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| St. Louis Rebels |
Halloween is a holiday that allows us to return to the happiest days of our childhoods! We dressed up and pretended to be our HEROES and eat ALL the CANDY we wanted!!
This is a fun holiday. We don't necessarily need to go to church ... or buy presents that nobody really likes.
HALLOWEEN AT SWING CITY CHICAGO IS JUST A PERFECT EXCUSE TO REALLY BE OURSELVES AND PARTY!!!
At Swing City Chicago last weekend, everyone got to play.
People dressed up unabashedly.
Children ran around in costumes in the ballroom freely.
The Mid-westie dance scene has become so deeply ingrained in family ... that there was far more to the dance convention than simply west coast swing.
Ken Dillard (local DJ and photographer) said: "Were I asked what I love about Midwestern dance events the most, I would answer resoundingly that it's the "family" feel or vibe." You just cannot beat how much these events feel like home, and Swing City Chicago not only reiterated it, but took it to a whole new level."
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| Picture courtesy of Ken Dillard |
Unlike OTHER EVENTS, this one didn't start on Thursday nite ... ooooooh nooooo! It began at Galway on Wednesday which is the PREMIER west coast swing venue in the entire MID-WEST region!!!
DJ'd and run by April Prince & Ken Dillard, this was a HellUvA pre-party!
Bonnie & Jerome Subey, from Philadelphia (above) taught and made their foray into the Mid-westie professional scene.
If you are ever in Chicago on a Wednesday ... Galway is an experience of a LIFETIME!!!
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| Scenes from Thursday Nite courtesy of Ken Dillard |
Event Kick-Off Party #2 was held Thursday nite at the event hotel and the lesson was taught by Mario "Keep em' Laughing" Robau.
Big KUDOS on that new set design. There used to be a BIG, glaring photo of Chicago as the stage backdrop.
Then, Rodney Ramos, Nicole Zwerlein, Bruce Bryant and Brian Arvans doused that set in YOUTHFUL exuberance and created an exciting Halloween mood!
While the California event Halloween Swingthing decorated in the colors of hell ... Chicago went with a bewitching blue scheme.
Floodlights illuminated the intricate spiderwebs that enveloped the dance floor. There was a photo stage set for fun Halloweeny pictures.
Rodney (above with his backup dancers, Tyler Tollett & Vern Hagel) said:
"I just don't know how I'll top this next year!"
Well, Rodney ... we have faith in you.
Anyone nutzo enough to rock a Britney Spears costume LIKE THAT ONE ... is bound to come up with something fitting for us Wacky Westies!
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| Kris Swearingen & Rebecca Ludwick |
Check out the Pro Staff!
Mike Topel (HJ), PJ Turner, Jennifer DeLuca, Mario Robau, Sophy Kdep & Jason Miklic, Rebecca Ludwick & Kris Swearingen, Art & Colleen Uspensky, Bonnie & Jerome Subey, Sabrina Paxmann-Stewart, Hugo Miguez & Stacy Kay, Brian Barakauskas, Maren Olsac, Jeff Mumford, George Day.
MCs included Mario Robau (teaching as well), Allison Brown and Jennifer Jeffries, left ... with the parrot on her head.
Notice how Jennifer is smiling even though she's creeped out by the bird on her head?
Another skill we learn thru dance! Only a true professional dancer can keep a smile ... no matter what's going wrong!!!
April Prince, DJ extroaordinaire and co-event director with Julie Hein ... had the brilliance of foresight to hire Anne Johnson from Orlando, FL., Earl Yeoman from Jacksonville, FL and Ruth Gilbert from St. Louis, MO.
The superb Beth Bellamy ran the DJ SHOW! Of course, NO Mid-westie event is complete without Ken Dillard and Don Schanaberger.
Music to dance to, compete with and enjoy all night long by our FRIENDS!!!
The event offered both leveled and unleveled workshops. Regardless ... the emphasis was on technique. Dancers devoured the lessons and no one ever talked during class.
One of my most favorite teachers in the world is Colleen Uspensky.
She has taught me more in a 5 minute demonstration than most of the teachers I have taken lessons from.
