, WA
May 2015 Rocky Mountain Spring Competition ** (see note) May 23, 2015 Hosted by USA Dance Denver Chapter #5006 Denver Turnverein - Denver, CO
June 2015 NJ DanceSport Classic - Summer Sizzler – 2016 NQE June 6-7, 2015 Organized by Mario Battista & Wendi Davies Rogers DanceSport Center - Hackensack NJ River City Ball ** (see note) Hosted by Portland Chapter #1006 Ballroom Dance Company – Portland, OR (Note: Date to be announced)
WDSF Open Senior III & IV Standard June 26 - 28, 2015 Events held at the Gumbo DanceSport Championships Crowne Plaza - Baton Rouge, LA
July 2015 Mid-Summer Classic ** (see note) July 25, 2015 Hosted by Southern Star Chapter #6038 Rhapsody Ballroom – Tampa, FL
September 2015 Kansas City Dance Classic ** (see note) September 12, 2015 Organized by Matt & Ellen Pansing Camelot Ballroom - Overland Park, KS (Kansas City) Quest For The Best ** (see note) September 26, 2015 Hosted by Seattle Chapter #1004 The Verve Ballroom – Lynnwood, WA New England DanceSport Championships – 2016 NQE September 25-27, 2015 Hosted by MASSabda Chapter #3002 Westin Hotel - Waltham, MA Rocky Mountain Fall Competition ** (see note) September, 2015 Hosted by USA Dance Denver Chapter #5006 Denver Turnverein - Denver, CO (Note: Date to be announced)
October 2015 Carolina Fall Classic – 2016 NQE October 2 - 4, 2015 Organized by Wayne & Marie Crowder University Hilton - Charlotte NC WDSF Open Senior I & II Standard & Latin October 2 - 4, 2015 Events held at Carolina Fall Classic University Hilton – Charlotte, NC NJ DanceSport Classic – Fall Frolic ** (see note) October 2015 Organized by Wendi Davies Rogers Dance Center - Hackensack, NJ (Note: Date to be announced) Chicago DanceSport Challenge – 2016 NQE October 30 - November 1, 2015 Hosted by Chicagoland Chapter #2001 Hyatt O’Hare Hotel - Chicago, IL
November 2015
National Collegiate DanceSport Championships November 21-22, 2015 Hosted by USA Dance National Columbus Convention Center – Columbus, OH
January 2016 Islanders DanceSport Challenge ** (see note) January 2016 Organized by Renata Shvarts Olympia Recreational Center - Staten Island, NY (Note: Date to be announced) Manhattan Amateur Classic (The MAC) - 2016 NQE January 15-17, 2016 Hosted by Greater New York Chapter #3004 Empire Meadowlands Hotel - Secaucus, NJ WDSF Open Junior II Standard & Latin January 15-16, 2016 Events held at Manhattan Amateur Classic. Empire Meadowlands Hotel - Secaucus, NJ Florida Fun Amateur Mini-Match ** (see note) January 2016 Organized by Mary K. Thomas Circle Square Cultural Center - Ocala, FL (Note: Date to be announced) PDX Classic - 2016 NQE January 2016 Hosted by Portland Chapter #1006 The Ballroom Dance Company - Tigard, OR (Note: Date to be announced) Winter Frolic ** (see note) January 30, 2016 Hosted by Royal Palm Chapter #6016 Gold Coast Ballroom - Coconut Creek, FL
February 2016 Quest For The Best ** (see note) February 2016 Hosted by Seattle Chapter #1004 The Verve Ballroom – Lynnwood, WA (Note: Date to be announced) Mid-Atlantic Championships – 2016 NQE February 2016 Hosted by Mid-Eastern Chapter #6001 North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center - Bethesda, MD (Note: Date to be announced)
Gumbo DanceSport Championships – 2016 NQE June 26-28, 2015 Hosted by Louisiana Gumbo Chapter #5031 Crowne Plaza - Baton Rouge LA
California State DanceSport Championships – 2016 NQE November 7, 2015 Hosted by NorCal Chapter #4004 San Jose Civic — San Jose, CA
Event organizers may add events to the calendar by contacting Rog Greenawalt at ds-competition@usadance.org.
CODING: All National Qualifying Events for the 2015 and 2016 USA Dance National DanceSport Championships are identified by (Year) NQE. COMPETITOR ELIGIBILITY: Please refer to USA Dance Rulebook (Eligibility Criteria 4.2 and 4.3) for complete qualification details to participate in the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships. All USA Dance active members are permitted to dance in any and all events listed above. Please note that events above designated ** do not
accrue proficiency points and may not follow all rules in the Rulebook. http://usadance.org/dancesport/forms-andresources/rules-policies-and-bylaws/ SPECTATOR TICKETS: Please contact the individual competition websites/organizers listed on the USA Dance website visit www.usadance.org. For USA Dance Nationals tickets, please visit via www.usadancenationals.com. CALENDAR DISCLAIMER: All USA Dance sanctioned and listed competition events and activities within this
calendar are subject to change of date, location and other details without prior notice. Please check with the actual event organizers via the event websites or by personal contact to confirm the accuracy of all event details before making plans as a competitor, spectator or sponsor. ERRORS/CORRECTIONS: For any changes/updates, please contact DanceSport Council Representative Rog Greenawalt directly at ds-competition@usadance.org.
