usa dance tidewater chapter 6008 - march 2013 newsletter

USA Dance - Tidewater Chapter

Newsletter

March 2013

in this issue

A Letter from the President 1Youth Workshop Program, 2012 New Year’s Week-end Event 2

Studio Spotlight: Rants Dance Company 2

American Dancer Article 3Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship Program 3

Youth Shoe Grant Program 4

New Dancer Reimbursement Program 4

Recapturing Memories of the Gala 5

Member Center 6

Read this article online: http://twcusdance.org/

Raymond Smith, President

Ron & Regina Dinoso, Editors

A Letter from the Presidentby Raymond Smith

2012 was a very good year for the Chapter. Starting in January of last year we moved our dances to two new locations – A Time to Dance Studio and DancesportVa Studio, both in central Virginia Beach. We have seen dramatic increases in atten-

dance and membership since that move. We have a new Board in place and some new officers. We gener-ated a new website and established Chapter social media sites. Responses to our surveys have been robust and they have allowed us to see what changes we could make to improve our support to the Chapter and the dance community. These included trying new DJs and instructors, scheduling the most popular dances for the monthly dance lessons, ways to better the dance experience in the new locations and experimenting with snack selections.

Our New Year’s event went well with 268 attending the Saturday Dinner Dance and 218 attending the New Year’s dance. We average around 150 attendees at the Friday and Sunday night dances. Over 600 people attended the 64 workshops held over the 3½ days. We tried some new “Club” venues this year, including a Shag and Salsa dance night. Our new-est addition, a special youth program, met with limited success. Our thanks go to the four instruc-tors who helped develop and execute the program – Wesley Acker, Alan Hedgpeth, Rebekah Klyukin and Marie Rants. Again using the feedback from the

surveys we conducted, we tried new meal selections this year.

There were 31 exhibi-tions, including two by the Youth Workshop hosts, Anna Kaczmarski & Patryk Ploszaj, two by a profes-sional couple from Italy, Simone Carabellese & Lucia Cafagna, and 5 by our featured instructors, Nazar Norov and Irina Kudryashova.

The Chapter was sur-prised by the announce-ment that it had been selected as the District 11 Chapter of the Year,

with Jean Krupa, the USA Dance, Inc. National Vice President for Social Dance, making the presentation during the Saturday Dinner Dance. The Chapter will compete with other District selectees for the National Chapter of the Year, to be announced at the National Chapter Conference in March, 2013.

Finally, during the New Year’s Eve dance, we con-ducted a brief memorial for Wanda Smith, one of the

founding mem-bers of the Tide-water Chapter and the longstanding Chairperson of the event, who lost her battle with cancer in March. In her memory,

we presented Jean Krupa with the 1st Annual Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship.

So, as I said at the start of this article, it has been a very good year for the Chapter and its membership. Be sure to read the special articles in this newsletter on the Youth Program and the Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship program.

2 | March 2013 | USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008



Youth Workshop Program, 2012 New Year’s Weekend Eventby Raymond Smith

The Chapter held its first, dedicated Youth Workshop program at this year’s New Year’s Weekend Event. It featured a special youth dancer program held on Saturday morning and afternoon..

The workshops were developed to provide an excellent opportunity for both ballroom and non-ballroom students to experience the thrill of ballroom dance and to meet and dance with Anna Kaczmarski and Patryk Ploszaj, finalists on the 2010 “America’s Got Talent” TV show. In addition to being TV-personalities, Anna and Patryk are nationally ranked competition award winning dancers, including 2012 National USA Dance Junior 10-Dance Champions.

Included on this special day of dance:

� Attendees participated in two workshops with Professional Instructors, teaching Tango and Cha Cha with Anna and Patryk par-ticipating directly with students during the workshops.

� A Q&A Session with Anna & Patryk with tips about:

� How they got started in competitive ball-room dancing

� What is involved in dancing at this level, including level of effort, coaching, and family support

� Competitive dance nationally and interna-tionally

� Their experience on the TV program America’s Got Talent

The program also included an Afternoon Photo Reception to Meet the Stars.

$75 Dance Scholarships were given to four partici-pants just for attending and they were awarded at the Dinner Dance held that night.

