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| PJ with Amanda Peters |
Thanx to Brad & Sarah Wheeler, that Southern CHARMER, PJ TURNER, came to Pittsburgh last weekend to teach 4 QUALITY workshops, dance with ALL of us ... and make everyone LAUGH!!!
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| PJ with Wenni Guo |
There are a lot of dance pro-fessionals that I can take or leave.
And too many "meh" events.
But ... this is a really fun and excellent teacher.
Pittsburgh is a cool town with an AAAmazingly wonderful dance community.
So ... it was a no-brainer for me!
Pennsylvannia is a beautiful state to drive thru.
All wide open farmland with BIG red barns, lots of cows, sheep and goats.
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| Giselle Jagai (Toronto) & Robert Cronkhite |
People really traveled just for these workshops.
They came from Toronto ... Philadelphia ... Detroit ... New Jersey ... Cleveland ... some even further and some from all points in between.
Giselle said: "PJ's workshops were great!
He made them fun and added something for all levels."
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| PJ with Theresa Falletta (Buffalo, NY) |
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| PJ & Nicola Royston |
And 1st place in Allstar both at at Grand Nationals and Madjam in 2014.
He's won a whole bunch more awards ... but this is not as important as the fact that he spent the last 22 years developing his craft.
We get a lot of these all new ... hot and sexy ... young wanna-be's coming around trying to teach us stuff.
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| PJ with Rachel Ballance |
This is the reason why EVERYONE benefited by the material in the workshops!
When PJ teaches, he focuses on technique.
Connection, quality of movement, use of the slot and creativity.
His lesson plan only includes patterns to illustrate.
Moreover, what elevates PJ and makes him different from so many other teachers is the precision of explanation.
We hear, see, feel what PJ is trying to convey.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAKR9xa8z9A
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| Dr. Randy with Jacque Snellenberger (Coldwater, MI) |
We started with:
1:30 pm: Connect It.
PJ presented the 10 points of connection to the group and illustrated with a closed starter step ... to throw out, and again with the push.
In so doing, he also reviewed push technique ... breaking it all down.
Connie Brown, Philadelphia (below w Randy) said: "I liked the workshop on WCS basics and connection, it's always good to revisit the basics."
Randy Peters (above) said: "PJ was amazing! I learned so much from his workshops! Great teacher, beautifully, presented concepts with clear pedagogy, and a real gentleman to boot. Such a pleasure! I just had the most awesome private lesson with him, my head is on fire from all the light bulb moments!"
2:40 pm: Making Space for Creativity.
PJ continued with the theme of 10 pts of connection illustrated in closed pivot turn to starter step. The point was to connect and pulse to the rhythm. Then use a body lead and shape to send the follower out into tuck.
Adding angles ... another ongoing theme with PJ ... both leader & follower angle the body thru the tuck ... to an angled slot. He then added rhythm changes using a syncopated pass and returned to the standard slot.
3:50 pm: Get Your Groove On.
Musicality is challenging for many of us. It takes a special kind of teacher to effectuate the music.
PJ created a bit of choreography that incorporated the material from the previous two workshops and further developed rhythm changes in the music.
Lauren Stoffer (pictured here with PJ said: "PJ is a wonderful teacher! His workshop weekend was filled with fun, laughter and a lot of learning. I'm looking forward to the next time we can bring him to Pittsburgh!"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7PqsgPDFus
Suggestion:
Frankie Blakemore (who is one of my MOST FAVORITE people in the whole world) is a chef.
Why not let him cater? I'm dying to try Frankie-Cuisine!
Something easy ... and then we can all hang out and get to know each other better.
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| Katie Fallon, Aaron Batisa, Brad Wheeler & Lauren Stoffer |
The dance that followed was a blast!
Brad and Katie Fallon DJ'd (Katie is a PREMIER Mid-west DJ). It was nearly impossible to sit out a song!!!
Katie Fallon said: "Whoa! What a great weekend. PJ came to Pittsburgh and knocked all our socks off with his knowledge, humor and charm. It was so wonderful to see people from all over attend and dance."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_C8Jlabehc
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| Victoria A-D & Michael Pisco (Philadelphia) |
Pittsburgh dancers ... like the rest of the Mid-west ... are sophisticated.
Dancers all have good skills and musicality.
They make you feel at home. Everyone dances with everyone else.
Michael Pisco said: "Pittsburgh has a great community. With so many good dancers and friendly people it's always worth the trip."
NO pretense, NO snobbery.
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| Sarah Wheeler & Troy Meyers (Pickering, OH) |
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| Corey Flowers (Warren, OH) & Francois Aiden (Cleveland) |
Keep an eye on Pittsburgh.
It's the next big thing!
Watch the local teachers: Brad & Sarah, Frankie, Randy, Lauren Stoffer, Victoria A-D, Kendra Zara, Faith Musko.
They all participate with joy ... how could this dance community not grow in leaps and bounds?
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| Lori Wahl Rousar (Detroit) & Bruce Baker (Lakewood, OH) |
Located in the city center, it has the added advantage of being near historic Market Square which dates back to 1784.
Lots of restaurants and shopping.
Lovely floor, comfortable room with lots of glass and an airy-spacey feeling.
Lori Wahl Rousar said: "What a great time and an incredible turn out!!!"
(http://absoluteballroomdancecenter.com)
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| View from the Mt. Washington neighborhood (by statue of Seneca Leader Guyasuta and George Washington) |
Last year, on the way to Spotlight Dance Celebration in Detroit for the New Years weekend dance convention, I planned a stop.
Faith Musko took me to dinner and then to the Tuesday night WCS venue.
The Mid-West is filled with fabulous dancers and teachers.
Faith is one of those people. (This chick has class!)
Faith is one of those people. (This chick has class!)
I got to experience Primero Bros, which is a famous local restaurant chain.
Afterward, Faith took me to see the spectacular view of Pittsburgh from atop the Mr. Washington section of town.
I fell madly in love with Pittsburgh! This place has boat filled rivers, bright yellow arch bridges ... forested hills and deep tunnels.
... opened with modern light filled glass. A vision of the future created in the past.
Pittsburgh is off the beaten path and ... kitschy ... eclectic ... unique.
The dance that followed was memorable for a long time!
Communities that treat their guests like family are exactly what makes this dance community grow in all the best ways.
It was an eye opening experience and I've been dying to come back ever since!
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| Aaron & Anna Batista |
Aaron has stepped away a bit. He and Anna now have a baby. (Doesn't Anna look great!) He's still a HeLLuVa dancer!
Brad & Sarah graciously picked up the gauntlet and have done a fabulous job of growing the dance community.
With tons of help from Lauren, Frankie, Katie, Faith, Victoria, Kendra, Randy ...
and an endless number of community contributors.
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| Me, JP, Sarah & Brad |
YINZ are so awesome in your hospitality, your focus to improving your dance was inspirational, and the Burgh is a really neat city! The regional area really supported yall as well and it all ended with an incredible of dancin!!!!
I hope to be back soon!! Thank you Sarah, Brad, Lauren, Victoria for such a great weekend!"
I will be back!
(https://www.facebook.com/groups/pghwcs/)
