This month I’ve been helping Pat Traymore continue story telling on her Patreon page. Pat is currently working on a story about Ned Wayburn. It’s hard to believe that Pat, age 97, with her 83+year career, has been in the business so long, that her career actually overlapped with Mr.Wayburn. Pat is probably the last living person in our industry to have worked with him. Prior to working with Pat, I had no idea who Mr. Wayburn was. He made some fascinating contributions to the dance industry. This story will be published in June.
Monday, May 24, 2021
Monday, May 3, 2021
checking in
This week I'm looking forward to coaching time with Nick Short at the Hollywood Ballroom. Dance life has been quiet for me, but it's still going. I'm back on the floor but only dancing with close friends. A few hours of dance practice each week keeps my heart going. I'm still helping Pat Traymore with her biographical project. Pat has nearly completed the story of her life, and she's started a new historical video series called Footnotes. You can learn about Pat's story here: Pat Traymore is creating the story of her life | Patreon At age 97, Pat is living with the assistance of a part time aide. The money from her Patreon account is going to help with Pat's cost of care, which is continuously rising.
I'm trying to set aside some time each Monday to check in. I've managed to reduce my screen time, and hours online, but continue to blog as a weekly check in. Since starting a digital detox, I've felt less stressed and more focused, especially with my dancing and exercise.
2021 has brought good luck to me so far, I've spent more time in the present moment, and it feels good. I'm focusing my dance efforts with friends and family. The next several weeks and months will be concentrated on closed syllabus work. I'm not in a rush to return to the competitive floor or travel to distant dance events. I feel it is best to wait for the world to settle into Post Covid life, before jumping back into the event circuit and travel.
It's a nice feeling, knowing that the years of of frequent travel are behind me. I had always intended to live the fullest life in dance, check all the boxes, and then slow down. I thought this wouldn't happen until age 50, but it seems I arrived at that point a bit sooner than expected. I still look forward to many dance events, but doing so with a focus on social and fun. Formal competitions I intend to limit to not more than 4 per year. I remember at peak, doing 26 events per year, and I'm happy those days are over.
The pandemic shut down has really helped me discover something deep. It helped me to restart and make choices for a more authentic, and less complicated way of life.
Thursday, April 15, 2021
Is the Hotel Pennsylvania closing?
I'm very sad to hear the latest news about the Hotel Pennsylvania in NYC. The Hotel is now at risk for demolition in the city's latest plan to extend Penn Station's footprint. Also at risk are St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, The Stewart Hotel, and the Penn Station Service Building.
The Hotel is well known for music and dancing history, as it was home to the Cafe Rouge. In the 1930's and 1940's had a big band remote connection to the NBC Radio Network, and was famous for performances by The Glenn Miller Orchestra, The Andrews Sisters, and Count Basie.