“”

Studio Spotlight: Rants Dance Companyby Regina Dinoso

I’m thrilled to announce the opening of my new studio located at 3912 Virginia Beach Blvd. Ste. 102. Last night, March 1st, was our Grand Opening Party and we definitely danced the night away! Rants Ballroom Company has been operating since 2004, so for my students to have a ballroom floor to call home is absolutely wonderful. Latin and Ballroom group classes are offered every night of the week and parties will be held every Friday. Other classes include Zumba, Creative Movement, Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and our Jr. Ballroom Group. »Marie Rants, Owner

As a young teenager, my professional goals were to form a dance company and open my own studio. I delved into choreography, creating works for many local events and even for international pop-star Mar-tin Nievera. In college while pursuing a BA in Dance, I had the opportunity to work with national modern dance companies as well as top coaches in Ballroom including Bill Sparks, Tony Meredith (So You Think You Can Dance), Irina Sarukhanyan, Rosendo Fum-ero, and Kathryn Shaefer. I worked and danced hard in college earning the prestigious Eva May Morris Scholarship and graduated Summa Cum Laude. I believe that the classical training I received in Ballet and Modern dance enabled me to become not only a better Ballroom dancer, but a more proficient teacher. As for teaching, it is the most rewarding feeling when my students’ faces light up as they realize, “hey, I’m

dancing! I’m really dancing” or when a couple looks into each other’s eyes and says, “I love you,” by just a simple box step.

Now that I’ve achieved my professional goals set in my formative years, it’s time that I continue with those I set during my college days- Share my love for dance with the young to the young at heart.

I look forward to sharing that will all of you. See you on the dance floor!

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 | March 2013 Newsletter | 3



American Dancer Articleby Raymond Smith

The Tidewater Chapter #6008 held its 22nd annual New Year’s Dance and Social Workshops event December 28th through December 31st, 2012. The event was well attended again this year with 265 attending the Saturday Dinner Dance and 216 attending the New Year’s Dance. The Friday and Sunday night theme dances each averaged more than 150 attendees. Over 600 people took advantage of the 65 workshops held during the 3 ½ days the workshops were conducted. In addition to the main ballroom dances, we tried some new “Club” venues – specialty dances - held this year including a Shag dance club and a Salsa dance club. The various dance venues utilized more than 7,000sf of competition grade dance flooring, including 5,600sf just for the main ballroom.

Our newest addition to the event this year, a special youth-oriented workshop program, was well received. The workshops were hosted by Anna Kaczmarski & Patryk Plosza, who are participants in the newly established National USA Dance, Inc. Ambassador’s Program, finalists on the 2010 “America’s Got Tal-ent” TV show and, most recently, the 2012 National Dancesport Junior II 10-Dance, Latin and Standard Champions.

This special event included Tango and ChaCha workshops and practice sessions, an interactive ques-tion and answer session with Anna and Patryk, and a photo op with the stars. Local professional dance instructors Wesley Acker, Alan Hedgpeth, Rebekah Klyukin and Marie Rants helped develop and execute the program. Four $75 Dance Scholarships were given to participants just for attending and they were awarded at the Dinner Dance held Saturday night.

During the 4-day event, there were 31 exhibitions, including two by the Youth Workshop hosts, Anna and Patryk, two by a professional couple from Italy,

Simone Carabellese & Lucia Cafagna, and several by our featured instructors, Nazar Norov and Irina Kudryashova.

Finally, during the New Year’s Eve dance we con-ducted a brief memorial in memory of Wanda Smith, one of the founding members of the Tidewater Chapter, former Chapter President and longstand-ing Chairperson of this event, who lost her battle with cancer in March, 2012. In her memory, we presented Jean Krupa, National Vice President for Social Dance, with the 1st annual Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will be presented to National each year at the New Year’s Eve Dance and will be earmarked for use by USA Dance in support of youth participating in the Ambassador’s Program.

Planning for the 23rd Annual event is already un-derway as you read this article.

Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship Programby Raymond Smith

Wanda Smith has assured a bright future for the young people in our community. With her passion for service, our kids will have a strong foundation in the arts, benefiting them well into their adult lives by giving them confidence in themselves.

In honor of Wanda Smith, one of the founding members of the Tidewater Chapter, Chapter Of-ficer and the perennial Chairperson of our annual New Year’s Weekend event, we initiated in 2012 the Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship program. The program was started in response to Chapter members who wished to honor Wanda’s commitment to the Chapter and ballroom dancing. Initial dona-tions were supplemented by the Chapter and the 1st Annual Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship was presented to the USA Dance, Inc. National Vice President for Social Dance, Jean Krupa. The Chapter

will be making a yearly donation to the Scholarship Fund, which will be presented each year at the New Year’s Eve Dance. The scholarship will be earmarked for use by the National Ambassador’s Program in support of youth participating in the Program (see article in the nnn issue of our Chapter newsletter or go to www.nnnn.nn for more information). Chapter members and supporters may contribute to the fund in any amount and the donation is tax deductible. Make checks payable to USA Dance, Inc. and note on the check that it is for the Memorial Scholarship.




Youth Shoe Grant Programby Regina Dinoso

Recognizing that having the right equipment is essential to a ballroom dancer as he/she pursues excellence in ballroom dance beyond introductory lessons, the Chapter has established a new youth outreach program.