Her husband, Arthur, was caught in traffic. Colleen is 6 months pregnant. And still she gave the lesson that was the best of my weekend.
What a neato workshop!
She gave a pattern that brought the follower in front of the leader and then added ronde de jambe styling.
That means we learned to circle our foot as we passed.
I always wanted to learn how to do that! It looked so much harder than it actually was ... or maybe it was simply that Colleen taught it!!!
I caught Bonnie & Jerome's lesson just to see what everyone has been RAVING about. There was appropriate content and technique as well as opportunity to drill.
But ... what really made this workshops successful ... the reason (I think) that this couple is suddenly so sooooo CENTER (70 people attended) ... is the way they connect to everyone around them.
Quiet ... low key ... straightforward ... KIND ... Bonnie & Jerome make their students feel like they are having a personal experience. They became friends with everyone in the lesson. Jerome's sexy "Pepe LePew" accent didn't hurt either!
Another partnership we are hearing quite a bit about is Hugo Miguez & Stacy Kay.
They gave an Intermediate leveled workshop on level changes.
The delivery of the information coupled with the opportunity to drill, was exquisite.
Rising on the 3& of the tuck was assimilated by most of the dancers and I will always look for opportunities to execute.
People did not get bored. Everyone was thoroughly engaged and there was no talking during that lesson.
Everyone loves Jennifer DeLuca.
(Right with PJ Turner.)
She is also expecting a child soon.
I'll NEVER forget this lesson because she pointed out HOW to open up on the anchor.
Jen is all about technique. She picked and picked and picked on our basics.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!!
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| Mike Ropke & Heike McCraw, Newcomer Finals |
Friday nite held the Newcomer and Masters J&J prelims. I think I can make this statement with complete confidence.
WE DON'T LIKE FRIDAY COMPS!
Everyone is just getting in and catching up. We're work frazzled and travel challenged and stressed out. We need a break and we want to party!
Wayne & Cindy Rohr premiered their SPECTAAACULAR new Masters routine to "Baby I'm a Star" by Prince, which they are taking to the US Open.
I have always been impressed and in awe of this couple. When I arrived at my 1st Mid-westie convention a few years ago, I had never seen older dancers like them before.
Wayne & I placed 5th in the Masters Strictly as well. Both have helped me with my dance. It is an honor to dance with Wayne.
There were several Rising Star routines but my favorite was Jocelyn Lopez & Tim He.
This lovely choreography was set to: "Good Thing" by Sam Smith. This was not another rising star routine. It was a work of musical art ... created by Colleen Uspensky and interpreted by these two unique dance instruments.
Saturday offered quite a variety of workshops both leveled and unleveled.
In addition, Rebecca Ludwick & Kris Swearingen (above) conducted a leveled Adv/Allstar workshop and Gregory Day offered a lifts & drops specialty class.
Saturday also held all the Jack & Jills prelims as well as the prelims and finals for Strictlies.
Two years ago, this event had about 30 followers in Novice. Well, the event "has come a long way, Baby!" Now, it's like everywhere else ... Tier 3.
The most important accomplishment of the entire weekend belongs to Matt Claeys (above) who made Novice finals for the 1st time! Some people are simply natural dancers. Others are trained in this art. Most of us, however, struggle.
Matt has tried and failed and never given up .... sooooo ... CONGRATULATIONS MATT!!! We are very proud of you.
Check it out: That's Raj Rajappan & Jenna Howell in Novice finals. Raj is on the New York City team ... Concrete Jungle by Chrissy Bridgeman.
It's always impressive to see people who are brave enough to go to unfamiliar places and compete without their own support group to back them up.
Saturday evening had the pro charity hour. (This is another Mid-westie tradition.) It was $10 for 10 minutes with each pro of our choosing.
The money was contributed to the Koman Foundation. This is a win-win! It was held after the J&Js so people were able to ask for feedback. That's all we really want.
The pro show and exhibitions began festivities on Saturday night. There were exceptional routines ... several of which will be performed at the US Open.
I LOVED Allison Brown & Sam Arteaga in their lovely ballroom piece to "Turning Page" by Sleeping At Last. This is what Allison does sooooo well.
She has such lovely extensions and the ability to truly dance from within.
