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Welcome to the final newsletter of 2007. Hard to believe that another year is already under our collective belts. I hope 2007 has been a great year in dance for you; it has been an activity-filled one for our chapter, and if you were able to participate in any way in any of our socials, workshops, DWTS outings or the MAC, thank you for your support. And speaking of the MAC . . . .

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The MAC is less than three weeks away. Registration is now officially closed, and the hundreds of dancers that will be descending upon the Grand Ballroom at the Manhattan Center to compete at the Northeast Regional Championships will be practicing hard in the coming days to make sure that they make the finals -- perhaps even win -- in their respective events. The Open Championships in Standard and Latin look like they will start with quarterfinals, so those dancers hoping to secure a berth in the finals will have to dance through several rounds to get there. The same can be said for many syllabus events, such as Bronze Standard, which has more than 50 couples registered. To make the final at the MAC is thus truly a challenge and a major achievement.

Those of us behind the scenes organizing the MAC have been there, because many of us are former or current competitors ourselves, and we know about the hard work that goes into preparing for competition so that we can present our best dance performances on the floor. We remember not only the long hours of coachings and rehearsals but also the expense of dance shoes, costumes and travel. Competitive dancing is not a cheap hobby by any means. But those involved in it love every single minute.

Because we have not forgotten the hard work and dedication of the DanceSport athletes, we have created the MAC Scholarship Fund, so that we can recognize and reward the efforts of the dancers out there striving to achieve dance excellence. For over a decade, due to the generosity of our donors, our chapter has been able to present scholarships to the top dancers at every level at the MAC, from beginning dancers to the most advanced.

One of the main sources of the MAC Scholarship Fund is our MAC VIP program. MAC VIPs enjoy the energy and excitement of the MAC from the best seats in the house. This year, in the Grand Ballroom of the Manhattan Center (photo, left), the MAC VIPs will watch the MAC from the stage, providing an excellent vantage point from which to witness the couples vying for the top championship spots on Friday or Saturday night (or both).

MAC VIP tickets are $85 per person for either Friday or Saturday night or $150 per person for both. Besides getting the best seats in the house, MAC VIPs are treated to a reception to meet and greet our world class judging panel and the organizers. Throughout the evening VIPs are served light refreshments and snacks. For all the benefits, check out this post. And all the proceeds go to the MAC Scholarship Fund, to enable us to continue recognizing dance excellence at all levels at the MAC.

If you cannot participate as a VIP but wish to support the MAC, you can do so as a donor, as a vendor or advertiser, or as a MACBacker.

USA Dance is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, and as such all donations to the Greater NY Chapter are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It's a cliché but it's true: Every little bit helps, and we hope we can count on your support now.

(Photo, Inna Brayer and Pasha Pashkov, above, © Igor Ofenbakh.)

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The New Year's Eve Dance Gala is tonight, at Sandra Cameron Dance Center, 199 Lafayette Street, starting at 8 pm. We would be delighted if you could dance in to 2008 with us, so please come down to Nolita (or is it Soho?) with your favorite dance partner(s) and put on your dancing shoes. Admission at the door will be $55 for the general public, $45 for USA Dance members and $35 for students. It's the only mixed ballroom event in Manhattan on New Year's Eve as far as we know, so if you want to enjoy a variety of ballroom dances tonight, SCDC is the place to be.

Of course, if you prefer to ring in your New Year with other dance options, check out NJoyDancing News & Notes or Wayne's Dance Commentary (actually, Wayne will be at our party - good choice, Wayne!).

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Happy New Year to you all, and may it be filled with joy, prosperity, peace and dance, dance, DANCE!

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