Chicagoland 2015

Christy Kam Young & Clive Stevens

CHICAGOLAND is like a giant Mid-west country dancing HUG!

JENNIFER & RANDY JEFFRIES put on this fabulous little hoe-down out in the heartland. A country and west coast swing competition weekend event ... it's more like a homecoming for dancers. 

Jennifer & Randy Jeffries at Indy Dance Explosion

Since I'm not focusing on country dance these days, I won't try to recap the whole weekend. 

However, I want the world to know that Chicago and Indianapolis country events offer enough west coast swing to make it worthwhile to attend just for west coast swing.

Pro Am, Nino & Veronica Munoz

There was also lots of hustle at this event.

Thanx to Nino DiGuilo of "May I Have This Dance" studio and Glen Miller, of the Chicago Rebels, the market is big in the Mid-west for hustle. 

It's bigger in Chicago than in NYC ... and growing ... everyone is enthusiastic and friendly. 

The "May I Have This Dance" hustle team was so BIG that I couldn't fit everyone in the lens of my camera (picture only shows half the team). The whole performance was precision. Everyone was impressed!

http://mayihavethisdance.com/

Check it out! 

That's Elizabeth Gutzweiler who ProAm'd her new fiance, Steve Daigle. 

They went on vacation to the California coast and he proposed on top of a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Steve cleans out her horse stalls and cooks her dinner (not at the same time).

Some girls have all the luck!

Sammy Powers and Heather Froznak ProAm'd students. 

Sammy's student, Steph Peneve got 2nd place in the Newcomer Jack n' Jill). 

We are really glad to see them teach because they both have the right attitude and have done the work. 

Jon Young and Daniellah Salario

Heather  &  Sammy inspire others and set a good example. This is what we need more of. Successful dancers who are humble and helpful. 

Jon Young, Heather's protégé ... made Novice finals for the 1st time!

Rita Betro & Peter Hinch 1st Place Newcomer J&J

In the Mid-west ... it's all for one and one for all. People are genuinely happy for each other when they do well.

Competitive attitudes take a back seat to supportive behavior. It's ok to NOT make finals because this community has the right idea.

It's about fun.

The event offered many lessons in a variety of dances. There were three classes per hour Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The big news was about Becky Larson & Lori Wahl Rousar and their ladies styling class.

They were off to a good start anyway because these two women are so well liked in the dance community. But, they offered a quality lesson and taught it skillfully. The exercise was fun. Everyone got everything (sooner or later) and it was un-intimidating. 

Jennifer Jeffries couldn't get them signed up for next year fast enough!

Every time I see Ronnie Debenedetta at these events he is out participating with the other dancers. 

Ronnie has fun with us and is a pleasure to be around. We need to see him around the country more often. 

Christy Parker, proam'd with Ronnie and said it was a blast!

His event,City of Angels, was a epic this year!
http://itwirlland.blogspot.com/2015/04/city-of-angels-2015.html

Degendering is a tide that the WSDC can not turn back. There were many incidents of role reversal at this event. 

Paul Bishop and Robin Millard (right) won 3rd place in the Hustle J&J ... she was leading and he was following. 

Robin is a bright light in the dance world and everyone likes to dance with her whether she is leading or following.

It was AAAmazing to see Dallas Radcliffe Becirovic dance (left with St. Louis Allstar, David Lamont Brown). 

The woman is 6 weeks from delivering her baby and she's a STAAAR on the floor! 

She looked gorgeous ... we could feel the joy and skill just float out of her body.

There were a whole bunch of ProAm and Rising Star Routines. This is very common in the Mid-west. Everyone talks about doing this. I spent my whole summer traveling back and forth to Kentucky from New Jersey in order to ProAm with Jason Miklic. There was NO ONE of the caliber of the Mid-west teachers at home to work with.

Matt Auclair has always been the King of ProAm routine.

Women have flown to St. Louis from all over the USA and Canada to work with him. 

But he is cutting back on that now. Only the locals will have the privilege of performing with him.

Tobi Oberman, from Illinois, will be forever known for her endearing routine to "Mack the Knife." No song could ever suit her better and no choreography will ever surpass the brilliance of this body of work.

Christine Miller placed 1st in the routine division with ... "Am I Wrong." Christine is a teacher at Dahl Dance Center in Rochester, Minnesota. She has done two ProAm routines with Matt and a Rising Star with Colin Hahn. I was very proud to witness my AAAmazing friend explode with grace on the floor.

Linda Guetterman's routine with Matt has just recently hit the floor. 

