Strictly Westie - Stephanie Batista in NYC!

New York City west coast swing lovers were treated to a special weekend of workshops and dancing highlighted by Pittsburg Pro and four time US Open Finalist: Stephanie Batista! People didn’t just come from every corner of the tri-state area – a mob of dancers came from Washington, DC too!

Besides workshops, there was a group dinner at Connolly’s in Times Square, a fun Jack n’ Jill and dancing all night long!



Michael Diener and Jennifer Czarkowski are the Brilliant swing promoters behind the movement to bring CURRENT and FRESH west coast swing talent to NYC. Last Tuesday they hosted Oscar Hampton (Kansas City) and local teacher, Cissy Bridgewater, who gave the regular lesson and danced with the everyone.

This is their response to an outcry from the dance community to get us HOT teachers!

 Thanx Michael and Jen!!!

Stephanie Batista arrived with an early Christmas stocking full of innovative and inspiring ideas in the form of her workshops: “Whip It Good” and “Secrets of Styling.” Her fresh teaching approach included do-able patterns and styling that ranged in level.

Interestingly, this California girl’s background is not in dance. She was a (young) lady wrestler! And has music training (bass, viola), is a jazz singer and has done musical theater.

However, she stated unequivocably that her intense focus and drive which brought her so much success at such a young age is due to her Mad Passion for west coast swing!!!

Does everyone realize Strictly Westie isn’t even a club?! There is no President, no dues to pay and no boring organization stuff. SW doesn’t need all that because its a natural Phenomenon - a force of nature! Everyone comes together because they have shared interests and are really nice. Michael Diener is a natural Leader.

Which explains why so many people showed up to have dinner together before the workshops.

Look at these faces!  Who wouldn't want to be part of this group?

Stephanie was a delight to chat with. Everyone loved getting to know her and lisening to her views on the world of dance.

    So why hasn't she been here before?!

Gotham Swing Club brings Pros out from California from time to time.  Yet, we have someone just as good in our own backyard! 

Wouldn't we all benefit from having a regular teacher who is a Champion?

The Jack n' Jills were an entertaining activity because there were two levels - one for new competitors and one for the not so new. 

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

First Place:  Eugene Schwartz and Yuliya Falkovich
Second Place:   Adam Sanborn and Suzanne Hardwick

The Open (not so new) winners are featured on the right:

First Place: Jim Chow and Sharon Martinez
Second Place: Adam Schenk and Debbie Davidson
   They really shined!

Stephanie helped judge the competition and was very generous with personal feedback.

It was a good opportunity to be seen by a teacher that some of us might like to spend one-on-one time with. And, its just fun to get up and give it a shot!

 But that wasn't all!

Gotham Swing Club held their monthly dance on Saturday night at Club 412 and we were TREATED to the DJ sounds of Dennis Riley and Lee Mansfield!  Absolutely everyone raved about the music. 


It was so inspiring that it was virturally impossible to sit out a dance.

Every song was better than the previous. Thanx Gotham!

This coordinated effort between Strictly and Gotham provided an opportunity to hold a DC EXCHANGE!  Dancers from the Washington, DC area were hosted by New Yorkers. The second part of this exchange will occur when NYC'rs get to head down south. It was a lot of fun to dance with people we don't get to see very often.

Stephanie will be back in NYC as soon as Michael can perform his magic! And, Gotham Swing Club just might arrange for her to come next year, too.

 



In the meantime, in response to NUMEROUS REQUESTS, Michael and Jen have initiated A NEW WORKSHOP SERIES!!!

Tuesday nights November 16, 23 and 30 at 6:30 pm at Connolly’s there will be intensive technique workshops with individual attention to enhance everyone’s dancing, as well as deal with the difficulties of competition. (Update: workshops will begin in December)

Come ask questions! Like:

"What the heck do those damn @#$%! judges want from my life!"
                

Or -

"What am I supposed to do with a partner who screw me up!" (Besides murder them!)

For more information: http://www.strictlywestie.com/

It was just a really great weekend for west coast swing dancers. This community could grow exponentially - if only we could get talent like Stephanie all the time.

For more information about Stephanie Batista: http://web.me.com/stephaniebatista/Site/Home.html