March - April 2015
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Studios and teachers received flowers in appreciation of their support. Eddie Farcon
I
Perspective by Renata Shvarts, Event Co-Organizer/Owner
t’s a professional dancer’s dream after retirement from a competitive career to organize a successful dance competition, because in the dance community owning a competition is synonymous with great success. However, a very small percentage of dancers actually get to live out this dream, because organizing a competition is a very costly and time-consuming venture that may or may not be profitable. I had always told myself that I probably would never be a competition organizer, because I have always been terrified of not meeting people’s expectations. Then about two years ago, another organizer told me that I had a great understanding of what a successful competition was all about, that I should overcome my fears and give it a try. So together with my business partners Ilya Barmotin and Sergey Kim, we decided to give it a try. They would stay focused on ensuring that the studio kids are ready for 34
ISLANDERS DANCESPORT CHALLENGE
New USA Dance Event in Staten Island, NY from Dreamed About Event to DanceSport Reality
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
The first-ever Islanders DanceSport Challenge, a USA Dance-listed event, was a tremendous success, attracting 300 competitors from six states and two Canadian provinces, from Pre-Teen to Senior III. There were 21 dance studios and three universities represented, and all together 1100 entries danced. the competition, while I would take on the day-to-day organizational details. Selecting a location was actually easy. Staten Island, NY is where our flagship children’s studio is located and in a NYC borough that doesn’t have ballroom dance competitions. Staten Island was also easily accessed from Brooklyn, Manhattan, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. Finding the right space was the next step. Hotels are very costly. And because we didn’t know what turnout to expect the very first year, we didn’t want to gamble with tens of thousands of dollars. So we agreed to rent a large basketball gym adjacent to our dance studio. Indeed it was very convenient, but we were also able to use studio dance floor for practice, vendor registration and VIP reception. Setting the best date was more challenging to avoid other competition dates. So we looked at it from a teacher’s point of view: I knew that there were no competitions for an entire month before Manhattan Amateur Classic (The MAC), an important USA Dance NQE, so the weekend before would help competitors get back into shape after the long holidays and be ready to put their best foot forward at MAC. Next step was to assemble the right team of people to help us make it a successful competition. Having the best
Per Renata Shvarts: Fierce competitors, bests friends. Nadya Kravchenko
judges, scrutineer, music director, master of ceremony, registrar and on deck supervisor. Family and friends built the website, designed the flyers and program and promoted heavily online. Little by little the competition started to form. We used the O2CM management system for convenient online registration, the best in the U.S. and Canada. It allowed us to save time and go green, and not to spend any money on paper entry forms. All the competitors pre-registered and paid online – an advantage because they could make changes easily and see who registered in their divisions. Entries literally flooded in each day, even after we closed the online registration. Throughout, I was both excited and anxious. I was barely sleeping and eating the week before the event. For two days before the competition, our entire team of people worked non-stop to set up the ballroom, decorate, and figure out all the last minute details. Then, finally, it Jaryd Farcon &hvili, was game time. Kyla Dzhanias
& Arkady RabinovichI, II Arlene Yu, Senior hip Latin Champions er. winn Eddie Farcon
Eddie Farc on
onship Youth Champi er. Standard winn Eddie Farcon
Instructo Edward r with studGolbert Rachel Shent Pre-Teen apiro, Junior I II, Latin winSilver ner.
March - April 2015
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IN THE
PUBLICEYE About The American DanceWheels Foundation (ADF)
A non-profit organization that teaches Wheelchair Ballroom and Latin Dance. Wheelchair dancing integrates people with disabilities and able-bodied individuals and can be enjoyed by people of all ages and ability levels. American DanceWheels created the first American style wheelchair dance syllabus, Wheel One™. Our organization promotes wheelchair dancing through educational seminars and performances in dance studios, schools, and rehabilitation facilities across the country. www.americandancewheels.org
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ON NBC-TV TODAY SHOW
‘WHEELCHAIR BALLROOM DANCING FULFILLS 12-YEAR-OLD GIRL’S DREAM’
N
icole Leszczynski, vice president of the Greater Hartford (CT) Chapter 3056, and her husband Marcin are the dance directors of Dance Art CT and last year they became certified in wheelchair DanceSport by the American DanceWheels Foundation. Their dance classes for people with disabilities are growing as is this sport around the country and the world, and already one of their students 12-year-old Elaina Cardenas has become a television star…and an inspiration to so many around her. NBC-TV’s Today Show aired a 4-minute story about Elaina and her passion to dance on Dec. 26, featuring her life story and a rumba performance she did with her instructor before a crowd of 80. As the story reveals, Elaina was born with the birth defect spina bifida, but being in a wheelchair doesn’t hold her back from doing whatever she sets her mind to — she rides horses, swim and enjoys wheelchair basketball. But after seeing Dancing With The Stars on TV and then meeting Tony Dovolani, her new found passion to dance led her family to search out the American DanceWheels Foundation that linked them with Dance Art CT in East Hartford. Nicole and Marcin remember the day Elaina arrived, shy and far less confident that the inspired dancer she’s become today. Yet performing in front of large groups and taking the final bow to standing ovations has proved powerful medicine. Elaina’s already talks about dancing at her prom a few years away. During the Today Show interviews, Elaina’s
