Freedom Swing 2015

Ariel Weiss & Eugene Golbourne

Freedom Swing Dance Challenge is held in Philadelphia, the weekend after the Martin Luther King holiday in January every year. 

"Let Freedom Swing" ... deserves the award for the best social dancing of any event in America!!!  

Sure, there are competitions. But everything is held in an atmosphere of mutual support and fun. Therefore, this event draws the friendliest people! 

Philadelphia is a dream location. It's ideal for train traveler's all over the eastern USA since the airport is also a train station. Even if it snows, most of us can get there ... sooner or later.

John Lindo is a legend in the New York/New Jersey area. 

Together with Sheila Purkey & Rob Baen ...

they have created two very special dance conventions (Philly Swing in September). 

No, they aren't big and expensive events. The hotel is nothing fancy and the restaurant is a joke. 

The teachers and DJs are local standards with a few special favorites to highlight the event.

BUT: These teachers are all high quality … the headliners are proven successes. The DJs are among the best of the region … and a star music magician that’s one of the best in the biz.

Kay Newhouse & Matt Smith

Check it out: 

Robert & Nicola Royston (offering an intensive on Friday), PJ Turner & Tashina Beckmann, Je'rome & Bonnie Subey, Kay Newhouse & Matt Smith, Eric & Anna Novoa, Jennifer DeLuca, Blake Hobby Dowling, John Festa, Jason Miklic, Arjay Centeno.

I didn't get to the event until Saturday morning due to snow and travel problems. When I did arrive, it was just in time for a workshop with PJ Turner & Tashina Beckmann. 

The workshop material was appropriate and everyone got it. A lot of pros have a set bunch of workshops which they use where ever they go. I got the distinct feeling that these two put some thought into what was right for our dance community.

Music is very important at these events. SOME DJs put a playlist together that works and then they proceed to work it into the ground. Not at Freedom.

The special guest DIVA DJ was Ruby Lair, who was brought in from Houston. 

This groovy chick is not on the east coast very often.

Her theme song should be "Big and Hot" by the Love Dogs. http://www.thelovedogs.com/listen/s/big__hot 

That's the best way to describe her talent as a DJ!!!  

Every song is drama ... strong ... gets you groovin' and you can't stop movin'!

Everyone is always grateful for an evening with the original KING of the NYC westies DJ: John Festa. 

We don’t get to dance to his music very much anymore and that’s a real shame.  He plays what he feels … it's often stuff we haven’t heard in a while … and always interesting.

Then there was that very uniq’ue … Je’rome Subey! 

He's a late night kinda guy.  

Je’rome and Bonnie showed some real AAAwesomeness in the pro strictly. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV_yChzY89U

And, in my UN-humble opinion, the best DJ in New England … is Dave Damon. Another guy with his own sound. Stuff we don’t expect to hear thrown in the mix like old school rock.

Local favorites, Denis Riley & Lee Mansfield DJ’d the wonderful Sunday “Tea Dance.” This event highlight is a special favorite at Freedom. It grew out of the demand to extend the event to cover all of Sunday … rather than end the event in the middle of the day.

What makes Freedom exceptional is the people. 

When people come to Freedom, it's a down-home experience.

Warm … family friendly … not a hint of pretense nor a wisp of arrogance.

There was a bottomless well of dance partners. 

I spent the entire weekend working my way thru all the leaders and still ended up with a few I never got to dance with. And I was always busy.

There was plenty of variety of competitions which provides many opportunities to be successful at something. 

On the left is Nanette Sulik, who made finals in the Novice J&J.

She's the new event director of Boston Tea Party.

After working with John, Rob & Sheila, she's got the experience to make BTP better than ever! http://www.teapartyswings.com/

Frank Blakemore (a professional chef) is a rising star in the Mid-west region. 

1 point away from Allstar, (at the time of this writing) he was asked to dance up at Freedom. 

Pittsburgh ... where he teaches ... is an up and coming WCS center ... and Frank is helping to make that happen by being such a wonderful person to have in our dance world.

Frank performs and teaches with Faith Musko (another brilliant star on the rise). 

