Swingin' New England!



Picture Courtesy of Erik Novoa
And - Erik & Anna's Students!


Fall leaves were still full of color, temperatures were mild – AND SWINGIN’ NEW ENGLAND blew the ozone layer off the whole friggin’ region!!!

Over 1000 dancers turned up to swing (lindy & west coast), salsa and tango their ba-donk-a-donkeys off!




Willow's Shoes
Pic Courtesy of Erik Novoa

 
Swingin’ New England is an annual 3-day weekend dance extravaganza PACKED into 2 days in the middle of November.

SNE is as unique as co-event director Willow Colson Wall’s shoes! She and her Dad, Neil Klein, run this event every year.

Every girl should be able to bond with her father this way!

Ben Morris with Kellese Key
Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow

70 hours of workshops were offered with all the GREATS:

Angel & Debbie Figueroa, Michael & Leann Norris, Robert Cordoba & Debora Szekely, Ramiro Gonzalez, Ben Morris & Melissa Rutz, Michael Kielbasa, Melina Ramirez, Arjay Centeno & Jen DeLuca, Brent & Kellese Key, Rob Glover, Larry & Heidi Mongeau, Jennifer Lyons, Erik & Anna Novoa, Eric Jacobson, Maria Cirino.



Simonida & Vladan
Pic Courtesey of Erik Novoa

And that’s not all!



Davis Thurber, Natalie Rueda & Byron Alley and Nina Gilkenson taught Lindy; Mambo PaTi, Salsa Matei and Amanda Gill taught salsa; Armando Nuria, Roger Wood and Simonida & Vladan taught Argentine tango.

There were even more teachers but it becomes monotonous to keep listing them!



Picture Courtesy of Jun Ogata

The “Bookends” competition sets this event apart from all others. Nowhere is there anything like this team competition where “OUTRAGEOUS” is the keyword.

“A Cubed Ensemble” featuring
Zosia Newell, Melissa Zeitz, Sue Heintz,
Jill Cayen on right.

Pic Courtesy of Jun Ogata

We had the pleasure of watching the legendary Ramiro Gonzalez, from Dallas, TX, perform with Robert Cordoba.

Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow

Neil Klein and Marc Levetin dressed up in snazzy cow suits. 

Pic Courtesy of Jun Ogata

Rob Glover and Joe Mahoney imitated Laurel & Hardy.

They were better than the orginals!

This event drew enough Canadian dancers to fill the whole right side of the room. Neil Klein’s college dance protégés took over the whole left side of the room.

And then there was “S-Factor” - our Dallas peeps and performers extraordinaire – set up at a table front and center. Really nice gesture by the event organizers.

Everyone loved meeting and watching them perform. More importantly, they brought inspiration, fresh ideas and fit into the community so well – they coulda been born here! “The crowd was awesome Saturday night!! We truly enjoyed Teams Division and Bookends! Moreover, our highlight of the trip was when the Pros imitated S-Factor's exit off the floor when they wrapped up the Pro-Strictly! We are so humbled at the impact of our routine on others!!” Lasonda Campbell

Yeah – it really was that Cool!

Carefully mixed throughout the room, were numerous dance club tables from all over the region making it easy to mix, mingle and find dance partners. It all flowed very well.

Meet THE MASTERS OF THE UNIVERSE! While most of the workshops were excellent – Angel & Debbie Figueroa blow the tops off the charts.

Everywhere I go in America and Canada – their material is regurgitated (ditto Angel’s jokes)!

Leaders tell me that they get everything and feel successful – and that their classes are like a Party!

Check it out - Debbie continues to amaze!

She and Michael Norris came in 1^st in the Champion’s J&J. Mother – wife – teacher of many years – she’s one HOT Mama!

Since I’m being bugged to keep it more real, I gotta say something about Michael Kielbassa, Arjay Centeno and Jen DeLuca.

Mikey with Melina Ramirez
Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow

Michael is normally a good teacher and all around good guy.

I don’t know what he had been doing all Saturday night – but it had nothing to do with Sunday's lesson preparation!

He tried to give a workshop without a partner – what a mistake!

That takes Angel’s skills. People were really frustrated watching him dance around by himself and let him know it – loudly!

Hey Mikey – next time you’re short handed – grab one of the advanced girls – give her a
 REAL thrill!

Arjay Centeno & Jen DeLuca sometimes don’t go over very well.

From the leaders’ comments when they rotated to me, most had no idea Arjay & Jen were trying to make a point.

Those who figured there was a point – never figured out what that point was.

Most thought them to be surly and

condescending. Me too.



Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow

 Their “Monkey See – Monkey Do” workshop was very effective and very much enjoyed, however. Not talking obviously helps.

But, ya know, Debra Szekely can be very loud – she can really let us have it – still, she is never mean or rude or superior.

Look, so-called “Advanced Dancers” (largely) do not take the workshops.

These students are pre-intermediate level and they’re working on connection and timing. They are not dumb.

They are doctors and lawyers and Indian chiefs.

When Arjay taught with Melissa Rutz, there was better personality balance. Teaching with his fiancé, Bridget, it is more pleasant. I think Arjay should do a Robert Royston.



Pam with Klaus Dobler in Novice Strictly
Pic Courtesy of Jun Ogata

Loved Ben Morris & Melissa Rutz together. We want to see them more! Melissa reminds me of country western legend, Meredith Stead, who reined supreme on the east coast for many years.

