The Greater New York Chapter of USA Dance
 
MAC Preliminary Schedule Posted
Nov. 12, 2007 ed.
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Greetings from the Greater NY Chapter of USA Dance!
[IMG:stan_patrycja]First off, for all those out there who are wondering what the preliminary schedule for MAC 2008/Northeast Regional Championships will look like, wonder no more: it has been posted on the Forum. A few things to take note of: We have a fully-packed schedule, including Novice and Senior III events, so we plan to start at 3:30 pm on Friday, January 18. Also, to accommodate this full schedule, we are moving adult syllabus smooth and rhythm events to Sunday morning, January 20. Please take note of these developments.

Also, for those of you who are ready to register, on-line registration is now open. Deadline for registration is December 29, 2007. (Photo, r., © Igor Ofenbakh.)
What a weekend this has been for ballroom dancing. On Friday night, November 9, NYU held its 19th Annual Top Hat & Tails Formal. This elegant event was organized by the NYU Ballroom Club and it was a well-attended, well-run affair. Aside from general dancing, there was a dance contest open to NYU students and alumni. Not to leave anyone out, there was also a Jack and Jill dance contest that randomly matched people from the audience and had them competing in different dances in each round, with a second partner change in the semi-final and reversal of follower-leader roles in the final round. The evening also featured wonderful professional performances by Tatiana Keegan and Kosta Trifunovic, who also judged the dance contest. Club Advisor, Amy Garcia-Phillips, rounded out the judging panel and then capped off the evening with a surprise performance with her partner Franklin Ayala. Before we knew it, midnight rolled around, drawing the 19th Annual Top Hat to a close. We hope everyone will reserve time in their calendar next November for Top Hat's 20th anniversary.

[IMG:katusha_jump]On Saturday, November 10, we were honored and privileged to have US Professional Standard Champion Katusha Demidova presenting a workshop on the Foundations of a World Class Waltz and Quickstep. In ninety short minutes, Katusha shared with the attendees her insights into what makes a great frame in the waltz (which includes principles applicable to the other standard dances) and how to execute a proper promenade in the waltz. Katusha also presented new information about foot positioning to help couples dance promenades better. In the quickstep, Katusha provided the attendees with a jumping exercise to help couples stay together better during hops and skips. Without a doubt, those who came got a truckload of useful information and we thank Katusha for presenting an excellent workshop. In case you're curious to see a few photos, follow this link on the Forum.

On Sunday, November 11, we ran our next Corporate Initiative event, following the October 27 launch. It was a Tea Dance held at a spacious studio in New York City Center, and this time around, we reviewed the Foxtrot and Swing and provided our corporate attendees with time and space to practice. We are already planning the next corporate member event. For those of you in the corporate sector who might be interested in participating in future events or if you are interested in what the program is about, send an e-mail to rsvp@nyusabda.org with the subject line "Corporate," and we'd be happy to keep you in the loop.
[IMG:mel_max1]Last Week on DWTS: Have I been too harsh on Mel B.? In her last few outings, I thought the judges gave her one too many 10s for dancing that was not particularly special. Well, last week, from the first steps of her stunning Paso Doble, I felt like Mel B. had finally come into her own. Not only was her costume dead-on, but she took control of the Paso like she had been dancing it for years. Her focus and her intensity in that dance was unmistakeable. The high scores she received this time from the judges were well-earned. Suddenly, Mel B. is becoming a serious contender for the top spot this season. A few more weeks to go, and anything can happen, but Mel B. seems to be the leader right now by a comfortable margin.

We say good-bye to the elegant Jane Seymour. Her departure was not a surprise, and we will miss her presence, but her time had come. And what is it this season with all the bad news? Jane's mom passed away earlier in the season and last week Marie's dad passed away. Then both Gloria Estefan and J Lo had to miss their performances on the show due to last minute emergencies. Just a little creepy, if you ask me. Let's hope that we're done with the unhappy news for a while.
[IMG:cubdt]Big Apple DanceSport Update: Columbia's first-ever ballroom dance competition is only three weeks away. Mark December 1 on your calendars because it is sure to be a terrific event. If you are planning to compete, the registration deadline is this Friday, Nov. 16. If you are planning to spectate on Saturday night to see the new partnership of Riccardo Cocchi and Yulia Zagoruychenko, buy your tickets now so you don't miss this chance to see this exciting new couple taking the floor for one of their very first performances anywhere. Tickets will surely sell out, so get yours now. For more information, check this post on the Forum.
Speaking of Yulia Zagoruychenko, you may have missed this open letter to the dance community from her and her former partner Max Kozhevnikov. The letter notes that Max and Yulia's last outing as a pro couple will be at the Ohio Star Ball, so all of you heading out to Ohio should make sure that you get seats for that historic final performance. For those (like me) who won't be able to make it, please let us know how it is.
Finally, some social dance suggestions: For other ideas, consult NJoy Dancing News & Notes and Wayne's Dance Commentary.
And that does it for this edition. Happy Veteran's Day!
Yang Chen
President
Greater NY
USA Dance
(NYUSABDA)
www.nyusabda.org
www.nyusabda.org/forums-df
yang.chen@nyusabda.org