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
parents talked about how wheelchair dancing has no limits and is a “more positive way to view the world”, a way to focus on “abilities rather than disabilities”. As sharing Elaina’s video performance, the elated Today Show hosts pointed out that bringing the power of dance into one’s life is a win-win situation, that anything is possible. Marcin, originally from Poland, was a choreographer for Poland’s version of Dancing With The Stars. He competed in dance for 18 years and involved in wheelchair dance for 12. Nicole, from Germany, has 14 years experience in ballroom and Latin dancing, with a focus on teaching those with special needs and disabilities. To See Elaina’s story on the Today Show: http://www.today.com/video/today/56678534
ARE YOU READY to dance? Whether you like to Ballroom, Latin or Swing Dance, you can enjoy Dancing with the Stars: At Sea activities on these Holland America Line cruises. On these cruises guests will have the opportunity to: Participate in complimentary dance classes to learn the basics or new steps. Compete in the Dancing with the Stars: At Sea competition, where finalisits will take the main stage with the ship’s dance professionals to vie for Cruise Champion! * Dancing with the Stars at sea plus enjoy Group Rates and Group Amenities on the following itineraries
†Additional Dancing with the Stars at sea cruise itineraries
‡Enjoy Group Rates and Group Amenities on the following itineraries
†7-Day Eastern Caribbean
ms Westerdam Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale 01/03/2015
‡50-Day Tales of the South Pacific
ms Veendam Roundtrip Boston 06/06/2015
*7-Day Canada & New England
†7-Day Eastern Caribbean
‡33-Day Australian Circumnavigation
ms Veendam Boston to Quebec City 06/13/2015
*7-Day Eastern Caribbean ms Nieuw Amsterdam Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale 01/03/2016
*7-Day Western Caribbean ms Nieuw Amsterdam Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale 01/10/2016
ms Westerdam Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale 01/10/2015 ‡Enjoy Group Rates and Group Amenities on the following itineraries
‡7-Day Mediterranean Glamour ms Eurodam Roundtrip Barcelona 04/19/2015
ms Volendam Vancouver to Sydney 09/23/2015
ms Volendam Roundtrip Sydney 10/19/2015
‡50-Day Atlantic Adventurer ms Maasdam Roundtrip Ft. Lauderdale 10/30/2015
BALLROOM, LATIN & SWING DANCE CENTER AROUND THE NG
RLD WO
‡58-Day South Pacific & Australia Circumnavigation Collector
ms Amsterdam Seattle to San Diego 9/27/2015
DANC I
*7-Day Bermuda
with Vivian Beiswenger
Vivian Beiswenger, Director Administrative Office 255 Hawthorne Circle North Wales, PA 19454 215.855.2711 or 215.530.3482 844.921.2144 (Toll free) Email: info@blsdc.com www.BLSDC.com
WDSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS JUNIOR II 10-DANCE, STANDARD DECEMBER 18, 20, 2014 Riga,Latvia JUNIOR II STANDARD DECEMBER 13, 2014 Horsens,
Denmark
I
JUNIOR II OPEN STANDARD, Horsens, Denmark
Erik Linder & Richelle Taylor
JUNIOR II OPEN 10-DANCE, Baltic Grand Prix, Riga, Latvia
Erik Linder & Richelle Taylor Erik Linder & Richelle Taylor Kinsley Lin & Michelle Yiu
AMERICAN
10 out of 59 Tied 29-32 out of 59
do what we do and believe in each other as partners. We work together to be our very best.
nterview
ERIK LINDER & RICHELLE TAYLOR (WA) JUNIOR II STANDARD, 10-DANCE All Photos by Lars Linder
AD: What has been the greatest or most inspiring moment for you? E: Going from winning at WDC AMERICAN DANCER: What Paris worlds to winning at a WDSF Horsens, Denmark and were your impressions going then competing at WDSF in into your first WDSF World Riga, Latvia placing 10th in Championship events? Rickie: As this was our first R: I’m not surprised that dancers Junior II Standard Worlds and 3rd in 10-Dance at the Baltic WDSF competition, I was from other U.S. countries didn’t Grand Prix. The energy and really excited to see how the believe that US couples could excitement of the competitions competition was run and how win a WDSF event. I definitely were just too incredible. We just we would place against other have to say U.S. couples are competitors that we had not stronger and dancing, showing competed against, as well as and placing higher in world being judged by judges who have competitions than before. not seen us before. When you compete at home in the U.S., AD: What are your challenges sometimes your past results in and next steps going forward? competition can shadow over E: Being consistent with training you, and you are competing is always challenging especially with the same couples, so when you travel and have school. the results are much more I am teaching more which really conservative and predictable. helps me understand myself more and how to communicate effectively with others. AD: There were skeptics who didn’t believe USA could place first in a WDSF World event. R: Personally my biggest challenge Your thoughts? is staying patient. I feel so motivated and feel so inspired Erik: All of the U.S. couples and that I really want to dance and competitors are improving and train and compete as much as are taking their dancing more possible….As we dance each day, seriously, and we hope more couples will take the initiative to we are growing and developing ourselves and it feels very exciting! compete internationally. When 38
3 out of 48
JUNIOR II WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARD, Riga, Latvia
DANCER
USA DANCE NATIONAL TITLES: Junior II Championship Standard, 3rd in 2014, Junior I Championship Standard, 2nd in 2013
1 out of 11
we won in Horsens, Denmark, taking 10th in Standard in Riga, Latvia and 3rd in 10 Dance at the Baltic Grand Prix, we realized that there are so many great couples competing and preparing just as much as we were.