The Allstar finals was a contest for 2nd.
At Tampa Bay Classic 2014, I met Parisians Caroline Reliac & Yoann Blache. Every once in a while we meet people that we know we will never forget.
No one has ever been as sweet, humble, kind and beautiful as Caroline. Everywhere she goes ... everyone falls in love with her. And NO, she is not a trained dancer. The girl has a Ph.D in something science-y so she knows about hard work and a good attitude.
Anyway, that's who got 1st place (with Chris Wrigley) in the Allstar Jack n' Jill. Caroline is going back to France after completing her post-doctoral work in Baltimore.
No one does a Costume Parade like Swing City Chicago. All manner of creativity, silliness and AUDACITY happens here!
Since dance is a family affair in the Mid-west, it follows that the costume contest would be entered by families.
Check out Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Baby Chubaca and Baby Yoda!
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| Co-event Directors, Julie Hein & April Prince |
There was a breakfast buffet to fuel up most people for late night dancing. Because Mid-west events are a good value, it is included in the pass.
Sunday offered ProAm routines and ProAm Strictlies.
Jon Young premier'd his ProAm routine with Heather Fronczak this weekend to "Radioactive" by Lindsey Stirling.
Heather & her partner Sammy Powers are extremely talented dancers (Heather placed at Swing Diego). But, they are even more talented as teachers ... they are kind and supportive to their students and everyone they meet. I believe they will become highly sought after on the teaching circuit.
Jon also made finals in Novice and is one of those guys we are particularly happy to dance with because he is musical.
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| PJ Turner & Texas Tornado ... Jasmine Williams, 2nd Place Intermed ProAm Strictly |
ProAm Strictlies followed routines. In the Mid-west, unlike some other regions, this is a real big deal.
There were 26 Novice followers ... 16 Novice leaders ... 14 Intermediate followers and 6 Intermediate leaders.
This is a spectacular opportunity. I watched many people get up with their pros to try to do a better job than in their Jack n' Jills the day before. It was an excellent chance to improve our competitive skills and gauge our progress.
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| Masters 1st Place: Adela Su-Karoliussen & Claude Fortin |
Finals for all Jack n' Jills were held next.
Adela Su-Karoliussen & Claude Fortin placed 1st in the Masters J&J. Adela also placed 1st in Masters Strictly with Vince Petersen. This is not your Grandma's Masters Division!
Adela and her husband Eddie Karoliussen are responsible for the direction I took with the "iTwirl Round" concept.
A long time ago ... when Brad Whelan and Liza May only took pictures of the pros and advanced dancers, I posted a picture of Eddie & Adela in my iTwirl album of Liberty Swing Dance Championships.
Eddie made the comment that in all the years he had been dancing ... no one had ever taken his picture.
From then on it has been the mission of iTwirl Round to feature the Newcomer/Novice level dancer and also support Masters Division.
There was a very interesting vendor booth that I happened to stop by. Jes Swift is the innovator of "Dot Dot Dot T-Shirts" which you can find on Facebook. Jes designs and makes unique T-Shirts in a variety of colorful designs.
Swing City Chicago was held at the Westin in Lombard, IL (suburb of Chicago). This is a lovely location near a shopping mall and a Target, however, it is not conducive to traveling into the City since there are no convenient trains or buses.
It's a bit tricky to get to the event hotel.
Uber can not pick up at O'Hare. But, Westies are "creative" travelers and many discovered they could take the train just one stop and pick up their ride.
Transportation back to the airport was organized, however, and it was really helpful.
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| Joyce Fisher, Debra Yockey & Me |
Discovering dance in the Mid-west has really changed my life. When I come to the Mid-west, I feel like I'm coming home.
Thank you Julie Hein and April Prince for making a place for all us "Wandering Westies" to come and fill up on camaraderie, support and laughter. Oh yeah, and DANCE!
Swing City Chicago is not merely a dance convention.
It's a HALLOWEEN DANCE FAMILY REUNION!
Roseanne Crago, AAAmazing local
comedian, is the DJ and she fits her music to the mood. It’s a funky groove by a variety of artists including some who are quite under the radar and that’s just what we want!
