July 2004 Newsletter

a monthly publication

in this issue...

Dance Calendar Who's Who Next Board Meeting From the President Thank You

July Swing Workshop Upcoming Events Fancy Feet Dancers Snacks and Refreshments Places to Dance Room to Mention Our Website

DANCE CALENDAR

GCC-USABDA dance, 2nd and 4th Saturday of the Month, 7:30-11:00 pm, at The Barn, 680 Cherokee Lane, Columbia, SC. Admission is $8/non-member, $5/member, student discount. Refreshments. Appropriate attire required.

July 10 - dance lesson 8:00-8:30 by Sheila Brown teaching Swing.

July 24 - dance lesson 8:00-8:30 by Sheila Brown teaching Swing.

WHO'S WHO

BOARD MEETING

The next Board meeting is scheduled for July 11, 2004, at 3:00 pm, Bank of America conference room at the Richland County Library, 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC. Please contact Tom Savage with agenda items.

FROM THE PRESIDENT

• Concerning Mike Verdone, our president for the past four years, his surgery on June 16 was successful. He returned to his home on June 20 to recuperate. He is able to walk pain free for the first time in a long time. Congratulations, Mike.
  
  

• Doris Wood recently donated two items that have and will continue to benefit the chapter. One is a cassette recorder she purchased for use during board meetings. The second item is a very nice cash box for use at the admissions table in the lobby at the barn. Thanks, Doris, for your generosity.
  
  

• Applications continue to pour in for the July 31 swing workshops and dance. This will be an exciting dancing event that you do not want to miss. It will be a great opportunity to increase the number of your east coast swing steps and moves, and to learn the basic steps of the Lindy hop.
  
  If you can only make the dance, the cost is just $10.00. Paul & Ansley Hoke will teach a thirty-minute group lesson in basic swing beginning at 8:00. They will do an exciting exhibition later in the evening. An added plus will be that Paul will roam the floor during the evening assisting dancers with the execution of their swing steps.
  
  

• With a total of 47 in attendance, we had a very successful picnic and dance on June 26. A special thanks is due Edna Free and Kathy Richardson, her sister, and Janet Girard for the decorations, to David Tammen for transporting the two grills on a truck borrowed from Mike Verdone, and to Robert Seay, Ron Morton and David Tammen for cooking those delicious hot dogs and hamburgers.
  
  Jo Morton did a good job in purchasing food and arranging with members to bring side dishes and desserts. A group of members and non-members contributed such food as beans, melons, and deviled eggs, and all sorts of desserts, Last but not least, Stephanie Muga and Robert Anduiza stepped in at the last moment to do the music in place of Al Jayne, who was not feeling well.
  
  

• In case you haven’t heard, Stephanie and Robert tied the knot during a beautiful wedding on June 19 at a Lutheran Church on Broad River Road in Irmo. Robert managed the wedding very well, considering that he arrived on the 18th after a three-day drive from his home in Brownsville, Texas.  Robert is a twenty-plus-year veteran public school math teacher and will continue to ply his trade at a public or private school in the Greater Columbia area. It will be great having the two of them at our dances from now on.
  
  

• Last but not least, the board decided at our June 13 meeting upon a recommendation by Stephanie Muga to accept the offer of Cyndy Harris to perform as a DJ at our dances. Cyndy has been in training for this task with Stephanie and Al Jayne since last January. She is the first member, but hopefully not the last, to be appointed to such an important position. I understand that she will be the DJ for our two dances in July. Thanks, Cyndy. You can count on our support and assistance.

Tom Savage

THANK YOU

Thanks to our June dance instructor Robert Seay for teaching Samba and for performing terrific dance demonstrations with students Patty Hill and Jo Morton.

Thanks to our DJs, Stephanie Muga and Robert Anduiza.

Thanks to Mike Verdone for the use of his pickup truck to transport the grills for the cookout, to David Taamen for the use of his grill, to our cooks, Robert Seay, Ron Morton, and David Taamen, and to Jo Morton for obtaining the delicious food and drink items.  Thanks also to everyone who brought side dishes and desserts.

