Desert City Swing-cation!

Alfred Lee (social dancing)
Pic Courtesy of Heather Sturgeon Creasey

There is no such thing as a vacation without dancing! 

I combined Dallas Dance in Texas – with Desert City Swing in Arizona – and fit in a pilgrimage to Paragon Dance Studio in Phoenix.

Unfortunately (and insanely) not all my friends dance - which led me to other temptations!!! 

Although I started out my vacation in Dallas – the best part was the PHENOMINAL Desert City Swing in Phoenix and therefore deserves top billing. Dallas Dance wasn’t that good and by Monday of this Labor Day convention – I was dying to get to Arizona - it might be in the west but its nothin’ like Texas!

Desert City Swing – unofficially – started off with the regular Tuesday night dance at Paragon Dance Center. http://www.paragondance.net/ 

Roberto Campos is a !WOW! teacher and over 100 people attend his lesson and dance every week.

There were more men than women – and they were gooooooood!  

Hey Bill Cameron – Dave Moldover – Ken Mercik: PLEASE BRING ROBERTO to one of your events.  This guy is one of the best and most under the radar talents I have seen anywhere. Roberto gives a lesson on the level of Mario Robau. And he’s a sweetie - truly! 

It was my high school reunion in Tucson and I was faced with the tough choice between my love of west coast swing and the chance to party with my childhood buddies - who turned the event into a 3 day extravaganza! 

The siren call of Desert City Swing beckoned me to in Phoenix - which is a mere two hour drive. Arizona freeways are spacious and easygoing. Finding your way around in the Phoenix metro area is relatively easy.

The minute I walked in the door I could feel the atmosphere. Whoa! This was the real deal.

It was super charged with excitement and joy!  I had more fun in one day at Desert City Swing than all three days at Dallas Dance!

Benji Schwimmer & Tatiana Mollman
Pic Courtesy of Brad Whelan

Workshops included Parker Dearborn & Jessica Cox, Kellese & Brent Key, Kyle Redd & Sarah Van Drake, Jordan Frisbee & Tatiana Mollman - and that was just Saturday! 

Every one of the lessons had 300+ people participate - and they were gooooooood! 

John Lindo & Tatiana Mollman
Pic Courtesy of Brad Whelan

John Lindo, Myles Munroe & Tessa Cunnngham, Arjay Centeno & Jen DeLuca, Michael Kielbasa, Patty Vo, Benji Schwimmer, Torri Smith also taught and performed.

Check out the DJs: Dave Koppelman, Shawn Jessup, Chris Jones, Victor Loveira , Arjay Centeno, John Lindo - I don't know how it gets any better than this!

There was plenty of social dancing in between the workshops. I put in a good 6 hours of hard dancing with my very special Arizona friends before I had to leave for Part 2 of my reunion.

 It was an unforgettable day, every dance was amazing!

People who had been in Dallas gave me quite a bit of feedback. No one had been happy with the event.

BUT - Everyone was deliriously happy at Desert City Swing!

It was like the Disneyland for Dancing! 

Arjay Centeno social dancing
Pic Courtesy of Heather Sturgeon Creasey

The pros are the shows and the dances are rides.

Thrill seekers compete.

Everyone has a smile on their face. 

For a weekend it was the happiest place on earth!

East coast visitors were glowing over this event at John Lindo's monthly Rockaway, New Jersey dance - a week later. It was THE topic of conversation!

The dancing, the atmosphere - the swimming pools!

Sophie Caz - is NYC's favorite French import shakin' up the east coast scene right now.

She drew Josh Ogle (Phoenix DJ) in the All American J&J which is open to all levels. 

It was quite an amazing performance and landed them in the finals. Josh had one heck of good day - drew Kellese Key and placed 3rd. Sophie said:  "There were fewer competitions - J&Js, Strictlies, All American - I loved it! Every level was mixed and everyone got along with each other. The hotel was fabulous, I had an amazing time!" 

Mike Gadberry & Wendy Miller

There were people at Desert City Swing from the east coast actually looking into moving because of the spectacular reputation of the dance scene in the Phoenix metro area!

Mike Gadberry (DCS creator and part owner of Paragon) is the leader of the pack.

He's developing one of the most sophisticated and welcoming swing environments in the whole world!

Brad Whelan at the hotel pool

Pic Courtesy of Heather Sturgeon Creasey

East coast attendees Seth & Doris Wolff said:

"Desert City Swing had an exciting energy yet very unpretentious setting ... highly recommend this event ... very friendly, easy-going all around. Doris & I volunteered at the event and met quite a number people on staff who were very nice. The hotel was an awesome value."

 

There is no Newcomer Division - which is one of the few things I'd like to see changed at Desert City Swing. East of the Mississippi there is no such thing as lumping everyone in Novice.

Newcomer is kind to new dancers and encourages people to stick with this longer. How can someone who has never competed be put up against someone with 19 points in Novice? Isn't that why the World Swing Dance Counsel - in their infinate wisdom - created Newcomer?

Congrats to the Courageous Souls who
Placed in Novice

First:  Bret Navarre & Sarah Albequerque

Second:  Bruce Holland &  Jalair Miles

Third:  Thomas Carter & Mikala Finley

Fourth:  Robert Sanford & Ashley Randall

Fifth:  Zo Carroll & Rachel Martin 

(Zo, pictured on the left, is President of the Tucson West Coast Swing Club) 

http://www.tsdc.net/newsite/

If you are ever in Tucson – there is a lot to do. Besides the legendary Maverick “King of Clubs” (http://www.tucsonmaverick.com) – there is unbelievable Mexican food down in South Tucson (only 30 miles from the border). Don’t let anyone scare you. As long as you stay on South 6^th Avenue, it is unlikely to get shot at. 

And if you do get shot at – it is worth it for the green chile tamales at El Torero or sopallillas drenched in cactus flower honey at Guillermos. To die for! 

Another great spot in Tucson is Ric's Cafe.

Very cosmpolitan in an understated way. 

Located in the northeast area of  Tucson, there is indoor and outdoor dining year round (heaters are provided on cold January nights).  Seafood is flown in daily from Baja California and Arizona wines are served. http://ricscafeonline.net/

My high school reunion was a 3-day marathon that culminated in an excellent 4 hour Sunday brunch at Lowes Ventana Canyon Resort.  

At $37 - it is not ridiculously expensive and a good value considering the views and scenery of the lush Arizona desert - the raw bar – breakfast buffet – grill offering ribs and filet mignon - gourmet dessert stand – and unlimited mimosas!

http://www.loewshotels.com/en/Ventana-Canyon-Resort

Stay tuned for Part II of my dancing roadtrip. I intended to include Dallas Dance but it doesn't deserve to be mentioned in the same article as Desert City Swing.
Comparing these two is like comparing Albania to France. 

Let's leave Desert City Swing on a high note.

This spectacular event is a must-do on your list of events to attend and unless you are in the hospital or dead, please come next year!

Thanx to Mike, Kirsten and the staff that brought this event to life.

If Mike were younger, I'd believe he was the reincarnation of Walt Disney!