Desert City Swing!

Pic courtesy of Matt Rounseville

The LAST Hurrah of Summer!

September heralds the beginning of fall in a lot of places – but in Arizona – its Time for the Hottest Dance Extravaganza of the Season!

And I’m not talking about the temperature – although temps in the 90's are ideal for those dancing breaks at the Pool!

Mike Gadberry had a very EXCELLENT idea with this event. Perfect timing! Everyone wants one last blast of summer. He picked the right hotel, invited the BEST TALENT from all over the world and threw a 3-day PARTY Never To Be Forgotten!

Liza May & Scott Miller

People came from all over - about one fifth were actually from Arizona or California. I kept hearing British accents! French accents! And Aussies, too! Julie Epplett came from Toronto!! Liza May and Genieboy came from DC!!! Jen Czarkowski came from NYC!!!!

It was the World Federation of West Coast Swing. If the United Nations convened at DCS we might achieve world peace!

The Superstar Cast of teachers and performers included:  Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman, Ben Morris & Melina Ramirez, Myles Monroe & Tessa Cunningham, Arjay Centeno & Melissa Rutz, Jessica Cox, John Lindo, Parker Dearborn and Michael Kielbasa were just some of the names appearing on the marquee.

Arizona brought it’s “A” game – with Wendy Miller - THE Pro to Go to in Tucson (http://wendymillerdance.com/). Wendy placed 1st in AllStar with Maxence Martin (France) and 5th in Champions Strictly with Phoenix Pro Luis Crespo (formerly of NYC).

There are wonderful young dancers: Tessa Cunningham, Jessica Cox, Melissa Rutz.  Clearly stunning!  But they are still Girlz.

Watching Wendy - all style, class, grace - you realize the difference - this is how a LADY dances.

Local dancers did their home state proud!


Nick Moor lucked out and drew Tatiana Mollman in the ProAm Jack n’ Jill. This guy rose to the challenge and showed who he really is, placing 4th.

Every event should feature this contest. Female Pros and amateur leaders - Male Pros and amateur followers. 

It was worth $20 just to get a dance with one of those Stars. Very fun competition idea!

Tucson and New York City fav - Robert Grace -  placed 5th in the intermediate Jack n’ Jill.

Some additional Tucson West Coast Swing Club members deserve a mention here:  Heather McLean, Sylvie Morel-Seytoux and CJ Wheelock made semi-finals in Novice. 


This was no easy task!  It was the real deal!





Brian Kidd - Pic courtesy of John Calvo

But Robert wasn’t the only NYC’r in the house – Jennifer Czarkowski (of Strictly Westie fame - http://www.strictlywestie.com/) popped in to AZ to place 5th in AllStar.

Included in advanced finals were Tucson Pro Ro Vaughn (update: Ro moved to Boston) and DC native Brian Kidd.

But Most Important, Tucson Club president, Zo Carroll, placed 5th in the Novice J&J! It is a VERY BIG DEAL!

This guy is an incredible asset to the club and a real motivator. His smile just exudes the joy of dance. Way to go Zo!

Zo and Mary Carroll brought their daughter Maya to the convention. It was her first.

Judging from that smile on her face (just like Daddy) it won't be her last!

There were lots of competitions - but looking back – there was plenty of social dancing as well.

And there was no end to the number of dance partners. The ratio of men to women was very even.  No standing around here!  



The event was held at the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak in Phoenix. What A Good Idea! Several swimming pools day and night – and a water park. Ever been “tubing”? This is quite popular in Arizona.  Rivers fill up from mountain snow runoff and people tie a six-pack to an inner tube – and just float along. The hotel's “Lazy River” – is a simulation. A long, narrow pool snaking the resort grounds – inner tubes (and a nearby bar) included!

The hotel has several restaurants/bars, an ice cream shop and gift shop with a Starbucks concession stand offering a continental breakfast and snacks. There was nothing you couldn’t find on site. Half a mile a way is a shopping center with much more.


There is a rumor that Mike Gadberry is considering moving the event to a bigger hotel.

Nooooooo Wayyyyyyyyy!


Please – Mike – say it Ain’t so! Finding a good hotel is like finding a good dance partner! We live where winter is 10 months long – what could be better than 14 hour days of sunshine in September with endless swimming pools and nearly non-stop dancing?!

Hotel Update:  The event has outgrown the Pointe Hilton Squaw Peak! (boo-hoo!) and is being moved to the SPECTACULAR Pointe Tapatio Hilton Resort. We'll miss the Lazy River - but there are New Swimming Pools to explore!  http://pointehilton.com/

This event is in its 4th year and was very well organized. Facebook linked roommates up and provided travel information. (SuperShuttle is only $16 from the airport). Mike Gadberry made every effort to adapt as the weekend blossomed. He did not expect the turnout he got - it was just the right idea at the right time.

If you only make one trip to Arizona next year - forget about July 4th.  Its too big, too hot and too far to walk to dance from your rooms. 

DCS is the event to attend.  Its Fresh!

The last hurrah of summer - Thanx Mike! http://www.desertcityswing.com/

“Squaw Peak” refers to an area that has since been renamed by the Arizona legislature in honor of Hopi Indian, Lori Piestwa, a fallen soldier from the 2003 Iraq invasion in which we heard so much about Jessica Lynch.

Lori was the first American Indian woman to die in military action. 

The hotel should be renamed as well.