They will be teaching at Euphoric Ballroom, 
in Butler, PA on Feb 7.  

https://www.facebook.com/events/1571695953047363/

Also, PJ Turner will be at Absolute Ballroom in Pittsburgh the weekend of April 18-19. 

http://absoluteballroomdancecenter.com/

Jason with Tobe Pilato

Jason Miklic is one of the most popular teachers just about everywhere. 

This is because of his easy going and nonjudgmental demeanor. 

Jason is a big favorite for ProAm Strictlies. 

Demand for this particular division is huge everywhere in America and growing in the northeastern region. http://www.jasonandsophy.com/

Saturday night I went out to dinner with my friends Ethel, Constance, Mary & Bonnie to: “Trieste.”

OMG!!! Not to be missed!!! 

Old world … Abruzzi style Italian. Like being invited to dinner at someone’s home in Brooklyn. http://www.triesterestaurant.com/

Roy Legaspi & Alyssa Lundgren Gillespie
1st Place Rising Star

Saturday night we got to watch some very interesting routines. 

Rising Star has now been added to the schedule.

Very strong up and coming New England dancers, Kristen Shaw & Andrew Hayden, performed their routine to "C'mon" by Kesha, and choreographed by Arjay Centeno. 

Kirsten is an excellent DJ. 

These two are the people to watch in New England as they progress as dancers and teachers.

But I was VERY SAD because Robert had been sick and wasn't up to performing with Nicola in their outstanding Classic routine. 

Some of us had the privilege of previewing it at John Lindo's fabulous Rockaway venue in New Jersey in November.
http://www.johnlindo.com

He and Nicola don't get older.

They just get better!

Robert Royston and Tashina Beckmann had us in stitches!!! With all due respect, Tashina can be a little stuffy ... like old money. But NOBODY can be like that around Robert!
https://www.youtube.com/my_videos?o=U

And Nicola danced with PJ. These 4 had the audience roaring with laughter!!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_uJK3rDtXs

Arjay & Jennifer DeLuca were great and got 1^st place. 

They are always special. 

Jen never fails to surprise us with the depth of her dance savvy and ability to shine a light on the quirky side with all that “twerking!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydzOoQKLE1Y

But what we really want is more of John Festa & Blake Hobby Dowling. 

Have you ever heard of Marie Taglioni? Carlotta Grisi? Or Carlo Blasis? Jules Perrot? 

These are names of famous dancers in the 19th century. We will never know anything about their craft because they danced before film. 

It doesn't have to be the same way with John Festa and Blake Hobby Dowling.

Many of us feel it is important to memorialize them. Class and skill like that should not be forgotten.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkvFaFEC7Cs

John Festa is a study in using one’s center and ASS-ets in dancing. He uses all his muscles. It’s a beautiful thing! It has nothing to do with current vs old skool style. John is pure technique and HE should be doing intensives in the region. 

Timothy Meier & Janet Scourzo

Awards were held on Saturday night. All results including prelims, were posted. This is a great thing! BUT … what the heck does the lettering system mean?  So I got a “B” …I also have a quarter! Neither one will get me a phone call.

Buzz Bunting & Patty Gray

These judges really ought to compose a paragraph about what an “A,” “B,” “C” and zip means to them. Then, at least we have a clue.

We luv'd the Sunday dance! 

Originally the event ended after the morning workshops … and it felt like someone let the air out of a balloon. 

All our complaining led to the concept of a Tea Dance ... DJ’d by Lee Mansfield & Denis Riley, 2 favorite regionals who really get what the locals like.

Dawn Puchalski & Peter Bennfors

The thing about this party is that everyone can relax and practice whatever they are working on as well as socialize.

This is the time to catch a 2^nd dance with as many friends as possible and get that feeling of SATISFACTION.

The hotel is merely an airport Clarion. It’s good enough. The restaurant makes me wonder how so many people in America can be unemployed who really want to work … and yet the hotel hired THAT staff! 

But, we've come to accept these little trials to spend time with our friends. The east coast seems to be challenged with space for events. We certainly know the meaning of “cozy!”

Sheila!

Special thanx to all my friends who attended Freedom. 

It was a pleasure to spend the weekend with all of you.