May 2005 Newsletter

a monthly publication

in this issue...

	May Dances		Members of the Board
	Committee Members		Next Board Meeting
	March & April Dances		All Around the Town
	For Your Information		Etiquette Tip of the Month
			Shall We Dance?

May Dances

Celebrate the beauty and wonders of May  Waltz of the Flowers May 14th and 28th Lesson: Waltz  Instructor: Robert Seay  Music: Stephanie Muga & Al Jayne  Doors open: 7:15  Dance starts: 7:30  Lesson: 7:40  Directions to the dance The Barn 680 Cherokee Lane, Columbia Members: $5; Guests: $8;  Students 21 and under: FREE during May; Students 22 and above: $3 members, $4 non-members Snacks, Soft Drinks, Mixers, Door Prizes, Great Music

Members of the Board

Committee Members

The following committee people, plus the Board, contribute their talents and help, month in and month out, to see that we in the Columbia area have two great dances every month for our members:

Board Meeting

The next Board meeting is Sunday, May 15th at 3:00 P.M. at Richland County Library at the corner of Assembly and Hampton Streets. Meetings are open to members in good standing. Let us know what you would like to see happen. Feedback is important.

March and April Dances

At our second dance in March we had a total of 67 people attending: 24 members, 4 sponsors, 24 guests, 3 student guests, 12 complimentary guests and 1 professional. Our guests were Karin Puczkowski, Betty Stephens, Doris Baker, Uriah Heben, T. Michelle Milling, Cynthia Scott, Natalie and Vladimir Scott, Harry Detwyler, John Murphy, John Holt, Crystal Williams, Lin Freireich, Nancy Maxfield, Ken Rose, John Memory, Michelle, and Sonia Galloway.

We had 54 people at the “Azalea Ball” on April 9th and guests were Steve Berry, Jerry Brown, Marilyn Brown, Paul Carson, Teone De Roller, Harry Detwyler, Paul Dobbins, Mary Gantt, Rhia Hamilton, Russ Heben, Uriah Heben, Patti Honeycutt, Freda Hunt, Blaine King, Lois McTeer, Michelle Milling, John Murphy, Boyd Newman, Ken Rose, Phyllis Turner, Crystal Williams, Tim Baudt and a few others whose names I could not decipher. The room was decorated with beautiful azalea plants and eight of them were given away as door prizes. Shantelle Smalls did a great job teaching Cha Cha. And our president, Tom Savage, took the night off (if you can believe that) to travel to NC to visit with old friends.

Hot off the presses via e-mail between Columbia and Biloxi, MS, is news from the dance on April 23rd:

There were 25 members and 20-25 guests attending. I do not have exact figures or names of guests, yet; the only ones mentioned in the e-mail were Paul Lagatore of Columbia’s Ballroom and Joyce Lagatore. Shantelle Smalls held everyone’s attention as she taught Cha Cha, Jo Morton did her usual great job with the food tables, Bob Sitko worked the front desk in Ray Hill’s absence, and Stephanie Muga and Al Jayne did the music. It is so great to have such dedicated people in our Chapter. I still say that it “takes a village.”

Thanks to all of our guests. We enjoy your company and what you bring to our dances…..your willingness to help, your friendly smiles and your constancy. Most of our guests come multiple times and a lot become “regulars.”

David Tammen renewed his national and local membership, Edna Free paid her sponsor fee, and Freda Hunt joined National. Jay and Diean Rovenstine both renewed their national and local memberships.

And, once again, THANK YOU to all who helped decorate, helped set up, worked during the dances, and who stayed to help clean up. We cannot function without you. You may not think that you make a difference, but you are the reason we are able to continue having the dances. Thank you! Thank you!! Thank you!!!

All Around the Town

.....and a little bit out of town. On April 16th, the Sumter Dance Club had an "April in Paris" dance and it was great!!! How about this for authenticity? A ceiling-high Eiffel Tower in all its lighted splendor, an artist (beret and all) painting as we danced, an outdoor setting indoors with sidewalk cafe tables, umbrellas and all, great French impressionist paintings, live music, incredible food, and most of all, great people. It was like being at Montmartre or Monparnasse on the Left Bank. Bob Wall and Cyndi Harris entertained us with a lively and fun Hustle exhibition. The ladies looked pretty in their “after five” attire and the men were handsome in their tuxes and coats and ties. It was a fun evening and one I am glad I did not miss. Congratulations, Sumter, on a great job. What ever are you going to do for an encore? 

Etiquette Tip of the Month

Don’t want to dance this one? Just politely say, “No, thank you.” But, once said, you cannot dance with any one else that dance.

For Your Information

 “Red Hot Ballroom”, the latest ballroom dance movie is opening in New York City on May 13th and at selected theaters around the country on May 20th. It is the story of New York City school kids’ journey into the world of ballroom dancing. The American Ballroom Theater of Dancing has classes in ballroom dance at over 60 public schools there. Visit their Web site, www.paramountclassics.com/madhot, to learn more about it.

Don't forget the wide variety of VHS dance tapes available to assist you in learning to dance. While they do not take the place of individual instruction, they do help to get some of the basics down. They are available at any of the USABDA dances held at The Barn. Just ask a Board member for them. 

Doing the Newsletter has been like a roller coaster ride, but now it is time to get off. With the exception of a one-page newsletter in July, this is my last one. It has been quite a ride!!! I have cussed it, obsessed over it, laughed at some of my goofs, but most of all, I have enjoyed doing it. Every issue has brought wonderful accolades from many of our members, a few (very few) ever-so-gentle criticisms, and a great sense of accomplishment. I have been able to get to know a lot of new people. I love the feeling of welcome relief that comes over me as I leave my “baby” at Kinko’s each month, knowing I have done my best. Now, there are some new avenues I wish to pursue. May, June, and July are filled with wonderful travel plans for me: a trip to New York, a trip to Paris, a high school graduation, a family wedding and a family reunion. I am not giving up dancing or our Chapter, just the newsletter. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do it. 

Shall We Dance?

	May 12	Columbia's Ballroom 35 Diamond Lane 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm; Students of ballroom: no charge; Non students: $5
	May 14	First of two monthly USA Dance dances. Waltz of the Flowers, The Barn 680 Cherokee Lane Columbia, SC 7:30 pm - 10:30; Lesson: The Waltz; USA Dance Members: $5.00; Guests: $8.00; Students ages 21 & under: free during May; Students 22 and over: member $3.00, non member $4.00
	May 19 or 26	Capital Ballroom, 2732 Devine St., Columbia, SC 8:00 pm - 9:30 pm; no charge. Call 803 799-2080.
	May 26	Columbia's Ballroom Dance Party, 35 Diamond Lane, 7:30 pm - 9:30 pm; Students of ballroom: no charge, Guests: $5
	May 28	USA Dance second dance of the month. “Waltz of the Flowers” The Barn, 680 Cherokee Lane 7:30 pm - 10:30; USA DANCE members: $5.00, Guests: $8.00, Students 21 & under: free during May; Students 22 and over: member...$3.00, non member...$4.00
	Fridays	Capital Senior Center, Maxcey Gregg Park, 1650 Park Circle, Columbia. Live Music. Members: n/c, Non member: $5
		Please check our web site, www.usadance.us, to find a comprehensive list of places to dance, both locally and around the State.

Doris Wood,
Editor