Monterey Swingfest 2016

Nick King, Kyle Redd, Tashina Beckman, Brad Whelan & Benji

Martin Luther King, Jr. Asked ...
 "Life's Most Persistent & Urgent Question is: 
What Are YOU Doing for Others?"

Well, I don't know about YOU ... but I do know about John Wheaton.

He's the guy making EVERYONE happy over Martin Luther King holiday weekend at Monterey Swingfest!

What a SPECTAAAULAR dance convention!!!
Sunshine in January ... on and off the dance floor.

 There is nothing like attending an event in California.

Everything is more laid back, extra creative and high quality.

PJ Turner & Tara Trafzer

The event staff includes some of the best dance professionals in the world:

Ben Morris & Victoria Henk, Benji, Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake, Parker Dearborn & Melissa Rutz, Courtney Adair & Sean McKeever, PJ Turner & Tashina Beckman.

Add to that, the pleasant presence of about 100 local Allstars just there to have fun!

One of those Allstars is Kara Frenzel.

Remember that name! You be seeing her out in the rest of the country soon.

Kara's team danced to the outrageous: "Drunk Stripper."

(Actually, this is her choreography class at SLO Dance in San Luis Obispo.)

http://slodance.com

Kara Frenzel & Chris Dumond

She was also voted TOP Female Pro at the event and had quite a few ProAms.

While ProAm routines are rare in California, ProAm Strictlies are very popular.

AND, the thing about KARA, as you can see ... shorts are her trademark!

Another thing Martin Luther King, Jr. said was:

"Faith is taking the 1st step even when you don't see the whole staircase."

A few years ago I won a pass to Jack n' Jill O'Rama (another SPECTAAACULAR John Wheaton event). With only FAITH to guide me, I went off on my own to discover California dancing.

Besides entering a "Brave New World" of dancing:

• meeting NEW dance pros, 
• growing skills,
• hearing FRESH music

... what I really got out of the experience was confidence.

California lets you know what you're doing right!

Reverend King also said:

"The function of education is to teach one to think intensively and to think critically. Intelligence + character - that is the goal of true education."

Thursday marked the EPIC return of Skippy Blair and her "DANCEEXCELLERATION" intensive.

This is the Harvard EDUCATION of west coast swing.

These workshops were held Thursday and Friday before the main event.

A few years ago I took this course.

At that time, Mary Ann Nunez filled in for Skippy during some health issues.

But you can't keep a good ole' broad down!

She's BACK!!!

Benji & Yenni Setiawan

Thursday evening offered a workshop with the one and only BENJI SCHWIMMER.

This guy has never offered a lesson that wasn't interesting, informative and entertaining.

Also on Thursday nite was WCS 101 which is the non-pointed Newcomer Jack & Jill competition designed to provide a less stressful place to begin competing.

I actually did not arrive until late on Thursday night since I'm from the New York metropolitan area.

However, flights from New York City are very easy so I hopped on a plane after work (Wall Street) and was on the coast in 5 hours. Cars are super cheap to rent at SFO and sooooo worth having.

Friday, before beginning my Monterey Swingfest weekend, I jumped in my car and sped down the brilliantly sunny coastal Highway 1 to Big Sur. There is no end of STUNNING views and wide open (green) spaces. It may be January on the calendar, but it was May in California.

After a pitt stop at Whole Foods at the nearby Del Monte Shopping Center, I enjoyed a special lesson with Melissa Rutz & Parker Dearborn.

For me, Melissa gave the best workshops this weekend. She showed me styling that I was ready, willing and able to grasp. Picture this: an arabesque coming out of a double outside turn!

I liked that.

Sean & Courtney

In addition to the usual schedule, a beginner track was offered each day. The highlight however, was workshops by both Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake and Sean McKeever & Courtney Adair.

ProAm Strictlies followed. Novice, Intermediate and Masters Division.


Check out Pam Meade! 

She got 3rd place in the Masters ProAm Strictly with Chris Dumond. This was a personal best for our girl.
Pam said:

"My experience dancing in Masters ProAm Strictly with Christopher Dumond still has me on cloud nine. I have always enjoyed social dancing with him as well as in a J&J ProAm.

Asking him to do this was a shot in the dark and his quick and positive response made me look forward to Monterey Swingfest even more. 

Chris is friendly, fun and playful to dance with and fabulous pro. Can't wait to do this again!"

I however, didn't stick around for Strictlies.

There was a higher calling!

Sunset at the BEACH!!!

My buddy, Susan Douglas, took me over to Ocean View Blvd. to her favorite spot (merely 10 min drive from the event hotel).

Eccentric seems to be the norm in California. It always was a place to try new and different ideas. Check out the Mobile Hot Tub Party parked at the beach!

It takes all kinds and you'll find them ALL in California!!!

Susan introduced me to a wonderful Thai restaurant on nearby Lighthouse Drive called ZabZab.