Yet, it was as polished as if they were running it for a whole year. 

This was impressive. Linda dipped ... spun ... moved like a pro!

But the real news is Lily Auclair. 

Take at look at this kid! 

Everyone talks about her. She's a been a phenom since age 4 when she debuted at Tampa Bay Classic with Dad.

Now, at the ripe old age of 8 ... she's a budding superstar with a personality bigger than the whole room. 

We're just waiting for her debut on "America's Got Talent!"

There was plenty of social dance at this event. The main ballroom had traditional country competition going on all day with breaks for social dance. In the evening there was a country room and a west coast swing room. Chicago and the Mid-west have plenty of good dancers but the addition of less frequently seen country westies was refreshing.

The Saturday night show was quite a spectacle! 

I would go anywhere just to watch Christy Kam dance. 

And with the AAAmazing Clive Stevens ... (the Fred Astaire of Country) ... their performance was SPECTACULAAAR!!! 

However, I would have liked to see her dance with Andrew Sinclair again. It was quite SPECIAAAL at Indy Dance Explosion.
http://www.indydancex.com/

When Andrew danced with her, he seemed about a foot taller. 

It was quite AAAmazing ... the way he showed his enormous talent and skill!

Check out Jan Aukerman and Becky  Dirksen. 

They did a wonderful routine to "Bad Dog, No Biscuit" by the Seatbelts (I never heard of them either). 

This hysterically funny piece is the story of a husband who comes home after a night of drinking and the wife gives him a good bawling out! Jan and Becky were a breath of fresh air up on that dance floor stage!

Picture Courtesy of Ken Dillard: http://awestrucken.smugmug.com/

April Prince(ess) is one of the premier DJs of the Mid-west. When she DJs comps, there are no death march or heart attack songs. Just mid-range and inspiring competition music. We all loved the selection and felt we could do our best. 

If you are ever in Chicago on a Wednesday night, check out her weekly venue: Galway. It's the Atomic Ballroom of the Mid-west! 
http://www.westcoastwednesdays.com/

Tyler with Cassidy LeClaire
(Picture Courtesy of Ken Dillard,
http://awestrucken.smugmug.com/)

Let me introduce you to Tyler Tollett. I first met him at Dance Camp Chicago in February. 

Already an accomplished country dancer, he was a typical 17 year old. 

Friendly, kind and funny ... yet one can feel the true grit underneath the surface. 

Tyler won 1st place in the Intermediate Jack & Jill with Brittany Valdez. 

It was his 18th birthday and I'd say that's a HeckuVa present!!!

Aaron Brosier & Joyce Fisher

Competition in the Mid-west is healthy. One for all and all for one. 

When our friends get thru it's easier to be happy for them. 

While the judging system may not be perfect ... it is more fair in the Mid-west than I have felt in other regions. 

The local dance professionals take a personal interest in our progress and offer feedback and support. (Thank you AnnMarie Marker).

Aaron Brosier is a protégé of Beverly Solazzo, (left) a wonderful teacher at "May I Have This Dance." 

The only issue I have with Chicagoland is the absence of Masters Division in the west coast swing strictlies and Jack n' Jills. Many of us were disappointed since there was such a large contingent of us. Often, this is the only place where older people succeed.

Dean and Raquel Williams

AND, often it's the place we are first able to be noticed. 

My own journey took a decided upswing when I got 1st place in a Masters Jack n' Jill in which I drew Dean Garrish. (What a thrill that was!)

The successes of this division enhance self-confidence in older dancers.

The Crowne Plaza Hotel in Rosemont, which is a suburb of Chicago, offers excellent meeting space and is near the airport with a free shuttle. Also, close by is the convention center, an outlet mall and quite a few restaurants.

Shirley Schubert, Joyce Fisher, Linda Guetterman and me.

My dear friends and I had dinner at Toby Keith's "I Love This Bar!" After hearing the song and seeing the music video, of course, I have wanted to visit. (We have NO country music or dance in NYC.)

Everyone enjoyed their meal. The french fries were cut from real potatoes, the burgers were done perfectly and the service was spot-on.

The best part about the location is that it's near the train into Chicago. 

Navy Pier

In less than 40 minutes, my friend Scotty and I were in downtown Chicago and walking toward Lake Michigan. (That's right! The inner city of Chicago is right on the lake front.) There is a nice beach, sites such as Navy Pier (with restaurants, bars, shops), a park, concert space and great summertime views.

Thanx RANDY & JENNIFER! Looking back over the summer of 2015, CHICAGOLAND is one of my most FAAAVORITE memories!!!