Swing Fling!

Billy Marti & Joanna Swanson
Strictly WCS Finals

Last Weekend about 800 people converged on Washington DC – not to protest the GROSSLY INCOMPETENT CONGRESS – but to CELEBRATE WEST COAST SWING in the Summertime!


Dave Moldover took Swing Fling over from Barry Durand and did a SPECTACULAR job! This event ran like clockwork. Everything was on time, concise, clear and FUN!

Jason & Yvonne Wayne
(Pic by Charissa Tan)

The Pros were outstanding this year. THANX  DAVE – for the breath of Fresh Air!

What a delight to meet Jason & Yvonne Wayne.  Loved their classes!

Markus Smith & Tren Veal, Kevin Fitzhugh & Tammy Brown and Luis Crespo & Taletha Jouzdani never come up north.

Once in a while Jason Barnes & Stephanie McHenry, Jason Miklic & Sophy Kdep have been seen in the northeast (not nearly enough).

Billy Fajardo & Katie Marlow
(Pic by Charissa Tan)

The Hustle Pros were amazing and very inspiring. Where else can you wear stuff like this?!

We enjoyed Kelvin Roche & Lori Ann Greenhouse, Billy Fajardo & Katie Marlow, Erik & Anna Novoa, Tybaldt & Hazel Ulrich.

There was always a hustle room and people seemed to really enjoy it.

TJ Bednash
(Pic by Wendy Cooper)

However, the most IMPORTANT thing to know about this event is that there was LOTS of SOCIAL DANCING!!!

“Genius” Ken Mercik changed the face of east coast events forever when he introduced actual social dancing before midnight at these events.

Thanx Dave – for paying attention!






A lot of stuff happens at these events – but it’s the feelings you leave with that matters.

The ecstasy of success and agony of failure in the comps fades in the shadow of the special memories of dances with new friends!



Luis Crespo & Dionna Ball

What stands out most in my mind among all the performances and competitions were the Pro Strictlys and Allstar Jack n’ Jills – both hustle and west coast swing.

I was particularly impressed at this event.



We saw some of the GREATEST performances there ever was!

Pic courtesy of Charissa Tan

Hazel and Tybalt were astonishing. Two kids and a safari to Texas – the woman is BACK! She makes it look easy and Tybalt appears to be in heaven with her.

Dancing with Doug Roussar in the Allstar J&J WCS - it was a chemical reaction! If she ever gives up Tybalt...

Hazel thinks its about training but we know better. What she’s got was spoon fed to her by God.



Erik & Anna Novoa
(Pic courtesy of Liza May)



In the Open Show Division, Erik & Anna graced the stage with their hustle routine (Take it Off by Ke$ha) and a MAGNIFICENT Broadway style swing piece to Tony Bennett’s Favorite Things.


They are enchanting and bring so much that’s unique to the stage.





Erik & Deonna
(Pic courtesy of Charissa Tan)

 Erik Novoa and Deonna Ball in the Allstar WCS J&J needed to be watched for real.

If west coast swing was an Olympic event, they would have WON the Gold Medal for America so its not surprising that they took 1st Place. 

 Jen Czarkowski is now in Allstar and danced with Luis Crespo in the WCS J&J.


She and her HUSBAND, Michael Diener, have done a great deal to make the BEST west coast swing venue in NYC at Connolly’s in Times Square.

They have nurtured the community and we have witnessed her meteoric rise through this dance world. It is a privilege to watch her perform.





As stunning as all the Pros are - More Important – is the WINNERS of Newcomer and Novice
Jack n’ Jills! Anyone can write about these Stars but WHO STANDS UP for the Newer Competitors?

These people have the chance to shine and - rise to astonishing challenges!

