Arizona Dancing!

Benjie Schwimmer, Kirsten Radoff, Mike Gadbury

BENJI SCHWIMMER was the STAR of
Mike Gadberry’s regular Sunday evening west coast swing dance at Arthur Murray Dance School in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The ballroom was PACKED for the 2006 winner of “So You Think You Can Dance.” Two workshops were offered – ONLY $10 each - technique centered, EXTREMELY informative and entertaining! 



Thanx to Mike Gadberry (the genie behind the SPECTACULAR September dance event Desert City Swing), Phoenix dancers have been SPOILED with this level and quality of dance lesson!!! 

The BEST surprise for ME, however, was discovering LESLIE CANADA BRICKER moved to Phoenix!

If anyone can get a SUPER COOL hustle scene going – it’s this LOVELY and INSPIRING hustle sensation!  

Mike Gadberry is featuring Leslie Bricker & Fred Price - at Paragon Dance Center in Tempe on Thursday nights with lessons and dancing.

Lucky AZ people - YOU get to be in on the beginning of this PHENOMENON!  http://www.paragondance.net/ 

Paragon certainly seems to be the place to go in the Phoenix metro area.
There are frequent west coast swing parties and a wide variety of activities with all the dance styles.

Another GREAT experience for me was:

Graham Central Station!

It has to be is the most magnificent honky-tonk in the state of Arizona!

Everyone coming from Canada, Europe, Australia to Desert City Swing in September – this should be on your siteseeing list - along with the Grand Canyon!  http://grahamcentralstation.com/

This WAREHOUSE size club has four different rooms of dancing (Rockin Rodeo for country, Confettis for retro/west coast swing, South Beach for free styling to contemporary music and Wild Cats – featuring "dancing girls" on the bar and EVERY kind of shooter!

There is a burrito bar, pool tables and an outdoor smoking section with table service. 

Name bands are frequently brought in - such as Bomshel on May 19, 2011.

They hold "foam" parties, host male strippers, and will happily photograph you making a fool of yourself on the mechanical bull!

Wednesday night usually features line dance lessons with an AWESOME teacher, Fran Dewar. About 100 ladies (and 2 very smart men) stomped through some very fun line dances. Fran was amazingly good at generating enthusiasm and making sure everyone got everything. This was a real treat!  http://www.azbodydance.com

No visit to Arizona is complete without a stop at the Maverick down in Tucson. This is a true legend in the Southwest. The people you meet are the real thing – country through and through.

People indulge in all kinds of dance styles and rhythms at the same time. (Some of which has never been seen before!) An artist could create a black velvet painting of this wild and wacky – but very entertaining scene. http://www.tucsonmaverick.com/

Saturday night at the Maverick is the place to be for the BEST dance lesson west of the Mississippi River.

No One, No Where, No How – teaches better than L. Perez. This guy knows how to build a lesson - from the simple to the challenging - and everyone gets everything!

Before you know it – you are dancing better!

Stay tuned for lots more on visiting Arizona!

Because of the GIGANTIC demand for information in preparation for Desert City Swing in September, Kirsten Radoff (Mike Gadberry's business partner) will be producing some FABULOUS articles about the Arizona scene!
We want everyone to have an OUTRAGEOUS time!

DJs Shawn Jessup & Josh Ogle

Really, if you are in Phoenix for any reason – make sure to check out these Sunday dances at Arthur Murray. Mike & Kirsten make their guests feel right at home and the music can’t be beat! 

http://www.arthurmurrayphoenix.com/

Desert City Swing convention is September 8-11, 2011. The SUPERSTAR lineup includes:

Jordan Frisbee & Tatianna Mollman, Kyle Redd & Sarah Vann Drake, Brennar Goree & Torri Smith, John Lindo & Jessica Cox, Mark Scheuffele & Sharlott Bott, Benji Schwimmer, Myles Monroe & Tessa Cunningham, Brent & Kellese Key, Arjay Centeno, Melissa Rutz, Patty Vo, Parker Dearborn, Chuck Brown & Katie Schneider, Michael Kielbasa, Nicholas King, Miguel DeSousa. 

The schedule has been organized to offer social dance breaks and swimming pool time!

http://www.desertcityswing.com/

Mike and Kirsten, for a WONDERFUL Sunday in Phoenix.