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| PJ Turner Dancing with Efosa Uwa-Omede |
When Pj Turner came to New York City ... we were livin' in high cotton!
Last Saturday, Pj (Paco Jose ... as some people know him) was the guest teacher at Gotham Swing club. Lots of teachers go whole hog and bring excellent lessons and brilliant ideas to our club ... but Pj offers something more.
Last Saturday, Pj (Paco Jose ... as some people know him) was the guest teacher at Gotham Swing club. Lots of teachers go whole hog and bring excellent lessons and brilliant ideas to our club ... but Pj offers something more.
Instantly, we feel that he has walked in our moccasins. We know he genuinely wants to help us with our dance struggles.
I do declare ... teaching dance is HIS labor of love!
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| Nanette Sulik (Philadephia) Dancing with PJ Turner |
We saw people we ain't seen in a month of Sundays!
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| Wayne Berke Dancing with Leslie VanArsdale Segebade |
Traveling the New Jersey Freeways which are always under construction and everyone races around like the world is coming to an end ... is like beatin' the devil around the stump!
And, people have to spend ridiculous amount of money to get through toll stops.
Not to mention that parking in a garage can cost as much as a hotel room!
Leslie VanArsdale Segebade said: "Super AWESOME afternoon & night!! Excellent workshops by Mr. Pj Turner & great tunes from Jeanette! Thank you Gotham Swing!"
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| Laura Ciabarra (Connecticut) with PJ Turner |
Feelin' like something the cat dragged in ... some folks came to town by train and bus from Long Island and New Jersey.
Others came from as far away as Hartford, CT and Philadelphia, PA.
There were three workshops ... and the room was packed to the rafters!!!
There were three workshops ... and the room was packed to the rafters!!!
Some of us go back in the NYC dance world to the days of being drilled in chaine turns (sha-nay) including the use of the head to spot.
Bless his heart ... Pj turned a whole new generation of westies onto that experience.
He broke it down and illustrated the technique. Then Pj incorporated it into patterns that made the experience meaningful.
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| Leslie Van Arsdale & Dancing with Mark Triao |
The 3rd workshop was called: "Hills, Valleys, Diagonals & Rounds."
Pj pronounced "Hills" as "HEELS" and it took a while to figure it out. By then we knew ...
Pj is country as a bowl of grits!
This lesson offered instruction in level change, slot adjustment and circular action movements.
We learned a pattern that was useful in demonstrating the concepts and work out the development of these dimensions in our dance. It was all immediately do-a-ble.
Although at first, we looked like a bunch of cats on a hot tin roof!
Video recap of the lesson featuring Jes Ann Nail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv5yNhle0uk
He didn't just teach AAAwesome lessons ... he left us Grinnin' like possums eatin' sweet taters!
Pj hails from Knoxville, TN where he teaches dance at Dance Tonight Knoxville.
He actually began dancing when he was knee high to a grasshopper ... 10 years old ... as a clogger!
Soon after, he started line dancing and partner dancing.
We learned a pattern that was useful in demonstrating the concepts and work out the development of these dimensions in our dance. It was all immediately do-a-ble.
Although at first, we looked like a bunch of cats on a hot tin roof!
Video recap of the lesson featuring Jes Ann Nail.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gv5yNhle0uk
He didn't just teach AAAwesome lessons ... he left us Grinnin' like possums eatin' sweet taters!
Pj hails from Knoxville, TN where he teaches dance at Dance Tonight Knoxville.
He actually began dancing when he was knee high to a grasshopper ... 10 years old ... as a clogger!
Soon after, he started line dancing and partner dancing.
He and his wife, Lisa (who also teaches at Dance Tonight Knoxville) performed on a local Knoxville show called “Club Dance” for 3 years. A former UCWDC champion, he currently competes in west coast swing as an All-Star.
Since 2013, Pj has partnered with the one and only Tashina Beckman in west coast swing.
While sitting in a car en route to the airport after "Meet Me in St. Louis," I overheard Tashina say that Pj is a wonderful partner and behaves like a big brother.
Pj & Tashina at SwingDiego.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqTyHmsJqVI |
| Vivian Young, Wayne Berke, Anna ChaCha, Darrin Roeder & Me. |
After the lessons were finished, some people stayed to enjoy the full bar. This is a bonus for having our club dances at Dancesport! But, LOTS of people went to dinner.
