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In four short days, the biggest MAC to date will roll into town at the Manhattan Center's beautiful and historic Grand Ballroom. We look forward to hosting more than 500 competing couples for some 36 hours of competition over the weekend of January 18-20. We hope all dancers are gearing up and putting in some extra rehearsal time this week to put forth their very best efforts before taking the floor for their events. We also hope that everyone -- and I mean everyone -- plans to attend as a spectator at one or more sessions this weekend. Some of the best dancers from up and down the Northeast Corridor and points further out will be arriving in force this weekend, and you will have the chance to see them live, up close and in person. Tickets can still be purchased in advance on-line. VIP tickets are also available. Come out and cheer on your favorite dancers!

Would you like to attend the MAC for free? In exchange for a few hours of your time helping out over the weekend of MAC 2008, we can provide free admission to a championship event of your choice. For more details, read this post.

Competitors: Last week, we announced that the final tentative schedule was posted. It has since been updated with the listings of times for call-backs and final rounds, so you may want to look at the Forum post again and download a copy of the final tentative schedule for your reference. Keep in mind that up through and including the dates of the competition, the schedule is subject to change, depending on the actual flow of events this weekend, so as always, be dressed and ready to dance at least 30 minutes before the scheduled start time of your heat.
(Photo, r., © Andy Carpenter.)

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Mark your calendars for America's Ballroom Challenge on PBS: If, like me, you were not able to get to Ohio last November for the Ohio Star Ball, don't despair. It will be broadcast over five consecutive Wednesday nights on PBS, starting with the Open Professional Smooth event on Wednesday, January 30, at 8:00 pm. It will then be followed by the Open Professional Rhythm event on February 6, Open Standard on February 13, and Open Latin on February 20, culminating in a Grand Finale on February 27 to crown "America's Best." For more details and to download the flyers for the show, check this post.

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Looking ahead to February 23 and 24, the United States branch of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (USISTD) will be hosting a Dance Congress, open to professional and amateurs alike, with special pricing for college students, featuring lectures by top pros such as Max Kozhevnikov, Beata Onefater, Glenn Weiss, Victor Kanevsky and more. It will take place at Dance New York. Some of you may be familiar with the ISTD as the proponents of the syllabus for International and American style dances. For more information, read this post.

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On the social front:

• Monday night (tonight, January 14), salsa at Taj lounge, West 21st Street between 5th and 6th Ave. There will be a latin performance around 10 pm to promote the MAC, so you may want to drop by after work at Taj to start off your week with some dancing. Mention "NYUSABDA" for a free drink!
• Tuesday night, January 15, Hot Salsa and Latin dancing at Club 56 in Farmingdale, LI. Heads up: Club 56 will be hosting the Grand LIDance Salsa Contest on January 22 (yes, next Tuesday), with cash prizes! Read this post to get more details aboout signing up for this special event.
• Saturday Night Special, January 19, mixed ballroom dancing at Club 412/You Should Be Dancing in Manhattan, near Penn Station, starting at 8 pm.

For other social dance ideas, consult Wayne's Dance Commentary and NJoyDancing News & Notes.

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That will be all for now. See you at MAC 2008!

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Yang Chen
President
Greater NY
USA Dance
(NYUSABDA)
www.nyusabda.org
www.nyusabda.org/forums-df
yang.chen@nyusabda.org