Newcomer:

Janet Scuorzo & Scott Michielli
Pic courtesy of Erik Novoa
http://www.swingshoes.net/

1. Michael Lovitt & Laurissa Stokes

2. Scott Michielli & Janet Scuorzo

3. Chuck-Hou Yee & Suzanne Hardwick

4. Charles Williams Jr. & Ariel Navarro

5. Jason Laska & Noelle Van Woert

Novice

Barbara Jackson & Stanley Jaoyner-Bby
Rebecca DeRosa & Aidan Keith-Hynes

1. Trae Anderson & Nicole Stottlemyer

2. Eddie Karoliussen & Alyssa Lundgren

3. Brian Richards & Margaret Tuttle

4. Aidan Keith-Hynes & Rebecca DeRosa

5. Richard Defelice & Julie Parish

This is special. 

Their courage – whether they win or loose – INSPIRES others to try!

Donna Vitiello & Dean Garrish
Pic courstsy of Erik Novoa

Sophisticated Swing is being abused. Its a category for the 40+.

Shouldn’t it be for amateurs? Why did so many Pros enter this? Who wants to compete against the people who teach and judge us? Huh?

Gotta give a shout out to Donna Vitiello for having the Gutz – and placing 5^th!

Let’s throw this one out and replace it with a ProAm Jack n’ Jill. That way the Pros can beat-up on – ummm – compete against someone their own size.

Markus & Tatyana
Pic courtesy of Charissa Tan

There were lots of opportunities to compete.

Markus Smith performed with 9 year old Marya for her first time.

Imagine having this experience to begin a career!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dR_QyaZwHs

Lura & Rick
Pic courtesy of Charissa Tan

The hustle comps were awesome. Splash! Style! Panache!

Check out Lura Johnson & Rick Barney!

John Festa

John Festa’s Midnight Blues Room was a HIGHLIGHT of the weekend. Another of Ken Mercik’s BRILLIANT ideas – John has been storming up and down the eastern seaboard bringing a nightcap to the Saturday evening events.

Ahhhhh – sinking into those old favorite
comfort tunes!



Barbara Jackson & Markus Smith


Even though we had an AWESOME TIME and the ballroom space at this event was big enough, the Hilton space was so much nicer.

Some of us really missed that groovy outer dance floor where the lights were turned down low and people rested in the music. It would have been better for a Festa Blues event than the Hyatt’s cracker box style rooms.

Space vs. atmosphere?

I thought I’d experienced the WORST event hotel (Dancing New Year's Eve) at the Burlington, MA Marriott but the Hyatt - OMG! This is just some of what I heard!

The beds are lumpy, the hotel operator is MIA, the bartender double charged and never submitted food orders, the deli had the UNMITIGATED GALL to charge $9 for a filet mignon wannabe burger – and – the biggest complaint of all – the airconditioning. I have to agree. We might be old – but we’re not dead - yet.

And if you ever left anything in a hotel room – make sure its NOT at this Hyatt. One person got a bill for $500 to get their shoes back.

The hotel made a “mistake” on the Fed Ex slip.

And, WAZ UP with the pool? Last year we enjoyed morning coffee poolside, took breaks in the sunshine during the day, hung out after the comps. The Hilton pool was a weekend feature because it’s hot and humid in the summer and we want to go outside!

As for the location in Herndon, VA: 13 people specifically complained because ... nobody flies into Dulles anymore – they go to Regan and had to rent cars; the bus/subway/airport shuttle/hotel shuttle is ridiculous; Friday traffic was horrendous.

There were 3 Canadians and fewer Europeans at Swing Fling. At Liberty there were 4 tables of Canadians, a table each of French and Scots and even a few from Singapore - very likely because there was a very convenient train from Newark Airport. Location, Location, Location!

Frankly, I walked around outside and it felt like I was on an abandoned movie set of “Invasion of the Body Snatchers.” Maybe that’s what happened to the hotel operator!

If this event has to be in the middle of nowhere, there are better no-wheres to have it!

Dave Moldover & Lisa Schaupp
Pic courtesy of Wendy Cooper

But aside from the hotel "dis"adventure, the event was very special. When I walked out the door Sunday afternoon and stopped to savor that last moment, the only thing on my mind and in my heart was the wonderful atmosphere and JOY that filled the air all weekend. This is what it means to have "A Really Good Social Life!"

Swing Fling was Magic.




http://www.dancejamproductions.com/