In support of that quest for excellence, a youth shoe purchase grant program has been created to supple-ment the Chapter’s Used Shoe Program, which often does not receive the smaller sized shoes required by our younger dancers.

The program will provide a recipient, ages 7-15 a grant to defray up to half of their cost to purchase ballroom dance shoes ($30 maximum) as they con-tinue their dance studies. The program is available to students participating in any ballroom dance program at one of our participating local independent dance studios. The grant will be provided upon the recom-mendation of the participating studio and instructor and will be paid directly to the recipient through the participating studio. Requests are to be made using the Youth Shoe Grant application form below.

It is our goal that the program will provide an ad-ditional incentive to a new student to continue with his/her dance instruction.

New Dancer Reimbursement Programby Regina Dinoso

Do You Want To Learn To Ballroom Dance?

USA Dance Inc., Tidewater Chapter #6008 will reimburse up to $40.00/person for a series of group classes for new ballroom dancers.

USA Dance is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting ballroom dancing. Ballroom dancing is stimulating for the mind and body, social, and fun! Why not take some steps in the right direction and be-come a dancer?

Eligibility:

� you must not have had previous ballroom dance instruction in the Tidewater, Virginia area

� you must agree to attend series of group classes for beginners during the current month; the classes for any given month must be held at the same studio.

� you must agree to attend 1 of the Chap-ter’s monthly scheduled dances and present a completed reimbursement form at the check-in table. You will then be reimbursed by check for the cost of your lessons, not to exceed $40.00

Typically, a series of group classes start at the begin-ning of every month and run for 4-5 weeks on the same scheduled day and time. They are held at the various participating studios within the Tidewater area. See a listing of the local studios and obtain a

copy of the reimbursement form on our website: http://www.twcusadance.org.

If there are any questions, you can contact Regina Dinoso at the following email address: [email protected].

Help Wanted: We are looking for someone to work the front desk at our socials. If you know anyone that enjoys handling money, good with people, re-liable and trustworthy, please have them contact Raymond Smith and let him know you are inter-ested in this position.

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 | March 2013 Newsletter | 5

64Workshops

600+Workshop

attendees

268@ Dinner Dance

218@ NYE Gala

31Exhibitions

3Professional

couples

Recapturing Memories of the GalaBy Regina Dinoso

This NYE Gala started last March followed by months of planning and committee meetings, hard work and brain-storming. There were many changes and traditions discussed and after a long journey of dedicated volunteers committed to the success of the event we held our NYE Gala Weekend from Dec. 28, 2012 through Jan. 1, 2013. Thank you to all who have volunteered and to all that attended any of the events throughout the weekend.

We are delighted to share with you a smorgasbord of photographs from the events. Many more are offered on our website and Facebook where you can share and Like them. We ask you to connect with Tidewater Chapter USA Dance 6008 on Facebook as we share upcoming events and news and look forward to seeing you soon at an event.


New Members:

Month New Members

January ◊ VincentFournier◊ WilliamThomas◊ FayePrice

February ◊ RubyArmstrong◊ MaryDooley◊ HelmutSpeckheuer◊ MaryLouSpeckheuer◊ EllenorCarpenter◊ LauraDelprat-Maton

March ◊ JulieBlim◊ EmeliaFabila◊ JohnGalle◊ MicheleGreen◊ CarlMoen◊ GregoryPope◊ GaleShort

Birthdays:

Month Members

January ◊ RubyArmstrong◊ LynnBartorillo◊ BeverlyM.Baumer◊ JaniceH.Camp◊ MaryDooley◊ MarinaHilliard◊ AnnM.Hoffman◊ BarbaraLinfante◊ AntonioDOctavo◊ BenPlatt◊ FayePrice◊ PriscillaA.Sellars

February ◊ JimCamp◊ JoanneS.Gabber◊ AnnGerling◊ PamGlass◊ WillL.Harper◊ KathleenA.Hawkins◊ SophiaT.Hsieh◊ EricJaworski◊ KeithSutton◊ KathleenA.Weinberg

Renewals:

Month Members

January ◊ VeraK.Vander-Haeghe◊ BarbaraL.Wood

February ◊ BeverlyM.Baumer◊ DonnaL.Campbell◊ LuisP.Espinoza◊ MyrnaM.Espinoza◊ GeorgeD.Fabila◊ CathyL.Fond◊ GeorgeA.Heuberger◊ KenHill◊ JaniceA.Lobello◊ TimothyL.Lobello◊ KayL.Niman-Meyers◊ TeraciaNunnally◊ AllenW.Rohlfing◊ HelmutSpeckhever◊ MaryLouSpeckhever

Everyday brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.

Oprah Winfrey

Member Centerby Regina Dinoso

We are pleased to WELCOME our new members for the beginning of 2013!