There are numerous options nearby ... after all, it's SATURDAY NITE in mid-town MANHATTAN!!!
A favorite with this group is Brendan's Bar and Grill at 42 West 35th, which is around the corner from Dancesport. This is not your Daddy's bar & grill. It's a upscale Irish style bistro with excellent food.
http://brendansbar.com/
http://brendansbar.com/
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| Vivian Young Dancing with Emmett Henderson |
The dance started at 8:30pm and ...
Everyone turned up wearing their best bib and tucker!
We couldn't wait to hit the dance floor!
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| Samantha Di Francesco (left) and Jeanette Holmes (right) |
The DJ on staff was one of my favorites in the whole world,
Jeanette Holmes.
She's finer than a frog hair split 4 ways!
The girl doesn't travel but it's worth the trip into the city just to check out this chick when she's on FIRE at the local venues!
She's finer than a frog hair split 4 ways!
The girl doesn't travel but it's worth the trip into the city just to check out this chick when she's on FIRE at the local venues!
West coast swing might be a little lite in NYC right
now, but Gotham Swing Club always holds down the fort during all kinds
of times. http://gothamswingclub.org/
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| Vivian Young & Chris Johnson (Connecticut) |
The City is always challenged for affordable space for
venues and lessons.
And, there are "Cabaret laws" dating back to
Prohibition which outlaw dancing in bars and restaurants.
These laws are vile and everyone knows it but no one seems to be able to do anything about it.
These laws are vile and everyone knows it but no one seems to be able to do anything about it.
Historian Michael A. Lerner said this was "really a
response to interracial mixing." It was created to prevent white women from dancing with
black men.
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brooklyn-bar-owner-challenges-new-yorks-cabaret-law-1412023210
http://www.wsj.com/articles/brooklyn-bar-owner-challenges-new-yorks-cabaret-law-1412023210
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| Yu Hua Cheng Dancing with Brittany |
The Supreme Court decided dance does not constitute speech
or expression and is not eligible for protection under the 1st Amendment of
Free Speech.
Really? Looks like Expression to me!
While Mayor Bloomberg was lenient with the Cabaret laws, new Mayor DeBasio is a throwback.
Really? Looks like Expression to me!
While Mayor Bloomberg was lenient with the Cabaret laws, new Mayor DeBasio is a throwback.
The political climate is all catawampas! We can forget dancing in public places.
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| Darren Roeder (Westchester) and Maria B. |
It is very important to Gotham ... as well as the entire NYC dance community ... to promote diversity and social acceptance. This is one place that no one will ever feel out of place!
All people are created equal and ... age ain't nothin' but a number!
Men follow and women lead.
All people are created equal and ... age ain't nothin' but a number!
We only judge you by the content of your west coast swing character.
And, of course, the caliber of your smile!!!
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| Brian King and Barbara Jackson |
I really appreciate these magical nites when all our dance
friends in the Tri-State can get together and share our love of dance.
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| Brian King Dancing with Akiko |
Truthfully, we don't know what might happen to Gotham
without Board Members Brian King and Barbara Jackson.
While west coast swing navigates thru challenging times, one thing is always true: Brian & Barbara are the guardians of our dance community.
Thank ya kindly!
Barbara said: "Pj Turner, thank you for an amazing time at Gotham Swing Club! Your workshops gave us so much to work on. Loved them. Thank you so much."
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| Pj & Catherine Macinnes Dancing 2Step |
Before the night was over, Jeanette made sure to put on a few two-steps for Pj.
Country isn't just Pj's roots ... many of us began dancing in the heydays of Denim & Diamonds back in the 1990's in Manhattan.
No one social dances more than Pj when he attends events and venues. He possesses many social dancer awards.
And he enjoys himself with us.
No matter what our level. Pj danced with us sooooo much
... it was like he was rode hard and put away wet!
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| Jim Chow & Angela Risser (Philadelphia) |
Dancesport, on 34th Street in Manhattan, is a studio offering lessons in all dances. It remains the standard of ballroom dance regardless of the pressures dance studios find themselves under in New York City. http://www.dancesport.com/
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| Samantha DeFrancesco & Stan |
Gotham Swing club dances are held there on the 1st Saturday of each month.
Y'all come on back now ... ya hear! http://gothamswingclub.org