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
R: It is always very inspiring to travel and represent your country in a competitive field. When we take the floor as a U.S. couple we feel an amazing sense of gratitude and honor, which in turn inspires us to give the very best we’ve got. AD: How important is the support of your parents and coaches? E: Our coaches motivate us and know how we work as a couple. They bring out the best in us. Our parents are always there at every competition supporting us as parents and not as coaches which is important.
This event was more challenging because this was the most challenging standard competition we both have ever witnessed. There was extremely high level dancing, especially in the final. —Michelle Yiu
Michelle: This event was more
challenging because this was the most challenging standard competition we both have ever witnessed. There was extremely high level dancing, especially in the final. I think personally that WDSF standard has reached wonderful, new levels and with it, dancing has evolved so much. There are new shapes, new lines, new tricks,
a better placement, but we just have to accept it and move on and continue working hard. M: I did not feel like we
performed our best. We were really stressed out over the expectations for this world championship, and therefore we over-tried. On the floor, our coaches said after that we did not look confident enough and
R: The support of my parents and coaches has been extremely important. Without supportive coaches or family we definitely would not be getting the same results.
KINSLEY LIN & MICHELLE YIU (CA) JUNIOR II STANDARD
USA DANCE NATIONAL TITLES: USA Dance Junior II Latin, Standard & 10-Dance National Champions, 2014 WDSF TITLES/PLACEMENTS: Junior II World Championship Latin, 5th in 2014; Junior II World Championship 10-Dance, 5th in 2014. COACHES ATTENDING: Tomas Atkocevicius & Aira Bubnelyte
AD: You’ve now danced in five world events. How competitive was this World Championship? Kinsley: The competition on the floor at this event was extremely high. Everyone was really prepared and from the 1st round, they gave it all they had, including us. In my humble opinion, the level of Ballroom in Europe is higher than the level of Latin.
was important to you about this event? M: It was very important because we learned a lesson. That what you expect to happen is not always what is going to happen. We learned from this event that in order to perform our best in future competitions, we must look and feel completely confident. We must try our best not to stress out or over-try, because it will definitely show on the floor and worsen our dancing and performance. We also learned that you are going to have ups and downs, and you just have to deal with it and stay positive. It was also great because I got to see some of my friends from other countries, such as Lithuania, Denmark, and Canada. It was wonderful to see them dance again in person and also to hang out with them a little bit during the event. AD: What is your focus now as you prepare for Nationals in Baltimore? K: Since we came back from Riga, we have been focusing on dynamics and dancing more with each other. M: Now, we are focusing on
new steps… And everyone is so creative and also strong, technique-wise. AD: How did you feel about your performance on the floor? K: I felt that we gave it all we had, and we expected to have
therefore did not dance our best, even though we danced fairly well. It just did not look like we truly enjoyed every moment on the floor. AD: Each event is always a learning experience. What
being confident and mentally prepared for anything. Technique-wise, however, we are working really hard in both Standard and Latin. In Standard specifically, we are focusing a lot on posture and a stronger and cleaner frame, as well as maximizing shapes, creativity, and footwork. In Latin though, we are focusing on softer body action, leg and foot technique, creativity and musicality. March - April 2015
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MANHATTAN CELEBRATES 25th ANNIVERSARY, HOSTS By Allison Geller, DanceSport Athlete Photography by Ryan Kenner
L
Murat Medzhidov & Valerie Dubinsky (MA). Youth Championship Standard Lisa Dubinsky
40
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
ining up with almost 50 other couples for the enormous first round of Pre-Championship Standard, there’s no room to get in frame or practice that throwaway over sway. Instead, we adjust tail suits, complement dresses, and joke about that quickstep collision from that last comp we hope not to repeat. Despite the fact that The Manhattan Amateur Classic 2015 was held in New Jersey for the first time in its 25-year history, over 1,000 dancers gathered at the Empire Meadowlands Hotel in Secaucus, NJ, actually only about five miles away from midtown Manhattan. The three-day long competition, taking place on Martin Luther King’s Day weekend (Jan. 16-18), is also USA Dance’s biggest National Qualifying Event, drawing competitors with their eyes on Nationals from locales as far as Washington state, Texas and Utah with many dancers coming from all over the Eastern seaboard. Several couples from Canada gave The MAC an “international flair”. The MAC also continued to enjoy the participation of collegiate dancers from NYU, Columbia, Harvard, Yale, University of Maryland-College Park, and Carnegie Mellon. This year, these regulars were joined by healthy contingents from Purdue University, Ohio State University – proudly sporting bright red OSU jackets — and New Mexico State University. Yang Chen, National President of USA Dance, has helped organized the MAC for many years starting in 1994, and has emceed since 2001. As a competitor himself, he made the Bronze Standard final at the very first MAC in 1991, back when the entire competition took place over one day. Then, he and his fellow competitors danced on a terrazzo floor in the basement of St. Paul the Apostle Church, a