Without our membership, we would not have a chapter. It is because of our member’s continued support that we are able to host monthly socials, award scholarships for competition, and offer our

new dancer and youth shoe reimbursment programs. WE THANK YOU! Check out our growing list of new members, our renewals and birthdays for the 1st Quarter of this year!

Dance Instructor: Marie Rants Studio: Rants Ballroom Co. Lesson: Mambo 7.30—8.30 pm Music: Ed Pabalate General Dancing: 8.30—11.00 pm

Admission: $10 Members, $12 Non-Members, $5 Students ALCOHOL & SMOKE FREE Environment DANCE LOCATION: A TIME TO DANCE

5444 Virginia Beach Blvd. Hunter’s Mill Shopping Center

Virginia Beach, VA 23462

For more information/reservations contact Gay Octavo (757) 467-3601

E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.twcusadance.org

10-27-10 rev 1-26-11, 4-20-12, 9/29/12, 11/16/12

UUSSAA DDaannccee Membership Application P l e a s e P R I N T C l e a r l y

This form may be used by two people at the same address. Name Date of Birth 1.

Male [ ] Female [ ]

2. Male [ ] Female [ ]

Street Address Apt. # City State Zip Code

Seasonal Address: Do you have a seasonal address? If so, enter below. Dates applicable: From: __________________ To _______________________ Street Address: Apt.# City State Zip Code

Home Phone Work Phone Cell Phone Email Address 1.

2.

Is this a renewal application? ____ Yes ____ No If Yes, Member # ______________________, # _____________________

Name of USA Dance Chapter I wish to be assigned to: _________________________________________________________________________________

Name of College or Youth Club you are affiliated with (if applicable): ____________________________________________________________________ MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Recreational: Social Ballroom Dancer $35 $ Dances for enjoyment and works to improve but does not compete. May include retired DS Athlete.

Recreational: Social Adult Dancer $25 $ Enjoys and appreciates the physical, mental, and social benefits of social dancing.

Recreational: Social Youth Dancer $10 $ A social dancer under the age of 19. Often a family member or friend of adult member.

Recreational: Social Dance Teacher $50 $ An individual who is engaged in the teaching of social dance.

Note: Social Youth members do not receive the American Dancer magazine.

DanceSport: Adult Athlete* $70 $ A competitive dancer who is age 19 or above.

DanceSport: Student Athlete* $25 $ A competitive dancer who is age of 19 or above but below age 35 and is enrolled in school full time.

DanceSport: Minor Athlete* $20 $ A competitive dancer who is below the age of 19.

DanceSport: Professional Athlete* $75 $ A competitive dancer who declares him or herself as a professional or dances as a professional in competition.

DanceSport Official* $80 $ An individual who serves in an official capacity in the field of DanceSport and/or ballroom dance, i.e. judge, emcee, music director, invigilator, independent comp organizer, chairperson of judges, WDSF adjudicator etc

DanceSport:Special Olympics Athlete DanceSport: Unified Sports ® Partner

$10 $25

$ $

Qualifies for participating in Special Olympics competitions only. Dance Partner of Special Olympics Athlete –for participating in Special Olympics only.

DanceSport Supporter*

$40

$

This category of membership is designed for those who are not active competing athletes but who want to show support for the DanceSport initiatives of USA Dance. This would include former athletes, parents or other family members of athletes, and general supporters who would like their voice counted on DanceSport matters.

Other Misc. Fees

$

$

This space for upgrades, and other miscellaneous fees.

Total Membership Fees

$ $

Total Contributions & Donations

$ $ Donations are used to help fund our many efforts to increase the quality and quantity of ballroom in the US on a social and competitive level including youth outreach, raising public awareness of the physical, mental and social benefits of dance, development of chapters, increased social dance options, support for our athletes and dancesport events. Thank you for helping us achieve these goals. USA Dance is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. Any donations in excess of value received are tax deductible.

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE

$

You may enroll on-line at www.usadance.org Or, you may mail your application and payment. Make check payable to USA Dance and send to:

USA Dance Membership Director - PO Box 126 - Southampton PA 18966-0126 Central Office 1-800-447-9047

* Memberships for Adult, Student, Minor and Professional Athletes, DanceSport Professionals and DanceSport Supporters are on a calendar year basis rather than on an anniversary year basis. Public Library: Donate American Dancers Magazine to your Public Library, only $9 for one year. Library Name: _________________________________ Library Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

We are a volunteer organization. Can we count on you? __ [ ] Yes If yes, where? __ [ ] Chapter __ [ ] Regional __ [ ] National

What is your area of expertise? How are you willing to help USA Dance?

usa dance tidewater chapter 6008 - march 2013 newsletter

Documents

new years dance

new years eve dance

social dance

dinner dance

new locations

dance experience

dance community

usa dance tidewater