Denim & Diamonds is one of the
greatest New York City legends of all time.
Even though this very special nightclub was tragically closed in 1999, it cannot and
will not be forgotten!!!
In all the years that have passed there has been no end to
the lament over the era that produced
some of the best
memories of our lives.
Last Saturday night 300+ loyal patrons came together at the original scene.
This was the most SPECTACULAR dance environment ever created.
A Mecca of nightclubs!
A Phenom of MEGA proportions ...
it should have lasted as long as our memories.
How can anyone describe the way we felt as we saw all our cherished friends!
Together again ...
in that special place.
Last Saturday night 300+ loyal patrons came together at the original scene.
This was the most SPECTACULAR dance environment ever created.
A Mecca of nightclubs!
A Phenom of MEGA proportions ...
it should have lasted as long as our memories.
Together again ...
in that special place.
Some of us have run into each other at the local dance
schools and venues …
but others have been MIA.
but others have been MIA.
Dear Faces ... long missed voices ...
even a trademark giggle and hat!
This reunion wasn't just an ordinary party ...
Everyone who ever mattered was there.
No, it wasn't a (boring) star-studded Studio 54 Reunion.
It was just EXTRAAA-ORDINARY!
it was an AAAmazing dance extrAAAvaganza!!!
Everyone who ever mattered was there.No, it wasn't a (boring) star-studded Studio 54 Reunion.
It was just EXTRAAA-ORDINARY!
We enjoyed every one of our favorite line dances.
but not without prompting from the fabulous Rona Kaye ...
our line dance Queen whose career was launched on the dance floor at D&D.
our line dance Queen whose career was launched on the dance floor at D&D.
Rona went on to travel the world and share her teaching gift.
We did the "Watermelon Crawl" and "Boot Scoot n' Boogie" and "My Maria."
There was the good ole' "Cowboy Cha-Cha" and the "Schottish."
And no shortage of west coast swing!
And no shortage of west coast swing!
(That terminal swing dance disease, which many
of us contracted back in the day!)
There was lots of two-stepping, waltz and even
a 16-Step.
Check it out:
that's the Michael
Jackson of WEST COAST SWING!
JOHN FESTA!
His lessons impacted and inspired most of us.
There was lots of two-stepping, waltz and even
a 16-Step.
that's the Michael
Jackson of WEST COAST SWING!JOHN FESTA!
His lessons impacted and inspired most of us.
The choreographer of Lightening Jack (Scott Stout)
reviewed it for us one more time.
reviewed it for us one more time.
Recognize Deborah Szekely?
Once upon a time she was a cocktail waitress at D&D. Deborah met Robert Cordoba and their partnership became the stuff of legends.
Once upon a time she was a cocktail waitress at D&D. Deborah met Robert Cordoba and their partnership became the stuff of legends.
Deborah is considered to be one of the greatest west coast swing Champions of all time.
That's the
beautiful Blake Hobby Dowling
(2-time US Open Winner and former ballerina)
on the left with Alan Saperstein!
She teaches privately and can be found at events on
the east coast.
(2-time US Open Winner and former ballerina)
on the left with Alan Saperstein!
She teaches privately and can be found at events on
the east coast.
It was like a Saturday night back in the day.
I walked from end to end and never
stopped running into people I hadn't seen in quite a while!
The level of joy in that room can only be described as Rapture.
More importantly, the evening generated smiles like a Tribble
invasion!
A Little History
Shortly after D&D opened its doors in 1993, Irwin, Eileen, John "The Beef" and myself wandered in and made the place our home.
Back in those days there was a line to get in that snaked
around the block.The original patrons, however, were given “Regulator Cards" that allowed us to
walk right in like celebrities!
We didn't know each other but that soon changed.
The upstairs bar used to put out a pretty good spread at
happy hour ...
happy hour ...
Irwin and I had dinner there regularly!
We took all the lessons and Irwin practiced his two-step
on me so he could impress Eileen.
on me so he could impress Eileen.
He was always Ga-Ga over her and she eventually succumbed to his charm.
They've spent the past 15 years together.
Know how John ...
alias "The Beef" got his nickname?
Beef had a great idea!
He organized about a dozen guys and had
T-Shirts made that uniquely described each of them.
alias "The Beef" got his nickname?
Beef had a great idea! He organized about a dozen guys and had
T-Shirts made that uniquely described each of them.
John's a husky fellow so he settled on "100% Beef."
Irwin was always eating carrots and celery sticks at happy hour so he became "100% Vegetable."
Another friend had a long, cylindrical shape and he became "100%
Hot Dog."
Irwin was always eating carrots and celery sticks at happy hour so he became "100% Vegetable."
Another friend had a long, cylindrical shape and he became "100%
Hot Dog."