AMATEUR CLASSIC WDSF JUNIOR II OPEN LATIN, STANDARD few blocks south of Lincoln Center. “It was great. I still remember having a lot of fun,” Chen recalls. “We went back there for our 10th anniversary, but by that time we actually had a budget to rent a dance floor.” This year’s MAC also marks the second time the organizers have included events under the auspices of the World DanceSport li vi Federation, the international governing ania sh & Kyla Dzh n ti La ip Jaryd Farcon body for DanceSport recognized by the on sh uth Champi (NJ), Yo
Eric Groysman & Shelby Joy Cole (PA), Adult Championship Latin
International Olympic Committee. MAC once again played host to the WDSF World Ranking Tournament in Junior II Open Latin and Open Standard. Both events this year featured a semifinal round, with the Latin division semifinalists battling through a full 12-couple round. One of the couples dancing in both divisions hailed from Canada, and their fellow Canadians held up Canadian flags, swaying with or tapping out the
Patrick Walsh & Jeanine Stewart (TX), Senior I Championship Standard
Samuel Hacke & Katarina Hermanova (NJ), Youth Championship Latin
Jason Chao Dai & Sasha Nissengolts (NY), Adult Championship Latin (1st)
Sam Ronin & Ja cqu el in e Ku shnir (N Y), Pre -Tee n II Bro n ze La tin
March - April 2015
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WDSF JUNIOR II OPEN STANDARD WORLD RANKING TOURNAMENT
Jan. 16, 2014 – Secaucus, NJ
A USA JUDGE’S PERSPECTIVE – DAN CALLOWAY On Friday evening, at the 25th Anniversary Manhattan Amateur Classic, the audience was treated to the World DanceSport Federation’s Junior II Open Standard World Ranking Tournament, starting with an eight-couple semi-final. These 15-and-under-year-olds were wonderfully prepared and ambitious boys and girls, already exhibiting the great qualities that result from years of experience and training. These eight couples represented 16 delightful and varied personalities, 24 personalities if you count the third personality created by the relationship in each couple. Contrary to a common complaint of homogeneity in world-class ballroom competitors, no two couples were alike in this event. This young group demonstrated many stages of upper-level development and diverse approaches and priorities. The deciding factor for determining the final six couples was the use of the connection within each couple. Great communication and interaction within a couple enables great musicality, posture and frame functionality and beauty, artistry and expressiveness, and power and speed.
beat of the music. (Special kudos go to our Canadian friends, who cheered and waved their flags in other events during the championship sessions on Friday and Saturday night even when no Canadian couples were dancing in the heat.) The WDSF events in the U.S. and abroad, including the events at The MAC this year, have created continuing opportunities for professional adjudicators in the United States to be licensed as WDSF adjudicators. Having attended Adjudicators’ Congresses organized by USA Dance, these adjudicators received training and pass general knowledge tests to receive their licenses. During the WDSF events, these judges are distinguished by their WDSF ties and scarves, part of the required WDSF dress code. Competition isn’t the only reason dancers flock to The MAC. They come to appreciate the hard work of fellow athletes, entertain the crowd and dance hard. When
The top three couples were confident, nuanced and especially athletically assertive, while never abandoning the elegance and apparent ease characteristic of great champions. The winners, Yusif Amsatr and Naomi Spektor (136) of Pennsylvania, dominated the event according to their first place finish in all five dances, but I personally felt the second-place couple, Kristers Smits and Sophie Shvartsman (540) of New York, while smaller and younger, displayed more maturity and subtlety in their dancing. Like all high-level competitive couples, Smits and Shvartsman were well past the right/wrong phase of development and well into the artistic, personally expressive phase. Less artistic, but more exuberant, the firstplace couple, Amsatr and Spektor, dominated the floor at all times with their incredible speed, movement and personality. This WDSF event was a highlight of a particularly exciting, anniversary edition of the MAC. Yang Chen, the compere, was effusive in his presentation and praise of the couples, and the audience similarly got completely carried away by this spectacular event. The future of ballroom dancing in the United States looks wonderful in the hands of these great young dancers.