And a huge thanks to all who helped set up tables and chairs before the dance and who stayed to help clean and put tables and chairs away after the dance.

JULY SWING WORKSHOP

July 31, the GCC-USABDA Chapter is presenting a swing workshop at The Barn, 680 Cherokee Lane, Columbia, SC. Instructors will be Paul and Ansley Hoke. For more information, click here.

 

UPCOMING DANCE EVENTS

July 17-24, USABDA Carribean dance cruise. Ft. Lauderdale to Bahamas, St. Thomas, Nassau. 50 hours of dance events!  www.LetsDanceCruises.com or call 800-591-1868.

July 17, Chicagoland USABDA Chapter is sponsoring the Chicago Dancesport Challenge 2004, at the Center at North Park Sports Arena, Franklin Park, IL 60131. The competition is open to only USABDA member amateur dancers. A full slate of American Smooth and Rhythm and International Standard and Latin are planned with age categories of preteen through senior. Visit their website at www.ChicagoUSABDA.org.

August 21, Columbia's Ballroom Company is presenting their 11th Annual Luau at Dupre's Northeast in Pontiac.  The all-day affair (2 to 10 p.m.) features students from several area studios, dance routines, champagne, dinner and dancing, and a special show by Paul Lagatore and Sheila Brown.  For information or reservations, call Joyce at 750-0181.

August 12-15, 2004 USA DanceSport National Championships with Social Activities.  The USABDA Social Dance Council is working to make Nationals the “social” event of the year. Besides being there when our national champions are selected, social dancers from all across the country are encouraged to participate in the added social activities. Social dances will be hosted by a variety of dance clubs and chapters. Workshops will be presented by visiting professional judges and national champions.

Private lessons may be arranged on site.
Mark your calendars and make your travel plans now. Take advantage of this opportunity watch America’s “best” compete for national titles and to socialize with dancers from all across the country. All non-competition events will take place in the RiverCentre Grand Ballroom. Check website and register at www.DanceNationals.com  or email social-vp@usabda.org or call Mary at 1-800-447-9047.

FANCY FEET DANCERS

The Fancy Feet Dancers performed on June 19 for the residents of Christopher Towers.  If you are interested in joining the Fancy Feet group for future performances in nursing homes and retirement communities or if you know of any such facilities that would like to host a performance, please contact Barbara Kubodera.

SNACKS AND REFRESHMENTS

Our USABDA chapter provides snacks and refreshments at each of our dances. Your contributions of soft drinks and snacks are always welcomed. Please remember snack foods must fit into the category of finger foods. 

Volunteers to help set up the refreshments are also welcomed. Contact one of your board members if you have any questions or would like to volunteer for a specific evening.

PLACES TO DANCE

Looking for someplace to dance those times when we don't have a GCC-USABDA dance? Visit the "Places To Dance" listing on our website or pick up a copy of the handout at the GCC-USABDA dances.

ROOM TO MENTION

Columbia's Ballroom Company, 35 Diamond Lane, will be having studio parties at 7:30 p.m. on July 8th and 22nd.  The parties are open to the public, at a cost of $5 per person.

Big Band dancing Thursdays, 6:00-9:00, Adam's Mark, 1200 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201, 803-771-7000.

Fridays, Capital Senior Center, Maxcy Gregg Park, 1650 Park Circle, Columbia, SC, 803-779-1971.

Wednesdays, 7:00-9:00 pm, Sumter Ballroom Dance Club, Sumter County Recreational Department, 155 Haynesworth Street, Sumter, SC, Bob Wall 803-469-4014

Monthly Dance, 7:30-11:00, Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club, Florence, SC, 803-393-6206, palmettodanceclub.org

First Saturday of each month, 7:00-11:00 pm, USABDA Greenville, Starlight Ballroom, 108 Trade Street, Greer, SC, Ginger 864-292-6750, odellgirl@aol.com

OUR WEBSITE

Be sure to check out the GCC-USABDA website to stay in-the-know about what's happening with our organization. If you don't see what you are looking for, you may post a message or send an E-mail message. Someone will get back to you.