Thanx God – for making another one!!!

I couldn’t take lessons with all the teachers so I asked around for a few quotes:

Pam Marshall said: “I only had a chance to take one workshop - Rob Glover ... he was excellent! Great delivery and content. It was tagged as Intermediate but it was really great for everyone as it was about body flight and carriage. Everyone seemed to love it!”

Ms. New York anonymous said: “The ones that were special for me were Michael and Leann Norris. They showed us how to add sweet shag footwork into our WCS! Doug Stilton showed how a simple change in a leader's prep makes a world of difference.”

Special Teachers’ Mention goes to Erik & Anna Novoa (frequent and generous photographic contributor to this series).  www.SwingShoes.Net

Pic Courtesy of Erik Novoa

Cindy Drury & Harold Zuckerman premiered their duo in Novice Strictly.

It was charming to witness the birth of this dance partnership.

They have Erik & Anna Novoa to thank for their prolific support - the Connecticut pros to go to!

Pic Courtesy of Erik Novoa

And they are not the only students of the Novoa’s to do well! Erin Santa placed 1^st in the Novice Jack n’ Jill, Josh MacDonald placed 4^th in the Advanced Jack n’ Jill.

Josh is a children’s P.E. teacher. This will come in real handy with us adults!

Erik & Anna are the kind of teachers we treasure in our local dance communities.

No event is complete without the Jack n’ Jill competitions. Its a Love-Hate relationship! 
   
It's “The Thrill of Victory and (Usually) the Agony of Defeat.”  

It's “That Which Does Not Kill You, Makes You Stronger.”


It's a reason to get dressed up and go out and BE SOMEBODY!

Jeffrey Wormald & Annie Breault

Newcomer

1 Joe Banahan & Katharine Montgomery

4. Jeffrey Wormald & Annie Breault

5. Brad Willis & Andrea Knight

2 David House & Bonnie Mak

3 Vincent Stagno & Ansia Mezini



Jerome Suey & Erin Santa
Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow



Novice

1. Jerome Suey & Erin Santa

2. Tony Hurtado & Catherine Vourlessis

3. Gabriel Indurskis & Stephanie Courtemanche

4. Ketema Lyles & Jacqueline Joyner

5. Stephane Roy & Cheryl Williams

Cheryl Williams & Morry El-Badry
Intermediate Strictly
Pic Courtesy of Jun Ogata




Quite a bit of effort went into judging this event. There were semis just for 46 entrants in Novice and 4 partner changes.

Although there seemed to be gender bias since not one older person made finals in Novice, after careful investigation, not so fast.

The real problem was with the rotation – it did not allow people to move around the floor – since it went front to back - not side to side.


Only half the judges moved to see contestants on their right.

By coincidence - that's where most of the older contestants were located.

Robert Cordoba & Deborah Szekely danced for us Saturday night and I was struck by their endless magical chemistry – despite the sad ending to their romance.

Robert is a relator and is going to Florida where the market is better.

And Deborah – who crashed into Boston like a tsunami and made everyone fall in love with her – is moving to Texas.

Arjay Dancing with Giselle Jagai

There was a $1 Taxi Dance - and individual contributions – which raised $3,700 for Ann Fleming who has been battling cancer – AGAIN.

(We hear she is doing well.)

When the pros put themselves on sale, dancers raced to the floor as if there was an earthquake!

Mindy Carter said: “The dollar dance was the best 7$ I have spent in a loooooooong time.”

Pic Courtesy of Jim Chow

As if this all wasn’t enough, Friday night there was a tango salon and on Saturday night Glenn Crytzer & His Syncopators performed live downstairs.

http://www.syncopators.net/

Lots of people stayed up all night because the music was so amazing. How do you go to bed when you can dance to the sounds of Ken Mercik, Joe Mahoney and Cher Peardon?

When I got back to NYC – all I heard for days – was how sore everyone was from dancing so much!

At Strictly Connolly’s in NYC, people dragged their tired ba-donk-a-donkeys in to dance on Tuesday night anyway.

That’s New York tough!

The event was held at the Newton Marriott – about 10 miles from Boston.

Its an okay hotel – but it used to be better before the management and most of the staff changed over.

Still, there is Starbucks in the lobby, Bruggers, Dunkin’ Donuts, Shaw’s Supermarket, a pizza place and a liquor store nearby.

http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/bosnt-boston-marriott-newton/

Since the Marriott is located next to the Charles River, in the warmer months, Paddle Boston - rents boats.

http://www.paddleboston.com/

There are also wonderful riverside walking trails to explore and enjoy the views near the hotel.

WorldWide Bus, located in Manhattan at 31st & 8th Ave., drops at the Newton Riverside Bus/Train station in 4 hours and only costs $50 RT.

There is free shuttle service to the hotel http://www.worldwidebus.com 



Debbie Bernard Figueroa with
her son Antonio and Erin Caron
Pic Courtesy of Jun Ogata



People danced with friends from neighboring communities.

They competed and performed all weekend – in all kinds of events - and it was enough for a week long extravaganza.

I couldn’t do it all!

This is a not-to-be-missed event. New England knows how to put on a Party and welcome the whole world!


http://www.swingingnewengland.com/