Dan has compete professionally, coached and judged for 38 years, earning numerous Top Teacher and Professional of the Year awards. He was a U.S. and Asian-Pacific 10-Dance Grand Finalist and the youngest ISTD Dual Fellow in the world. He is a WDSF-licensed World Cup Adjudicator and has chaired judging panels at the USA Dance National DanceSport Championships and the North American. He is the DanceSport coach for Georgetown University and University of Maryland. Yusif Amsatr & Naomi Spektor (PA), WDSF Junior II Open Standard (1st)
Ryan Kenner Photography
RESULTS: WDSF JUNIOR II OPEN STANDARD (WTVFQ)
1 2 3 4 5 6
Yusif Amsatr & Naomi Spektor - PA Kristers Smits & Sophie Shvartsman - NY Svyryd Syvyk & Diana Byk - NJ Anton Lori & Rumi Dolmaya - ONT Daniel Melnik & Maria Volski - NJ Ivan Shneerson & Empria King - WA
Eamonn Knights & Ida Jones (MD), Senior I, II Gold Latin
Matthew Zoladkiewicz & Abigail Portnoy (NJ), Jr. I Novice, Pre-Championship Standard Ryan Kenner Photography
42
DAN CALLOWAY, Adjudicator (MD)
American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
WDSF JUNIOR II OPEN LATIN WORLD RANKING TOURNAMENT
Jan. 17, 2014 – Secaucus, NJ
A USA JUDGE’S PERSPECTIVE – SANDRA FORTUNA
Kristers Smits & Sophie Shvartsman (NY), WDSF Junior II Open Latin (1st) Ryan Kenner Photography
time permitted, spectators and competitors alike hit the floor for spontaneous general dances, ranging from the American Foxtrot to The Wobble, a line dance that features booty popping (not properly experienced until attempted in a ball gown and heels). On Saturday afternoon, the Team Match made its return to the MAC after skipping last year due to time constraints. Ten teams, comprised of collegiate dancers and MAC competitors, formed their teams on the spot and faced off in a variety of lesser-known ballroom dance styles, including the three-person Argentine tango, the againstline-of-dance foxtrot, and the same-sex waltz. During the Team Match, moves were invented. Faces were caressed. Clothes were cast off. No one, not even the judges, was safe. After dancing through a raucous and rowdy semi-final, the first place trophy went to two teams who finished in a tie -- the Volunteers, a team of dancers who were MAC volunteers, and the Boilermakers, the team from Purdue University. For the adult and senior competitors, The MAC was over by Saturday night. On Sunday, the third and final day of competition, affectionately called “Junior MAC,” the Pre-teen, Junior and Youth competitors (from age five through 18) danced in heats running nonstop from 8 am until 10 pm. Throughout The MAC, New York-New Jersey winter storms did cause travel delays for some competitors in the mornings. Mother Nature threatened to seriously derail the fourteen-hour schedule with snow and ice in the morning hours that caused many competitors to be delayed in arriving on time for their heats. The organizers paused the morning heats for 45 minutes to allow competitors to get to the venue. Despite the loss of time, the day progressed swiftly, with time being made up through skillful marshaling of dancers coming on and off the floor efficiently.
Waiting for this event to start, competitors are on deck and clearly excited--they’re running in place and jumping up and down getting themselves revved up to dance. The WDSF Open Latin event was a 12-couple semifinal with the semi danced in two flights. The couples were mixed differently in each dance. Samba, cha cha, rumba were strongest dances for these competitors. These dancers exhibit tremendous energy, excitement and stamina. If there is one overall deficiency, it would be characterization and technique in Paso Doble. 540 Kristers Smits & Sophie Shvartsman1st. They stood out as athletic, and prepared to win. I liked them best, so I watched them most, knowing they would make one of the top two places. Their choreography is perfect for them and for a competition venue. They use the floor, they find their fans, they are polished and show precise rhythm, control and balance. In paso, they were the only couple who captured the ‘look.’ This couple produced footwork and leg action of paso while developing shapes that included arms, chest and head positions. Many young dancers begin to learn the paso doble when they are ready for 'open' and don't have the opportunity to develop the action and technique. This couple is polished in all comparative details. They do not appear to have a weak dance or weak spot in their technical abilities or their presentation. 256 D’Angelo Castro & Amanda Carbajales2nd. This is a pair of extremely talented dancers. They certainly do manage to catch the eye and stand out. I would have preferred to see kick actions in jive to be downward, and this couple emphasized the height of their kicks, but they are balanced, fast, charismatic. 469 Jonas Terleckas & Ruby Castro-3rd. They display captivating personalities. Since their teacher chose for them do quite a bit of basics, we will enjoy seeing them improve and solidify their basic actions and technique with each new event.
136 Yusif Amsatr & Naomi Spektor-4th. They have balance, show beautiful extension, sure placement, excellent leading from the man, and attention to the lady’s feet not apparent with all the couples all the time in all the dances. I liked everything about their presentation and their program. They exhibited beautiful results from obvious determined preparation for this event. 580 Kevin Filipczak & Elizabeth Gotovsky5th. This couple showed the best interpretation of jive action. The lady shows an attractive use of inside edges of her feet and both partners dance their jive kick downward which I enjoy. To make their dancing more memorable, they could improve use of arms and develop a body weight connection in lead and follow work. 512 Daniel Tsarik & Victoria Gribman-6th. I did like this couple's dancing, and they certainly deserved to make the final. They are strong, balanced and rhythmic, and could easily enhance the effect of all their choreography by developing more of a picture and more movement in the upper body, head and visual focus.
SANDRA FORTUNA, Adjudicator, Invigilator (NJ) Sandra’s career began as a dancer performing and traveling with Philadelphia Opera Ballet and Jordan Ballet Company, then acquiring a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance from Butler University. She is designated as World Class Adjudicator with WDC and as a National/Championship Adjudicator with NDCA. She was the National Top Teacher of the Year, 1989 and 1993, and co-organizer of the Philadelphia Festival DanceSport Championships and Atlantic Coast DanceSport Championships, 1988 to 2011. She owns and operates Universal Ballroom Dance Center, Collingswood, NJ.
