NYUSABDA > news050408

Although next January is some nine months away, it is never too early to start thinking about the Manhattan Amateur Classic, so we would like all you fans and friends of the MAC out there to know that MAC 2009 will be taking place from January 16-18, at the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center. Mark your calendars and make plans to come to midtown Manhattan for MAC 2009. We have been named a Nationals Qualifying Event, so by competing at the MAC, you can qualify for Nationals 2009. We had a record turnout in MAC 2008 (more than 1000 dancers competing); we hope you will help us to break that record in nine months' time. More details to come -- stay tuned!

Where will you be on Saturday night, May 10? The correct answer is: At Studio 101 in Chinatown for the NY USA Dance Social and Fundraiser for Dance Parade. Dance Parade is just shy of two weeks away and the week before, we'd like everyone to come out and join us for some social dancing. All proceeds from the dance will go towards the expenses of registering for Dance Parade and to pay for the t-shirts that we're printing up for everyone who will be dancing in the parade with us. If you have not yet signed up with us, you may want to do so at the party. Even if you have already registered yourself, you can join our group, NY USA Dance, to represent ballroom dancers at the parade. We need to get your contact information so that we can let you know where NY USA Dance will be lining up. If you don't want to wait until the social, or if you can't make it to the social, send your name and contact information to rsvp@nyusabda.org, subject line "Dance Parade" (without quotes). Hope to see you at the social!

DWTS Last Week: Forgive me for yawning but as we enter the last few weeks of season 6, I am starting to feel as if this season may be the dullest yet for this show. I may be mistaken, but isn't it a foregone conclusion that the top three will be Kristi and Mark, Jason and Edyta and Mario and Karina? Of the remainder, the only question is in what order will they be kicked off the show? Going into last week, I was thinking that Marissa Jaret Winokur (Broadway's "Hairspray" star) would go, on the assumption that she did not have the fan base. That it turned out to be Shannon Elizabeth (of "American Pie" fame) was not terribly surprising, as her dancing has not greatly improved from week one. To Marissa's credit, she has shown some improvement over time, and perhaps that kept her in the game. However, I am not sure that she can survive the next two weeks. As for Cristián de la Fuente's arm cramp, I must confess that I missed it, because I was checking my voicemails at the fateful moment. (See reference to "yawning" at the beginning of this paragraph.)

No commentary on the results show, as I was unable to catch it last week, and I am sorry to say that I will miss this week's results show on Tuesday, which celebrates the 100th episode of DWTS. It sounds like it should be a good one, as some past favorites return to dance. If you can tune in, you might want to do so. And if you'd like to catch the Monday night broadcast with us at ACME, you know where to find us -- we're the rowdy bunch of grouchy dancers at the bar in the back.

Speaking of DWTS: Fans of Karina Smirnoff and Louis van Amstel rejoice! Karina and Louis are coming to Long Island to perform at the Suburban Temple on Saturday, May 31. Presented by DJ Louis Del Prete, there will be door prizes, a large floor for dancing, food and refreshments and great performances by two of the top pros on DWTS. Make your reservations now (deadline May 24)! For more details, check this post.

Fans of Blackpool: If you were not able to secure your tickets to the biggest and best ballroom dance competition in the world, the annual Blackpool Festival in the UK, you may yet be able to catch some of the excellent dancing that goes on there -- live! The Dancing Channels will bring the competition to your computer screen. Aren't you lucky to be living in the Age of the Internet? To learn more, see this post.

Looking to social dance? You may want to celebrate Cinco de Mayo on Tuesday at Club 56 in Farmingdale, LI, on May 6, as part of Hot Latin Tuesdays. And, of course, come Saturday night, you will be joining us for the NY USA Dance Dance Parade Social, right? Of course, right! For other suggestions, check in with NJoyDancing News & Notes and Wayne's Dance Commentary.

Any open Latin leaders out there? If so, NonieS would like to hear from you. She is dancing pre-champ Latin and looking for a tall and ambitous partner. She may even be willing to do Standard. Interested? See her partner search post for more details.

Also, if you are an open level 10 dancer and you live in New York or New Jersey, jescoffery would like to hear from you. See her partner search post if you're interested.

That will do for this week. Have a Happy Cinco de Mayo and come dance with us on Saturday night!

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