August 2004 Newsletter

a monthly publication

in this issue...

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

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.

August 14 - dance lesson 8:00-8:30 by Tracy Steele.

August 28 - Ice Cream Social!  Dance lesson 8:00-8:30 by Tracy Steele.

WHO'S WHO

BOARD MEETING

The next Board meeting is scheduled for August 8, 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

• Our swing event on July 31 was a huge success. We had 47 participants. Paul & Ansley Hoke performed very well as instructors during the three 2 hour workshops and the 30 minute swing lesson at the evening dance. Their exhibition at 9:45pm was breath taking. You have not seen the last of Paul & Ansley. We just might bring them back here next year.
  
  

• Thanks to the efforts of Richard Durlach and Breedlove we may be on the verge of a long sought after swing club in this area. I understand that they have reached an understanding with Historic Columbia to have a monthly dance at the Big Apple in Columbia. The evening chosen for a monthly dance will not conflict with our twice monthly dances. An admission fee will be charged to help pay for needed upkeep to the Big Apple.
  
  

• With five years teaching at Fred Astaire studios, Uriah Heben will be teaching ballroom dancing again at the Tri-City Leisure Center beginning in September. The facility is located at 700 Dreher Road in West Columbia. The telephone number is 939-9309. I recommend that our members who are new to ballroom dancing take advantage of this instruction by Uriah. 
  
  

• Our performance group, the Fancy Feet Dancers, will perform again on August 7 at an assisted living facility in Columbia. If you are interested in participating in these once a month performances at assisted living facilities please contact Barbara Kubodera.
  
  

• National Ballroom Dance Week this year is from September 17-26. Hopefully the Fancy Feet Dancers will be interested in doing a performance at a local mall on September 18 and/or September 25. Anyone interested in participating contact me at 796-8488. My email address is Savagt610@juno.com.
  
  

• Contact me also if you would be interested in participating in a group performance at a Senior Showcase at the South Carolina State Fair on Wednesday, October 13th.  We will perform on a stage from 5 to 15 minutes dancing the East Coast swing. You do not need to be a member of the Fancy Feet Dances to participate, nor do you need to be 55 or older. 
  
  

• Please note that our Annual BUSINESS MEETING will take place at the barn before our dance on September 25th. You will be asked to vote on the 2005 budget, and elect a vice president, secretary and member-at-large for 2005-2006. 
  
  

• We continue to need a chairperson for the Outreach Committee and a chairperson for the Publicity and Newsletter Committee. If interested please contact me. Each entails a commitment of one year, not two. It is my responsibility as president to appoint members to these positions subject to the approval of the board.
  

Tom Savage

THANK YOU

Thanks to our July dance instructor Sheila Brown for teaching Swing and for performing terrific dance demonstrations with students Doug, Nisha, and Warren.  Thanks also to Paul Lagatore for the spectacular Viennese Waltz performance with Sheila.  The single swing steps Sheila taught were just what we needed to give us a head start on the July 31 Swing Workshop with Paul and Ansley Hoke.  She taught a behind-the-back tunnel and a nice back walk with kicks and bumps!

Thanks to our DJs, Al Jayne and Cyndy Harris.

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.

 

UPCOMING DANCE EVENTS

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 13-15, 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 to 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, St. Paul, Minnesota. Check website and email social-vp@usabda.org or call Mary at 1-800-447-9047.

USABDA is pleased to announce the following REVISED list of Officials for the 2004 National DanceSport Championships. This revision is necessary due to a scheduling error experienced by one of the originally announced judges. The event takes place at the RiverCentre Roy Wilkins Auditorium in historic downtown St. Paul, Minnesota from August 13-15, 2004. 

Chairman of Judges: Richard Booth; Scrutineers: Ava Brennen and Amanda Teague; Music Directors: Peter Maki and Joyce Thompson; Masters of Ceremonies: Ken Richards and Paul Botes; Judges: Ron Bennett, Jennifer Booth, Dan Calloway, Stephen Cullip, Chuck Danza, Bill Davies, Gary Edwards, Nadia Eftadel, Ian Folker, Tom Gray, David Hamilton, Melanie LaPatin, Jennifer McCalla, John Nyemchek, Olga Foraponova, Dan Rutherford, Forrest Vance and Glenn Weiss.

FANCY FEET DANCERS

Be sure to see the photos of the latest Fancy Feet Dancers performance at Christopher Towers.  They'll be performing again on August 7 at 2 pm for the residents of the Haven in the Summit.  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

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.

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.