RESULTS: WDSF JUNIOR II OPEN LATIN (SCRPJ)
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Kristers Smits & Sophie Shvartsman - NY D’Angelo Castro & Amanda Carbajales - FL Jonas Terleckas & Ruby Castro - FL Yusif Amsatr & Naomi Spektor - PA Kevin Filipczak & Elizabeth Gotovsky - NJ Daniel Tsarik & Victoria Gribman - PA
March - April 2015
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NEW GAMEPLAN FOR
PDX CLASSIC NQE F Proves Formula for Success Mark Wojahn & Iea Trueblood, Sr I Silver Standard
Nick Shur Frank Chen
Frank Chen
Slava Andrejev & Diana Wojcik, Adult Pre-Championship Standard Eric Hayden & Rorsin Byl, Showcase
Dmitry Ischinko & Tyler Wilson, Adult Championship Standard Andrew Hau
Frank Chen
Resources: Nick Shur, Ruby Tang
rom the City of Roses (aka Portland, OR), the new single-day USA Dance PDX Classic NQE moved to its new competition space, the Ballroom Dance Company, on Jan. 24, just 10 miles away in nearby Tigard, OR. And the dynamic of exciting new changes -- date, venue and format – proved just the ‘formula for success’ this NQE event organizers were looking for. Formerly known as the Northwest DanceSport Championships and held in October, the new PDX Classic, sponsored by the Portland Chapter 1006, made a pivotal decision last year to move the event to January, a better slot in the NQE DanceSport calendar, being just two months prior to the USA Dance 2015 National DanceSport Championships in Baltimore. [The name change to PDX is actually Portland’s IATA airport code, not Portland DanceSport X-Comp or X-Games.] And this year, following the cancellation of the 2014 SouthWest Regional DanceSport Championships, both the PDX and the California State NQE gained additional competitors to become the west coast’s primary National Qualifying Events for the 2015 Nationals. Competitors hailing from six states and Canada converged at the PDX, and it was a very concentrated, but well organized schedule, heat after heat, as 106 competitors in 323 individual events commanded the floor. States represented were Oregon, Minnesota, Washington, California, Utah and Hawaii. The Ballroom Dance Company’s vaulted venue allowed for a beautiful display of ballroom and latin/rhythm dancing, and was a very up-close-andpersonal viewing space for the audience who lined the floor’s perimeter on benches. New and exciting additions to the PDX were the Open Showdance divisions, formation teams and a strong showing of Championship-level dancers in both American and International styles. Social and competitive dancers also enjoyed the Friday night warm-up dance before competition day. Event Organizer Chair of Judges Music Director Emcee Invigilator
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
Lazar Isakharov & Alena Budko, Jr I Novice Standard
Sonja Tilton Renata Shvarts Dave Watson Michael Wachal Trevor Luff
WDSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SENIOR III STANDARD – FEB. 1, 2015 Antwerp, Belgium
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ntwerp, Belgium is a trendy world-class port city, full of artists, fashion designers, writers, actors and intellectuals. It’s also the European Capital of Sport (a title since 2013) and the global trading hub for 70% of the world’s diamonds. USA Dance sent two Senior III Standard couples to the Antwerp Diamond DanceSport Cup, for the WDSF World Championship in January, where 13 countries and 157 couples were competing.
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Hans Stork & Ans Stork Rob Ronda
AD: How was your performance this event? What was your best moment on the floor? H&A: We danced well and are pleased with the results. Making it to the 1/8 final (48) is always challenging as the field continues to strengthen. Our first dance, the waltz, was the most memorable. The music was great and we danced in good harmony. AD: What are the trends or changes happening in the Senior III globally?
World Championship, Feb. 1
Hans Stork & Ans Stork
Tied 41-44 out of 157
Vincent Feingold & Irina Feingold
Tied 74-77 out of 157
OPEN CUP Jan. 31
Vincent Feingold & Irina Feingold
VINCENT FEINGOLD & IRINA FEINGOLD (NJ) American Dancer: What were the competition highlights for you? Vincent & Irina: As a norm in WDSF World events, there was a parade of Nations and as we said many times before, this is an amazingly emotional and touching event to march as a representative of your country among best dancers in your age category in the World. The atmosphere of the competition was very friendly, warm and cheerful.
HANS STORK & ANS STORK (AZ)
American Dancer: What were the competition highlights for you? Hans & Ans: The competition is held in a sports complex that is more than two miles from the hotel. With the first round starting at 8:30 a.m. and the final round 10:30 p.m., you leave and return to the hotel in the dark. Although we also visited on the day prior to our event, it was raining wet snowing and quite dark. The facilities in the sports complex are suited for large events, and the dressing rooms were good size. Still very crowded as is typical in Europe.
WDSF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
H: …it seems that swinging and shaping continue to increase. We noticed more competitors doing additional steps in the Viennese waltz. The competitive level of dancing and the number of high level dancers seems to be growing each year. It is amazing to see this happen at the Senior three level. AD: Has competing in the WDSF world championships given you an advantage going into the USA Dance Nationals? H&A: Participating in these international events is energizing and always leaves us with a desire to improve more. Compared to the volume of dancers, even the USA Dance Nationals is small in comparison.
