Miami Dance Magic!

Renee Lipman & Tommy Gibbs

Miami Dance Magic is a Wonderful beach vacation with dancing!

This is the way to travel!

Everything is available from workshops with the best pros - to swimming in turquoise waters - to fabulous regional cuisine.

The local dancers are very friendly and accommodating. It was a pleasure to spend time in this amazing environment.

This is a terrific location to hold a dance event. Downtown Miami offers everything: convenient public transportation to and from the airport, handy bus service to the art deco haven of South Beach and delightfully interesting shopping and dining.

Jen Czarkowski in Advanced J&J Finals
Pic by Marlon Mills

Several people from the northeast took full advantage of this opportunity!

Michael Diener & Jen Czarkowski (NYC Strictly Westie SuperStars) were at the desk to greet everyone.

Marlon Mills stopped off on his way back from Cuba. Sophie Caz, NYC's favorite French transplant got to experience the American south for the first time. And Kimiko Lashley came to dazzle the dance floor!

Back in the Civil War days, the north kicked butt down south! NYC didn’t do too shabby last weekend either! Marlon Mills made finals in the Novice Jack n’ Jill. The balance of leaders and followers was a little askew – hey BOYZ – this is a great place to get a coupla WSDC points!

Newcomer and Novice were combined. We always like to give special recognition to the newer competitors because it is so (unecessarily) DAMN HARD!

Marlon Mills & Jerri Lioli
Novice Finals

CONGRATULATIONS TO:   

1.  Mike Gordon & Agnieszka Maslanka
2.  Steven Currier & Susan Downs
3.  Fabio Beltramini & Jana McNally
4.  Louis Sheridan & Morgan Hendrix
5. Vincius Santos & Vivian Schlogel

Pic by Marlon Mills

Kimiko Lashley is a rising star!

She and Michael Kielbasa placed 4^th in the ProAm Jack n’ Jill. This young lady did not dance like any amateur I ever saw!

In those moments on the floor, she became Michael’s PARTNER.

Pic by Marlon Mills

Sophie Caz and Ewan Dupre placed 3^rd in the Intermediate J&J.

Watch this chic chick – she’s on a rocket ship to the U.S. Open!



From Paris to NYC to Miami, this gal has made quite a place for herself on this side of the pond.

“It's the first time that I’ve done a smaller event and I really appreciated it! The location is great, Bruce Perrotta ran the event perfectly, I met wonderful dancers and accessible pros. It was a really friendly environment. I will definitely be back next year!”

Pic by Marlon Mills

Connecticut was well represented by Sabrina Paxman - another European dancer (Germany) who has been shaking up the scene in the Northeast.

She placed 3^rd in Strictly with Floridian Stephen White. They were quite a site to behold. Also, she placed 3^rd in the Advanced J&J with Hugo Miguez.



Markus Smith & Partner Tren Veal
Pic by Marlon Mills

You can’t beat Jordan Frisbee and Tatianna Mollman for quality of lessons.

The most special part of this event, however, is the chance to take workshops with fresh talent. 

Markus Smith (another “So You Think You Can Dance” alum) was an absolute delight!

Hopefully, we'll see Markus up in the NYC tri-state and New England.

Pic by Marlon Mills

This young man brings musical flavor by way of hand dancing. He was kind, warm and his lessons were thorough.

Plus, he danced with as many followers as possible. What a treat!

Pic by Marlon Mills

See those folks on the right? That's what senior citizens look like in 2011!  The winners of the Masters competition are blurring the life stage lines. 

Its not Old Age anymore - Its Perfect Age!

DJs for this event included April Prince, Kelly Faust and Bruce Warren. Local DJ, Vickie Kay, was amazing!

Why is it necessary to import outside talent when someone of this STUPENDOUS MAGNITUDE is right there?! Vickie was awesome and everyone wished she had been mixing the tunes A LOT MORE!

Hey Vic: please come to NYC sometime – we gotta get you in Connolly’s!

The Hyatt Regency in downtown Miami is a very comfortable event hotel with spacious ballrooms.

Rooms are larger than usual with separate vanities and can accommodate more than two people comfortably.

In the lobby there is a coffee bar with snack foods and a toaster.

The concierge is very helpful and the staff is very pleasant. http://miamiregency.hyatt.com

One thing I don’t get is why the Hyatt thinks I would pay a premium for coffee in their lobby – AND – pay for internet access in my room.

Duh! There’s a Starbucks nearby! Its not like we are stranded at an airport hotel. Dancers don’t like to waste money.

Ca$h for dance lessons, dance clothes, dance trips and maybe even a few cocktails!

     

The hotel might be in downtown Miami but: 

Who needs an overpriced beach front hotel when you can hop on the “S” bus - two blocks from away - and be swimming in pristine turquoise water within 30 minutes? This scenic $2 ride treats you to all those CSI Miami views over the causeway!

The bus drops you at the end of Lincoln Road in the heart of South Beach. Its not as touristy and crowded as I expected. 

Public facilities are CLEAN and a boardwalk separates the beach from the back entrances to the hotel pools and poolside bars offering incredible lunch specials!

After enjoying the white sun drenched beaches – stroll Lincoln Mall. 

Check out the amazing art deco architecture. And the shops – this is the place to buy a new swimsuit!

There is no shortage of tempting cafés, too. What a dilemna! The only solution is playing “eenie meenie miney moe!”

Closer to the event hotel is Bayfront Park and Marketplace. Sure, its touristy, but still fun!  Live music all the time. There is a food court filled with Caribbean style fast foods. Lots of interesting shops and, best of all - the Daiquiri and Mohito bars!

Downtown Miami is quite an interesting place. There are shops with wonderful junk – the kind of stuff you can never find when you are looking.

Cuban food is everywhere. “Pollo Tropical” is addicting. Everything was very fresh and pleasant. http://www.pollotropical.com/

Taking Supershuttle is just dopey. Miami has amazing public transportation. Save your $40 for the daquari bar! Airport Flyer (located next to the outdoor dog run at the airport) will deliver you to the Earlington Heights train station for $2.35.

An additional $2 will whisk you onto the Tri-Rail to the Government Center stop in downtown Miami. Steps away is the FREE Metromover – to Knight Center (the hotel entrance). Its was quick and easy. 

Sunday evening I expected this to be more difficult. Believe it or not, it took 57 stress free minutes door to door (in a tropical storm). There are guards at all the train stops and they are happy to advise.

Trust me on this one – keep your cash and learn the Miami metro system. It will take you anywhere – Little Havana – Coconut Grove – Hialeah.  http://www.miamidade.gov/transit

This is a great dance VACATION. Sun, sand, regional cuisine and DANCING!

Special Shout Out to Marlon Mills for assisting with the photography on this article!






He's an NYC gem!  And - a heck of a great dancer!

Pic by Zizi Zabaneh
http://www.ziziphotography.com

Bruce and Beth Perrotta for the Southern Hospitality!

http://www.miamidancemagic.com/