Get A Really Good Social Life!: Strictly Westie

Pic courtesy of Gary Ulaner
Wedding at Rivera Maya in Mexico

Congratulations!

Michael Diener &
Jennifer Czarkowski!

Dancing brought them together and they got married last week!!!

Pic courtesy of Jim Chow
(Poolside on their honeymoon)

People enter the world of social dance with a curious mix of trepidation and hope.

They just want to make new friends and be carefree for a few hours.

Once in a while, however, the GREATEST unspoken WISH comes TRUE:

And They Lived Happily Ever After!

Michael & Jen met at a dance in Akron, Ohio in 2003. Both were NUTZ about west coast swing!

They would travel great distances and make the most of every song. A great friendship naturally evolved into the LOVE of a lifetime.

Michael moved to NYC in 2004.

Jen soon followed.

West coast swing has existed in New York City since the mid-90’s thanx to John Festa who is responsible for the legendary “North River Bar” and several incarnations that followed. It was one of those incarnations that served as an incubator for Strictly Westie.

Laurie Goldfarb, Jen, Michael & Sharla
Sharla's birthday party in 2009 at Blarney

The Saloon was where a fortuitous friendship blossomed between the early members including Michael & Jen, Sharla Robinson, Jerry Wang, Dima Lapidus, Maria Vasslieva and Jennette Holmes!

There just wasn't enough dancing for them. After John packed up, they went on to local dives and continued late into the night.

Next, they pounded the ($mean) streets of NYC to find a place to hold a regular venue. Sunday night lessons with dances were held at Vesta, where they drew 20 people on average.

Eventually, in an effort to grow their base and advertize, Michael established the New York City chapter of a national organization called “Strictly Westie.” http://www.strictlywestie.com/

Strictly Westie NYC has grown like a “Tribble Invasion!”

In fact, Strictly Westie grew soooo BIG and soooo fast that they have been forced to find increasingly larger locations from Vesta to Blarney Stone to Connolly’s.

WHY?

Walk into Connolly’s in Times Square on any Tuesday night. Michael & Jen will welcome you to their dance “HOME” with open arms.

They dance with EVERYONE and make us feel like they really do love dancing with us.

From their hearts come lots of encouragement and support.

Birds of a Feather Flock Together. Michael and Jen’s friends are just like them! They set the standard of friendliness and acceptance.

It is interesting to witness how their example established a code of honor.

Snooty people and Cliques DO NOT exist here.

Their engagement necessitated a special additional celebration at Connolly’s. Local dancer and pastry chef extraordinaire, Lisa Vivo, prepared a special confection just for this occasion. Michael & Jen generate a whole lotta love in the community!

This cake was the only thing more popular at the party than Michael & Jen! For more information about Lisa Vivo's Custom Cakes:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lisa-Vivo-Custom-Cakes/187350317981427

Intensive Class of 2011

Currently, they teach a fabulous intensive series of workshops at Connolly’s in Times Square and every other month and hold a WILDLY popular weekly Tuesday night dance.

75 – 100 dancers attend from all over the tri-state area.

Between intensive months, guest instructors include Anthony DeRosa, Gary Ulaner, Gerry Wang, Hazel & Tybalt and Michael & Jen.

Since Connolly's is smack dab in the middle between Boston and DC, when there is an event such as Summer Hummer or MADjam, it’s the most popular rest stop!

DJ Evan Swartz & Hanna Officer

DJs are varied so the music stays fresh.

Jen frequently runs the booth – but often we are lucky to have Anthony DeRosa, Dave Muzii, Evan Swartz, Jennette Holmes and - whenever possible - DJs visiting the area.

The highest level instructors from all over the country have been brought in to teach.

Michael Kielbasa gave workshops last summer and Stephanie McHenry Batista came in late last year.

These events are very special with group dinners, workshops and social dancing.

Hazel and Tybalt Ulrich are fixtures at their venues – before and after their safari to Texas!

Tybalt is responsible for getting Jen on staff as a teacher at Stepping Out Dance Studios - making it another wonderful place to learn this dance.

That’s a hell of an endorsement!

Michael & Jen's latest venture it to combine forces with Anthony & Rebecca DeRosa to hold Saturday night parties at Connolly’s twice a month.

Anthony is a very well-known, seriously talented local DJ and teacher on Long Island who frequently DJs the Tuesday night dances at Connolly’s. When we are lucky – he gives a lesson! http://www.wcsny.com

Several top level teachers have been invited to give workshops at future Strictly Saturdays.

Stay tuned!

This dance community has been the scene of several wonderful dance marriages!

Seth & Doris Wolff met in a west coast swing class at Dance Manhattan in 2002 and and later married

As is usually the case with dancers, they went out in a group before they began a more intimate relationship.

Liz Saldana and Jerry Glick met at the legendary North River Bar where he offered to "teach" her the basics of west coast swing.

Their engagement party was held at Stepping Out Dance Studios in 2002 and they got married in April 2003.

More importantly, they’ve been dancing together ever since!

Anthony and Rebecca DeRosa met in a club where he was DJing one night in 2005. Everyone knows Rebecca. Anthony must be a great teacher. She is shooting straight up the WCS competition ladder!

She recently told me "I definately got a 1st class education!" The lovely couple were married earlier this year.

Erik and Anna Novoa met at Erik’s monthly venue, Platinum Party, in May 2006 and quickly began dating. By 2008 they were engaged and in October 2009 were married.

“I knew she was the one from the second she walked in the room” says Erik.

Steve Wilder & Janet Scuorzo first met at John Lindo’s monthly venue, Rockaway (http://www.johnlindo.com/). The following summer (2009) they became “friends” on Facebook after Tony Lee’s event, Big Apple.

They kept running into each other at the same dance parties and slowly became acquainted.

Lucky for us - they turn up at Connolly’s regularly!