AD: How was your performance at this competition? Any moment stand out as memorable? V&I: It was our second time in Antwerp, and this time we did much better than the last time. We did not make top 48, and at Vincent Feingold & Irina Feingold Art & Dance
27 out of 85
first we were disappointed; but as we watched the next round, we saw what high level skills all these couples exhibit, and we realized that we have to work harder and dance better. Our best dance was Waltz which was satisfying because in the past, it was our weakest dance. We worked on it a lot, and we were happy that the effort brought the results. AD: What are the trends or changes in the Senior III global arena? V&I: Senior three dancing has become more athletic, faster, and with bigger amplitude. More and more past Senior two strong couples are getting older and moving to Senior three so the competition is getting tougher each time. Dance styles are very different. Top 24 show a lot of sways, shapes and speed to attract attention, but top 4 are more classic style — clean foot work, amazing musicality, very consistent, show great movement, soft and powerful at the same time. AD: As DanceSport Ambassadors for USA Dance, what role do you assume at these events abroad? V&I: American dancers are a rarity in Europe, at least among seniors, and everywhere we went wearing our team jackets, we heard cheers and greetings to USA. March - April 2015
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ERIK & RICKIE WDSF JUNIOR II STANDARD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, 2014 – Denmark – 1ST WDSF JUNIOR II STANDARD, WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, 2014 – Latvia – 10TH WDSF JUNIOR II 10-DANCE, BALTIC GRAND PRIX, 2014 – Latvia – 3RD WDC-AL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, JUNIOR UNDER-16 – Paris – 1ST
A CHAMPION’S PERSPECTIVE ON FINDING BALANCE
ERIK LINDER & RICKIE TAYLOR
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oth Erik Linder and Rickie Taylor from Seattle are only 14 years old, but they’ve been dancing together for 10 years. By the time they were seven, they were discovered by the Oprah Show and appeared on the “World’s Most Talented Kids” show. By age 9, they were semi-finalists on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent,” winning the hearts of millions, and by age 10, they were invited by ABC-TV to perform solo Jive on “Dancing With The Stars.” So much limelight could have derailed their partnership, but staying grounded and focused with strong family and coach support, has kept them on a steady career path. At the USA Dance 2014 National DanceSport Championships, they were consistently in the Junior II finals, but by year-end in Europe at their first-ever world events, Erik & Rickie returned home with two world championships and a 3rd and 10th place in two others.
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AMERICAN DANCER: How have you as a young dance couple learned to manage the stress of balancing dance career with other obligations? Erik: I try to separate things; school, dance and family. It’s hard to not have dance enter into other things, but it is important to do other things as well. We have had lots of stressful things happen in our careers that were not caused by us, so we try hard to not create stress and to allow it to get in the way. By ourselves as a couple, we are pretty relaxed and really enjoy the fun we have and our friendship. Rickie: For me almost everyday has three sections. Morning is dedicated to all my school work and responsibilities. Middle and early evening is all about my dancing and dance related work. And I look forward to time with my family each night! AD: What’s the best advice about the psychology of being a dancer? E: Don’t think about your competitors or the competition. Focus on your personal dancing. Put your energy into preparing for competition and not stressing at a competition. R: Always heading into each competition with a belief of achieving our goals helps me a lot. Not worrying about what happened at the last competition and only going on the floor with a positive attitude helps. Erik has definitely always helped remind me of this when we are getting ready. Don’t let the past decide your future.
Dancing With The Stars, age 10.
AD: Is it easier to compete as a young couple? E: The older you get the harder the competition can be, but we are all
Lars Linder
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American Dancer | www.americandancer.org
WDSF World Championships, 2014 Lars Linder
growing and improving together and working to reach our goals, so I think the challenge is the same wherever you are and at whatever age and level. R: At each stage of our growth, we are always challenged and feel like it gets more difficult on different levels. When you are very little, the challenges are more about steps and routines. As you get older, the challenges change to technique and consistency, then move to style and development. There are always challenges at each age category. AD: What does it take to be a champion? E: Confidence in yourself. Not arrogance, but being humble. Confidence that you know your abilities and what you can achieve. R: For me, I often think of a phrase my very first coach Pavel Balykin told me which was “Hard work will be talent, when talent isn’t working hard.” There are so many talented people out there. I feel fortunate to compete with so many great couples. Always working hard, each and everyday that I can, expecting the best from myself. For me, that’s what it takes.
National Qualifying Events USA Dance 2016 National DanceSport Championships
FOR 2016 (first six): Jun 6-7 2015 NJ DANCESPORT CLASSIC SUMMER SIZZLER Hackensack, NJ Jun 26 – 28, 2015 GUMBO DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS Baton Rouge, LA Sep 25-27 NEW ENGLAND DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS Waltham, MA Oct 2-4, 2015 CAROLINA FALL CLASSIC Charlotte, NC Oct 30-Nov 1, 2015 CHICAGO DANCESPORT CHALLENGE Chicago, IL Nov 7, 2015 CALIFORNIA STATE DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS San Jose, CA For more information visit: www.USADANCE.org
Timeline Media
Nels Petersen & Theresa Kimler (MN) Adult American Smooth Division 2014 Mid-Atlantic DanceSport Championships
Non-Profit Standard Class U.S. Postage
PAID
Lebanon Junction, KY Permit #542
USA DANCE 2015 NATIONAL DANCESPORT CHAMPIONSHIPS Renaissance Harborplace Hotel Baltimore, MD March 27, 28, 29, 2015
Hosting the WDSF World Ranking Tournaments: March 27 WDSF OPEN UNDER-21 STANDARD March 28 WDSF OPEN UNDER-21 10-DANCE
USA DANCE
March 29 WDSF OPEN UNDER-21 LATIN
NATIONALS www.USADANCENATIONALS.org PHOTO CREDIT: Al Parker/ParkWest Photography
Nikita Malakhov & Nadezda Vlasova (NJ) Adult Latin Championship Division USA Dance 2014 National DanceSport Championships