One of our favorite dancer friends happened to be of Asian descent
...
There were many more.
and choose: "100% Moo Goo Gai Pan."
There were many more.
One Saturday night they put on their T-Shirts and all ran up to the
front line for the line dances. There were superstars of country music who graced that
stage but this was the best SHOW!
History of Country in NYC
O'Lunney's existed on 2nd Avenue for over 30 years ...
offering live country music and dancing.
offering live country music and dancing.
(Anyone remember the Tommy Joe White band?)
Doo-Dah’s was a line dance place in the Chelsea area (Donna
Roesel - teaches at Dance Manhattan - was the line dance teacher).
We used to have a "telephone tree" to get the
word out when there was a dance party in the city.
Before she found a cowboy and moved to Louisiana, a friend named “Judy” used to host big dances with live
music in her empty real estate listings.
There used to be great dance parties at a recording
studio in Times Square – with actual bales of hay! (The place caught
fire – that was the end of that.)
would be a big hit.
Fleet Week filled the place with our boys in dress whites.
Right out the gate, country music lovers came from all over
the Tri-State area.
People who never felt comfortable in NYC – finally had a reason
to explore the city.
D&D was part of a huge social dance movement.
Diane Lachtrupp used to be partners
with Paul Pellicoro at Dancesport, the original "Stepping Out."
Diane successfully sued Paul for the name and started the new Stepping Out.
She hired John Festa to teach west coast swing.
Diane successfully sued Paul for the name and started the new Stepping Out.
She hired John Festa to teach west coast swing.
John was the creator of another legend, "North River Bar." This was the scene in New
York City in the 90s.
Dance Manhattan Dance Studios opened up about that
time and brought Robert Cordoba from California to teach west coast swing for several years.
John Knapp and Meredith Stead were the beloved teachers at D&D and started "Shall We Dance."
Midsummer Swing at Lincoln Center first started during this period. Originally we danced around the famous fountain and everyone attended most
nights.
When the original manager of Denim & Diamonds transferred
out of New York City, the people left in charge were unable to manage the club successfully.
A business of this type requires specialized skills.
Otherwise, it's difficult to make appropriate decisions.
It didn't help that the country radio station was cancelled.
(I'd like to meet the person who made that decision!)
(I'd like to meet the person who made that decision!)
The final
blow to country dancing came, however, when John and Meredith’s studio flooded
out.
Meredith lost her mind (as far as I'm concerned) and became a tax attorney.
Meredith lost her mind (as far as I'm concerned) and became a tax attorney.
John became a nurse.
NO ONE HAS EVER GOTTEN OVER THIS LOSS!
Everyone complained that dancers don’t spend money. But when there was a good manager, it didn't matter.
A savvy marketing manager would have gone after tourists and incorporated
the dancers to create an atmosphere of fun and inclusion.
Denim & Diamonds had a prime location – name
recognition – good will and
a wholesome reputation.
D&D could have been a great place to go after the theater or symphony or any kind of event. Free admission should have been offered with those stubs.
D&D could have been a great place to go after the theater or symphony or any kind of event. Free admission should have been offered with those stubs. 
Foreign tourists love the western theme. For some, it might be the closest they'll ever come to the old west.
Being country in Manhattan meant it was unique AND there was NO COMPETITION.
They should have courted military personnel, who were always present anyway.
Fort Hamilton is in Brooklyn and Fort Wadsworth is on
Staten Island.
And what about events?
Political Fundraisers - Conventions - Trade Shows - Weddings - Office Parties – Record Deals - Advertising Promotions
- Bar Mitzvahs.
And bachelor parties?
Who needs a strip club when guyz can get plenty entertained by...
“Trashy Women”?
The
possibilities were endless.
And bachelor parties?
Who needs a strip club when guyz can get plenty entertained by...“Trashy Women”?
I’m just sayin’!
But professionals were not consulted.
Denim & Diamonds management out in
Texas, to my
knowledge, never
bothered to come out and assess the
situation properly.
They just turned the lights off on us.
It's not so easy to IGNORE US anymore – not with Facebook – it’s a loaded shotgun
cocked and ready to shoot!situation properly.
They just turned the lights off on us.
Since that fateful night I have run into many of my old D&D compadres at
various dance schools and venues.
We always talk about the greatest nights we ever knew.
And what a disappointment to the sailors during Fleet Week.
It's positively anti-American!
It's positively anti-American!
This is the definition of a LEGEND.
It died before its time ...
rather it was murdered by lack of foresight, imagination
and skill.
Denim & Diamonds was more than just another nightclub.
It’s like Tombstone ...
Isn't it time to turn the lights back on?
It’s like Tombstone ...
The Dance Community Too Tough to Die!
Isn't it time to turn the lights back on?
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