Very Cali bohemian, this converted home offered a warm ambiance in a coooool setting.

We enjoyed the local fresh calamari appetizer as well as the Cumin Shrimp.

Also, several lovely California wines were on offer.http://www.zabzabmonterey.com

We got back in time for the Novice, Intermediate, Advanced and Masters Strictlies.

Champion/Allstar Strictlies were also held.

Benji danced with Yenni Setiawan. This girl is such a beautiful dancer!

She was in Hartford, CT recently for DanceGourmet. Her musicality lessons changed people's dance lives forever.

There was lots of social dance throughout the weekend.

The music was really something else. In particular, Jack Smith was extrAAA good!

Luv'd that Jack dug up music we haven't heard in a while ... stuff that was sooooo good to dance to. Why haven't ANY of the other DJs in America played ANY of these songs in such a long time?

Saturday morning I was pressed for time so I drove over to the McDonalds for breakfast, which was about 2 miles away. Everything is a higher quality in California ... even fast food!

I was faced with quite a dilemma!

Dine in the park across the street ... or at the beach with the view of Fisherman's Warf right in front.

Some people were there just to enjoy their coffee ... and others were headed out to kayak. This was definitely the place to be. It was JANUARY, after all.

Victoria & Ben

Saturday morning lessons started out with Zumba on both Saturday & Sunday. Also there were lessons by Benji, Ben & Victoria, Parker & Melissa.

But, the main event is always the Jack & Jills. We had a full day of exciting contests!!!

That's Lewis Chan & Danae Cardenas (above) taking 4th place in the Novice Jack & Jill.

Lewis & his wife, Karen, came from Toronto to enjoy Monterey Swingfest. The Chan's son took the Silver Medal in skating for for Canada in the Winter Olympics.

In addition, Lewis is working on his 2nd ProAm routine with Sarah Vann Drake.

Another spectacular success story is Irina Palaszeki.

Congratulations to Irina on winning 1st place in the Novice Jack & Jill with Chris Low. She also took 1st place in the Novice Strictly with Dustin Huang.

Welcome to Intermediate!

There will be many more successes ... but nothing will ever be as thrilling as the Novice win.

John Wheaton dearly loves the 60's All American Jack n' Jill. He never fails to honor the memory of David Koppleman by telling the story and holding the contest.


In the beginning, the All American contest was designed as an open competition in the original style with only a one partner draw.

It was not about the 60's music ... instead ... it was set up for those people who started dancing in the 50s and 60s eras!

David Koppleman researched the era and created a playlist of treasures.

Sarah & Ben Morris

At that time (2007) the music was very much swing.

 
The Stars of today were just starting out then and ... as Sarah Vann Drake said ... they wanted to dance to the music they heard on the radio. 

This started the phenomenon of dancing to contemporary music.

Since then (and maybe partly because of the event "Jack n’ Jill O’Rama") ... classic swing music has come back into vogue.

Anyway, the playlist that David developed was a labor of love and that's why the 60's All American is held as a TRIBUTE to David Koppleman ... who passed away after a valiant struggle with ALS in 2012.

On Sunday there was a very nice auction to raise money for the DJDK Memorial Fund, i.e., DJ David Koppelman.

Essentially, the fund helps out those members of the dance community with financial needs due to health problem.

Dancers GLADLY auctioned themselves off for contributions.

(Checks can be sent to the DJDK Fund, 333 Rice Ranch Rd. Santa Maria, CA 93455)

Cannery Row is fascinating and not at all what you would expect.

John Steinbeck would be shocked at how the place has changed since it inspired his depression-era sardine canning saga. Now, it’s very California-Spanish chic.

Karen & Lewis Chan, Pam Meade & me.

A group of us went off in search of the WONDERFUL El Torito Restaurant in Cannery Row for dinner! Just a couple of miles from the hotel, there are numerous restaurants right on the waterfront. 

Taking a booth in the lively Mexican bar, Lewis celebrated with a Margarita ... Pam celebrated with a rum & coke and we all dined on some of the finest cuisine north of the border!

If you go ... order the fresh shrimp enchiladas ... ole!

El Torito also offer an excellent Mexican breakfast buffet on Sundays for $17.95 including made-to-order omelets, hand-made tortillas, fresh fruit and salads, soups, taco bar, variety of entrees and desserts.

Even a Mimosa was included. It was De-LISH!

http://locations.eltorito.com

We returned to the event just in time for Rising Star. There were three wonderful routines.

Ben O'Neil & Shelbie Nelson (above) are clearly up & coming. They rose thru the Jack & Jill ranks like rocket ships. Anytime now, they'll be traveling all over the world to teach and dance.

Classic divisions was SPECTACULAAAR!

After watching Ben Morris & Victoria Henk perform, I believe they will become the next GIGANTIC POWER in the west coast swing world.

BENK was outrageously good!!!

