Dancing Down Arizona Way!

Christmas Party takes on a whole new meaning at the Tucson West Coast Swing Club!!!

Tucson is the BEST vacation destination.  Nevermind tennis and golf - go Dancing!!!  Lots of West Coast Swing, Country, Ballroom, Tango and even more a short drive away in Phoenix!!! 

A real highlight of my Arizona visit was TSDC president Zo Carroll's recommendation to take a private lesson with national PRO and local resident Wendy Miller. THANX Buddy!!!  Alot of people are getting really good in Tucson these days ...

Now I know why!

This LADY understands what she is doing. Its not a theory for her and it left me yearning to learn more. You know what? When you study with her - its like spending time with a Friend. http://www.wendymillerdance.com/

But I digress! This CLUB put on some kind of a party! It was held at the Tucson Convention Center in the Mohave Room and Wendy’s husband - DJ extraordinaire Scott Miller (and record producer) Showered the room with tunes as if it were Pixie dust making our feet magically Prance about. Some of the BEST dancers in the world reside in Tucson. Lucky ME!!!  http://www.tsdc.net/

The party included a late night buffet breakfast. After all that dancing – we were starved!!! And it was goooooood! But the music never stopped and club members enjoyed the warmth of each other’s company until we were forced – against our wills – to leave!!!

Tuesday night, grammy nominees: The Band Perry (“If I Die Young”) was playing at THE Most Important Tucson Institution: the Maverick. Its been around since 1962. Tickets were sold out WAY in advance and the place was gyrating from the crowd of college students and old cowboys – alike.

This place always had the Right Formula that keeps the place packed with a mixed age group and lots of dancers. http://www.tucsonmaverick.com/

The location of this incarnation (the first two buildings perished in fires (hey, stuff happens – Badda Bing – Badda Bong!) is in the middle of restaurant row on Tanque Verde in central Tucson with a good size dance floor and Super Fast bartenders.

The very popular Jack Bishop Band plays on Saturday night. Patrons make their weekly Pilgrimage – and have been doing so for many years. Some of the outfits and dancing is quite a sight – no phony cowboys in this joint!!!

This place is good, old fashioned western fun. Everyone is in a good mood.  You'll see all kinds of people in all kinds of clothes - dancing all kinds of styles (and some stuff you've never seen before!) It’s the kind of place anyone can walk into - any night of the week. Ladies' Night is Thursday. http://www.tucsonmaverick.com/

Picture Courtesy of Phil Key

A lot has been said about the Greater Phoenix Swing Dance Club Sunday dance and about Mike Gadbury's Desert City Swing but – until now – Mike and Amber Cross’ lesson and dance has been under the Radar.

So I just had to check it out! The Cross’ lesson is extremely good. They possess the mark of truly Accomplished Teachers (having 30+ years of experience): the ability to BUILD a lesson.  Many teachers just throw out patterns.  In this case, the lesson had four sections ranging in difficulty so that most people got most - or all of the material.  And, Amber rotated in. http://www.wcswing.biz/

But, what was so special about the Wednesday lesson and party is their Following.
Such nice people!!! Everyone was very Friendly and Welcoming. NO ONE wants to go to a dance in which the teachers and students ignore them!!!

I loved meeting these dancers – and renewing aquaintances with some I had met in September at the Desert City Swing convention. What a treat!!!

Picture Courtesy of Matt Rounseville

Thursday night is the TSDC Regular Dance and I was delighted to find Robert Grace teaching!!! There were about 40 people in his class and I found the material to be fun - with clear and concise instruction. What a great lesson!!! Bobby has truly Evolved as a teacher. He and his partner were patient and helpful.


New York City was lucky to have Bobby for a while but he decided to leave the Bright Lights of Broadway and head for the Palm Trees of Hollywood – with a detour through his hometown. I had a dance with him that was an experience I’ll never forget. He is a STAR in the making!

No visit to Tucson is complete without attending L. Perez’ Saturday night lesson and dance at the Maverick. Each week L.P. and his lovely wife, Brooke, give a Spectacular Beginning and Intermediate lesson and hold an hour out for west coast swing dancing
before the good ol’ boys arrive!!! http://www.linkedin.com/in/lperezdancer

L.P. wasn’t in town, however. Instead, we were TREATED to great substitutes!!!

Jim Davis and Heather Mclean. What a delight!!!

This is just a sample of all the great dancing in the Southwest!

Chicago Bar holds a dance to live R&B on Tuesday nights.

You’ll find lots of dancers at Cactus Moon on Wednesday night.

Many people go to the Greater Phoenix Swing Dance Club on Sundays.

Zo Carroll and the Soul Breakers play at local clubs and draw a good size crowd to listen and dance to their AMAZING sounds!!! http://www.myspace.com/zoandthesoulbreakers

And then there are house parties!!! This is a close knit dance community - and all Inclusive. You don’t have to be a resident and you don’t have to spend a lot of time there.

Walk in the door at the Tucson West Coast Swing Club dance on anyThursday night – and you’ll feel right at Home!