Dance Camp Chicago 2015

Rising Star Division

Everyone in the MID-WEST has been RAAAVING about DANCE CAMP CHICAGO for a while now so I decided to skip Chicago Classic this year and go check it out.

OMG!!! I am so glad to discover this AAAmazing dance convention. It's a hybrid country/west coast swing dance convention (not a UCWDC event). Instead it offers a California mix format and includes WSDC points ... making it UNIQUE.

Dance Camp Chicago was an under the radar event ... until Leah Noparstak took it over. 

The woman is BRILLIANT! 

All the right elements are contained in this weekend convention which about 500 of us thoroughly enjoyed!

First and most important is that the event was actually a dance family reunion. 

I live in New Jersey and yet, I walk into the hotel lobby to find I know EVERYONE, including Ava McLeod & John McKenney. 

They kindly took care of me when I got stranded in Louisville at Derby City Swing.

Then Don Schanaberger (left with Tobie Oberman) pops up and says ...

"So glad you could make it! 

... Can I carry your bag?" 

I'm telling you ... the Mid-West is the BEST!

Christine Miller & John Bianchi

This is such a fun format! There were 2step Jack n' Jills and Strictlies, WCS Jack n' Jills and Strictlies, ProAm routines and Strictlies ... AAAWESOME workshops and still plenty of social dance. 

The schedule stayed on time for the most part but semis in the Novice J&J had to be added on Sunday since the numbers of contestants have grown so much.

The pros who taught and judged are the people I respect the most. Check it out: Matt, Crystal & Lily Auclair, Ronnie DeBenedetta, Kristin & Monty Ham, Julie Hein & Don Leynes, Jennifer (also MC) & Randy Jeffries (pictured above), Jason & Annmarie Marker, Mike Konkel & Sheli Schroeder, Maren Oslac, Jeff Sanchez, Beverly Solazzo & Wesley Brown … and Doug Rouser as head judge.

DJs included April Prince, Ken Dillard and Bob Boyle. 

If music were a drug, April would be illegal! 

Saturday night, as I walked around the ballroom, people would say ... 

"wow, the music is really good tonight. I need to go to bed but I can't make myself go!" 

Ken & Bob did great jobs as well. 

I didn't know Bob before, but I know Ken and he put a great deal of thought into his playlist ... which was quite eclectic. Even the older songs that he played were refreshing.

The weekend started with Sheli Schroeder (pictured above at Spotlight) and Mike Konkel (pictured below). They started the Milwaukee Rebels Dance Club. People are always asking me if there is any dancing in Wisconsin. HELL YEAH!!! 

Wisconsin is not the middle of nowhere anymore. 

Milwaukee is about 90 miles from Chicago. There's plenty of dancing and it's all GOOOOOD!!!

Check out their performance at Dance Camp: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AOvGqmgSco

These two really nice people gave an excellent kick off lesson that got us all in the mood for the weekend. "Endless Possibilities" demonstrated how to change up west coast swing basics. 

Ronnie D. & Emma McNagny

Workshops were also offered in 2-Step, waltz, nightclub and cha-cha. How could anyone pass on an opportunity to study 2-Step with Ronnie D? That was a special thrill!

For me ... the best workshop of the entire weekend was "Sir Whips A Lot" by the "MAGIC" Markers. Dancers of all levels were in that class ... which featured a reverse whip into an outside turn on one foot, Every single leader got it and every follower understood how to execute. Some were even able to get up on one foot! 

I realized the opportunities that had been passing me in comps since this version of a one-foot spin is easier and can be used on any outside turn once we get the hang of it. 

The AAAuclairs could be renamed as the "Epiphany-Clairs!" 

Every time I take their workshops, I come away with several new concepts that I'm just dying to bust out on the dance floor. 

Matt is featured here with Julie Edwards who placed 1st with her Intermediate level ProAm routine. 

Every summer, the Auclairs hold an intensive in on Lake Ontario, just outside Toronto. This is a small group, very hands on and includes structured practice. 
https://www.facebook.com/events/1411697169122711/

Steve & Sue Huppenthal

Friday night started out with a "Meet the Pros" performance.  

There was a half hour of social dance, which consisted of "California Mix" in the main ballroom. There was also another room that held only social dance all night. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-EQA4T0vEw

Rising Star Routines followed. Several of the most wonderful established routines were performed. 

BUT, it was a particular NEW one that stayed in my mind! 

