Strictly Westie - Kielbasa Day!

Summer has a new holiday! In between the Memorial Day and July 4th weekends – NOW – we’ve got Michael Kielbasa Day! This star of the west coast swing world graced New York City with his amazing teaching and dancing skill. Dancers from all over the tri-state area came to learn and celebrate!

Michael Diener and Jennifer Czarkowski are the Brilliant swing promoters behind the movement to bring CURRENT and FRESH west coast swing talent to NYC. In response to an outcry from the dance community, they went out and got us somebody great!   

              Thanx Michael and Jen!!!

Michael Kielbasa brought a suitcase full of innovative and inspiring west coast swing ideas to town.  This guy is still in college - yet - he could teach workshops to people with a variety of levels of experience and everyone got plenty out of it.  He broke the material down enough for the newbies and gave subtle nuances to dancers who have been around awhile. 

It is no wonder that Michael can teach.  His uncle, who has been coaching him since he was 15 years old, is Michael Kiehm. 

This is a name I'd like to see in NYC!  Hey Michael D. - about it?!!! 

The workshops were very technique driven.  Everything from spins and turns - foot articulation - hand placement.  This is what dancers in NYC craaaaaaave!  Enough with the patterns.  We want to ride the music.  We want to hit the breaks.                                    
          We want: COOL!   

The entire event included workshops on Saturday and Sunday, a very friendly Prix Fixe dinner on Saturday evening, two levels of Jack n' Jills, a terrific dance with DJ Kelly Faust - and - the lesson at the regular Tuesday night dance at Connolly's in the heart of exciting Times Square.

Everything was perfect. The lessons were on time, food was good and there was plenty of air-conditioning!

The Jack n' Jills were a really fun feature of  "Kielbasa Day." Having two levels - one for new competitors and one for the not so new - was a great idea because it helped build confidence. 

It takes a lot of courage to get up and be judged - particularly that first time.  Congrats to the Newcomer winners on the right! 

1st place -  Tim Martin & Janet Scuorzo
2nd place - Richard Hyman & Alicia Wielunska
3rd place -  Brad Kellogg & Andrea Goldsmith

Truly, however, the best part of this event is the what makes all of the Strictly Westie events special:

Wonderful times

  Energy and motion

   Smiles and camraderie

    Thrills and chills

      Ideas for dancing

       Everything that matters!

For more information about Strictly Westie and all the wonderful upcoming events:

http://www.strictlywestie.com/

For more information about Michael Kielbasa

and his partner Jennifer DeLuca : 

http://dancewithjenniferandmichael.com/