Friday, January 15, 2021
My event history
2021
August - Newport Rhode Island, Naragansett
October - Swing 46, NYC
2020
January 10-13 : Snowball Dancesport, Minneapolis MN
February 27 - March 1st : New York Dance Festival
March- December events canceled due to COVID crisis
2019
October 2019 - Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage
September 2019 - The New England Open
July 2019 - Dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
July 2019 - Twin Cities Dancesport, Minneapolis Minnesota
May 2019 - The Washington Open
April 2019 - The Strauss Ball
April 2019 - DCLX
April 2019 - Wisconsin State Dancesport Championships
October 27 - Studio Fall Showcase
December 8 - Avant Garde Holiday Party
December TBA - Childrens' Holiday Studio Recital
December 31st - Yuletide Ball Gala
2018
September 2018 - Dardanella, The Gatsby Picnic
July 2018 - Dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
June 2018 - Washington Area Summer Showcase
April 2019 - Washington Area Spring Freestyles
April 2018 - DCLX
April 2018 - The Strauss Ball
2017
December 2017 - Holiday Dance-O-Rama
December 2017- Holiday Showcase
July 2017 - Dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
April 2017 - The Strauss Ball
April 2017 - DCLX
May 2017 - Dardanella Gatsby Picnic
January 2017 - The Snowball, Minneapolis MN
2016
July 2016 - Dancing with the Glenn Miller Orchestra
April 2016 - DCLX
April 2016 - The Strauss Ball
2015
November 2015 - Ohio Star Ball
August 2015 - Empire State Dancesport Championships
2014
October - First Coast Dancesport Championships, Florida
Embassy Balll
August - Capital Dancesport Championships
August -Heart of America
July - Twin Cities, Minneapolis MN
June - Millenium Dancesport, Florida
May - The Washington Open
May - The American Star Ball, Atlantic City, NJ
May - Peoples Choice, Arizona
April - Wisconin State Dancesport, Wisconsin, Top Gun Award
February - New York Dance Festival, NYC
February - Maryland Dancesport Championships
February - Florida Superstars, St. Petersburg, FL
January - Nashville Stars
2013
Dance For the Cure, Washington DC
December - Holiday Classic Las Vegas, 1st Place Best of the Best 9 Dance
November - Ohio Star Ball , 3rd place Bronze Best of the Best with Sophia D'Angelo
October - New Jersey State Open
October - Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage
September - USDC
September - Windy City Open
August - Capital Dancesport Championships
July - Virginia State Dancesport Championships
July - Twin Cities Dancesport, Minneapolis, MN
June - Yankee Classic, Boston
May - The Washington Open
May - Atlanta Open
April - Wisconsin State Dancesport Championships
February - Florida Superstars
February - New York Dance Festival
February - Maryland Dancesport Championships
January - The Snow Ball, Minneapolis, MN
January - Nashville Stars
2012
December - Yuletide Ball
December - Holiday Classic, Las Vegas
November - Ohio Star Ball
October - The New Jersey State Open
August - USDC
September - The Windy City Open
August - Capital Dancesport Championships
June - Millenium Dancesport Championships
May - The Atlanta Open
May - The Washington Open
April - Wisonsin State Dancesport Championships
February - New York Dance Festival
February - Florida Superstars
January - The Snowball
2011
December - Yuletide Balll
October - Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage
September - The Windy City Open
July - Virginia State Dancesport Championships
June - The Virginia Beach Lindy Excgange
April - The Strauss Ball
March - The Vegas Open
February - The New York Dance Festival
2010
December - Yuletide Ball
November - The Carolina Classic ?
October - The Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage
August - Empire Dancesport Championships
July - Virginia State Dancesport Championships
April - Maryland Dancesport Championships
2009
December - Yuletide Ball
April - Variety's Ballroom Blitz
2008
December - Yuletide Ball
October - The Pennsylvania Ballroom Scrimmage
August - The Windy City Open
May - Dancing A"La Carte, Springfield Mass
May - The Strauss Ball
April - DCLX
2007
December - Yuletide Ball
October - The American Lindy Hop Championships
2007 - Empire State Dancesport Championships
June - The Chesapeake Ball
May - The Strauss Ball
April - DCLX
March - Las Vegas Dance O'Rama
March - The Harrisburg Area Showcase
2006
December - Yuletide Ball
December - Severna Park Holiday Ball, MD
November - Atlantic City Dance O'Rama
September - Arthur Awards, Mid Atlantic
May - The Strauss Ball
April - DCLX
2005
October - The Navy Ball
October- Jammin on the James
June - VBLX, The Virginia Beach Lindy Exchange
April - DCLX
April - The Strauss Ball, Washington DC
2004
April - Triangle Dancesport
June - The Virgnia Beach Lindy Exchange
2003
October - Yehoodi Y6A
October - The Count Basie Centenial
October- DCDI
2002
May - International Dance Studios Showcase, Virginia Beach, VA
2001
Rhythms Around the World Showcase, Virginia Beach VA
2000
The Navy Ball
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