Rodney Ramos & Kristy Dilworth performed to "Come Together" for the first time. 

The placed 4th out of 9 routines. Both of these dancers just got out of Novice and competed against dancers in the Advanced Division. 

Next were were Strictlies in both 2-Step and WCS. And both Novice and Intermediate 2Step contests showed quite a bit of interest. Two of my favorite Mid-Westies, Cynthia & Wayne Rohr, won 1st place in Intermediate 2Step!  (Also featured are Bev Solazzo & Randy Slone, Nicole Szulc & Vern Hagel)

Rodney Ramos & his 40 Watt Smile!

Pizza was served in a nice open area, several kinds. 

But ... where was the beer? 

They should have filled some buckets with ice and sold some cold ones. 

A beer would have gone great with a couple of slices as we mingled.

Saturday morning featured 6 workshops in a variety of dances. The Auclairs gave the perfect warm-up for the day: Get your Wave On - clean basics with styling variations. It was an opportunity to review, practice technique and get the mind thinking before the J&Js.

Competitions started off with the 2-Step J&Js.

This was a lot of fun!

Some people who are advanced swing dancers accepted this new challenge or reversed roles.

Featured here is Christy Parker and Harrison Ramsey ... who is being trained by Maren Oslac. Harrison is 12 years old and has been dancing ballroom, country and swing since he was 5 years old.  

Brian Arvans & Linda Guetterman

The WSDC J&Js, i.e., THE MAIN EVENT followed. Novice division was so big and the floor was so crowded that it was difficult to photo. This division has grown since last year and a semi had to be added on Sunday. However, the comps still ran close to schedule anyway and ended shortly after 2pm. Workshops were scheduled for the rest of the afternoon. 

Since the outside temperatures hovered below "0," no one wanted to go out for dinner.

However, the restaurant in the hotel was quite good. 

The cook did a HeLLuVa job on our burgers and seasoned fries!

At 8pm there was a show in which we got to watch a variety of routines. 

We got to see a preview of Rebecca Ludwick & Kris Sweringen's NEW routine! It was OUTRAGEOUS! But shhhhhh ... you'll have to wait til MADjam to find out more! 

Jordan Frisbee & Tatianna Mollman must be looking over their shoulders to see Rebecca & Kris racing close. That's how good they were Saturday night. 

Speaking of Jordan & Tat ... Rebecca & Kris were just hired to complement them for Empire Swing in New York City this summer. It's an intensive weekend with a Jackpot J&J. We're hoping to make it a WSDC event for 2016. 

I would like to invite all my Mid-westie friends to take a bit of vacation and join us in the Big Apple this summer.
https://www.facebook.com/events/603642073070592/

Another performance that I can NOT forget was a very surprising waltz by Allison Brown & Alex Artega to: The National, "Vanderlyle Crybaby Geeks."


Allison is teaching Alex to dance west coast and he is teaching her waltz. It was the best I've ever seen her dance. Truly memorable!

The real highlight of the night, however, was the ProAm routines ... of which there were 15 in Novice and Intermediate.

Check out John McKenney with Becky Larson. He got 4th place in the Novice ProAm Routine Division and 1st Place in the Novice Strictly Over 40 Division. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1iYzF42rNc

We have all watched John grow as a dancer. I've been proud to dance with him in Masters' Division. The Mid-west is where people of all ages and backgrounds are thriving as dancers. 

Besides being an excellent dance teacher, Becky is also the BEST videographer in the Mid-west! http://www.momentsofdance.com/

Social dancing was off the roof! All the best dancers were out and we could get a dance with any of them. 

I had planned to photo all finals but due to weather, I had to leave early the next day. There was no way I was going on another 20 hour bus ride! 

See my article re: Derby City Swing. http://itwirlland.blogspot.com/2015/02/derby-city-swing-2015.html

The event is held at the Elmhurst Clarion Hotel and its quite a ways from O'Hare Airport. However, the hotel has an arrangement with a taxi company for $24 + tip. 

This particular Clarion has quite a few amenities, the staff is very accommodating and we were very comfortable. 

There is a sort of restaurant ... really more short order counter type of place. Mostly sandwiches and salads. Some drinks and convenience foods (beer & wine) are also offered. 

THANX Leah for a  HeLLuVa weekend with my favorite people. 

You have developed one of the best events in the world and I predict that Dance Camp Chicago will be a giant hit! 



Matt's Angels: Claudia Bliel, Joyce Fisher, Tobie Oberman, Julie Edwards