The social dancing was AAAstonishing on Saturday night. I never had sooooo many good dances at an event!

Everyone dances with absolutely everyone. 

Level ... age ... local ... visitor ... doesn't matter. 

Leaders see someone sitting for a while, they'll go over and get them up on the floor.
It's like the Mid-west. Where everyone fits in and belongs in the true spirit of west coast swing.

Maybe this is why Monterey is my favorite event.

PJ & Tashina

Sunday started out with more workshops by: Sonny Watson, PJ Turner & Tashina Beckman, Kyle & Sarah. 

Personally, I was too tired for lessons so Susan and I went for breakfast. We just ended up in a CoCo's on Lighthouse Drive but it was excellent in that California way!

DJs for the Event  

Larisa Tingle is an architect in real life and been on the DJ scene since she finished college in Phoenix, Arizona. Currently, she lives in Southern California and frequently DJs at Ben's Morris' venues, "Swingin' with the Blues" and "Project Swing."

Larisa Tingle & Christopher Dumond

Bill Cameron (New England pro) brought her and fiance Tony Schubert (also a magnificent teacher!) out to Summer Hummer and New Years Dance Extravaganza in Boston last year.  

When she & Tony turned up at Swing Dance America in Milwaukee last year ...

event director Glen Miller immediately put her on staff.

( I wish everyone could have seen the faces of the other competitors when she danced!)

Larisa's rep has gotten around and she certainly lived up to it!
https://youtu.be/Jwnwgrf8AVY

Mike Pyle is a DJ Hall of Fame’r since 2011 and been at it since 1994. Check him out at his monthly venue: Lakeside Swing in Oakland, CA. He’s also the regular DJ for Next Generation SDC in Emeryville, Redwood Empire SDC in Santa Rosa, Capital SDC in Sacramento and various studios.

Also, he is one of the primary DJs at Boogie, Capital Swing, Mountain Magic and Monterey Swingfest. He can be found all over the northern half of CA.

Jack Smith a/k/a Jumpin' Jack is another DJ Hall of Fame'r since 2006. 

The guy has been around since the early 80's Country Wester Craze in California.  

A former competitor, Jack made it to the Champion Division in the early 90's.

He's also the creator of "Late Night" dancing in Monterey was the 1st convention to hold "Late Night" dancing as part of its schedule. These days Jack is a teacher, DJ and MC. He and his wife, Rachel, own "The Clubhouse Dance Studio" in Placentia, CA. http://www.jumpinjack.net

Forrest Hanson comes from a competitive ballroom background. He DJ’d San Francisco Dance Sensation, Palm Springs New Years and a number of smaller events. If you’re in the Bay area, you can find him at WnY ("the Warehouse") in Novato, CA at the Tuesday dance hosted by Warren & Yenni. This guy gets modern R&B and Blues influence.

The event is held every year at:

Monterey Hyatt Regency Spa & Resort

WoW!!!
There's a golf course by on one side of the property. It's a heck of thing to wake up to!

The ballroom was AAAbsolutely stunning with an AAAmazing dance floor.

What a pleasure!

There are plenty of reasonable quality budget hotels, grocery and casual cafes nearby.

Monterey is about 1.5 hrs south of San Francisco and coming from the Northeast or Midwest regions, I advise you to get a direct flight to SFO rather than San Jose. It's cheaper and with winter weather, easier to deal with flight changes.

Rent a car. (Great cheap deals.) Cannery Row and the Wharf are easily reached using the hotel shuttle if you are without a car.

A MUST DO while in Monterey is the "17 Mile Drive." Just a short distance from the event hotel, there is a scenic route along a stretch of highway overlooking the Pacific Ocean. These are some of the best views of the entire California coast. 

The government knows it too ... they charge $10!

Last year I had the opportunity to stop in Moss Landing on my way back to San Francisco. It is a fabulous beach, marina, fruit stands and charming restaurants. It would be great for a B&B or RV stay.

This year I drove to Santa Cruz and got a room in a little motel about a block from the beach and boardwalk.


There are lots of kitchy & cheap little motels with reasonable quality.

The area has a 1950's feel about it.

Once upon a time I was a hippy and spent a summer out on the California shores.

When I've visited in recent times, I find that hippies still exist. But, no one pays attention anymore.

Time does not erase the ambiance of the 60's era.


Early on Monday morning, I filled my coffee cup ... threw on a sweatshirt ... and ambled down the sleepy street to catch the sunrise on the beach.

What a lovely morning ... it had rained and the air was fresh and clean.

Very few people were around. I enjoyed having it mostly to myself ... and a few more hours of my youth.

Coming back to New York City was way too hard!

Four days in California felt more like a whole week because when you get this much out of a weekend … the best people, dances and the MUSIC …

as well as sunshine in January … a feeling of success even without winning a thing … the sum of the parts are greater than the whole.

John Wheaton!

For starting 2016 off just right!

http://www.centralcoastswingdance.com/