Comments From Others: Line Dance Showdown, 2011

FROM: Denise Brault, VT
Just back from the Showdown – congratulation Jen and Jason for another great year. It was my 10th and it just keeps getting better. I wish I could have gone to every workshop, but here is what grabbed me:


Friday:

HIGH OFF UR VIBE – Amy Spencer Very sexy dance with a cute peek-a-boo move.

BORN THIS WAY – Craig Bennett Already knew this but enjoyed dancing it in open and it filled the floor

PERFECT – Guyton Mundy – ditto

ALL WEEKEND – Will Craig Was my first class with Will and he’s a great instructor. Very clear and easy to follow. This dance was easy, but fun because it’s fast.

LOVE IS YOUR COLOR – Junior Willis/John Robinson Had learned this from Junior previously but ducked into the class to dance it at the end. Beautiful dance, beautiful song.


RAISE YOUR GLASS – Rachael Been dancing this in VT. Filled the floor.


ARE YOU READY? – Amy Christian-Sohn My favorite of the weekend!! Still needs a little practice on all the hands, but Amy was amazingly gracious in going over it with us anytime we ran into her.


ONLY GIRL – Niels Poulsen – really wanted to take this but my feet needed a break.


TALKIN’ TO THE MOON - Joey Warren (taught by Scott) One of my new “best” dances. Lots of turns, but hits the music perfectly


STILL GOT THE BLUES – Niels Poulsen First time with Niels teaching. He’s very speedy but this waltz is pretty and not as hard as it looks. The 96 counts fly by.


NO GRAVITY – Dee Musk (taught by Dancin’ Dean) I liked this beginner dance. The song is very catchy and the ¾ turn kept me interested.


HYPNOTIZED – Shaz Walton (taught by John Robinson) Second time I missed a teach on this dance due to workshop scheduling. I really like it and it seemed to go over well.


Saturday:

HOLD MY HAND – Daniel Trepat Daniel is a great instructor and gave us a lot of tips on styling and making dancing “easier”. I still didn’t look as good as he does doing this dance though.


DANCING IN CIRCLES – Rachael We had learned this dance previously and I was disappointed to never see it danced in open dance.


UNCHAIN MY HEART – Steve Lescarbeau Didn’t take the teach but picked it up on the floor in open. Nice beginner dance to a good song.


POISON – Craig Bennett Been dancing this at home for quite awhile. Snuck into the end of the workshop to dance with Craig. I think more people would have taken this class, but being near dinner time folks went to get ready. Love the song.


A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE – Jacob Ballard (taught by Junior) Love this dance, keep missing the teach on it and can’t pick up the ending on the floor.


FALL APART – Dee Musk (taught by John Robinson) I have had two previous teaches on this dance and it never stuck because there are so many unusual turns. John broke it down so well we finally got it. Room was packed for the teach, but he moved around the room for each section so everyone could see. Unfortunately we only got to do it to music once in the class because it was a long teach. Everyone did pretty well with it in open dancing.


We had to leave early on Sunday, so didn’t get to take any workshops. Not sure I could have processed much more anyway!


Louie projecting the upcoming dances on the wall during open dancing was really helpful! He did a marvelous job keeping the floor full. Was great to see everybody. And yes, Jim, I showed my wrist band coming in to work this morning. J See you next year!

FROM: MARILYN MCNEAL, BoarsNestFarm@aol.com
Just back from the Boston Showdown and as usual, it was a great time! The event was held at a new hotel this year, in a wonderful city to tour and enjoy exceptional dining. A big crowd of dancers came to the Showdown, which runs perfectly with Jen and Jason in charge. It was also great to see many of our friends from the New England area (I’m originally from Connecticut) and of course, the Jersey Girls always make me smile! Good to see Linda having a great time and lookin’ great!

I took many classes, but I also missed some that everyone said were keepers, and these will be mentioned in other reports.

Rachael – Raise Your Glass, Let it Be, Cyclone, Make This Day, I’m No Good (#1 in Carol’s newsletter).
Scott – Cha Cha When, Right to Be Wrong (oldie), Always Gold, Talkin’ To the Moon (Joey’s). and Private Dancer.
Niels – Still Got the Blues, Only Girl, 1-2-3-4, I Belong to You.
Personal favorite for me is Rob Glover’s Midnight Swing!
Joey Warren taught us Soul Food, which is a new dance and will be a hit for sure.
But you have to learn it from Joey to get the full enjoyment of this dance! Special effects add to the fun! Check it out. The schedule of dances taught is still online for your review.
A Beginner Room and Swing Room were added this year, in addition to the Open Dancing that ran all weekend.

The Saturday night Show was the best I’ve seen in a very long time! Rachael and Guyton won the top prize for a very unique and creative skit, but all the other participants were also very entertaining. It was a night of fun and laughter, followed by a full floor of open dancing! I left the ballroom at 2am, and it was still going strong!

Thanks Jen and Jason, for another weekend of fun. We’re looking forward to Fun in the Sun in July, and hope everyone will support this Florida event in the summer!

FROM: Judy
I showed up for my first Showdown and it didn't let me down. It pretty much kept me up there on a high note throughout. Here are the highs:

Great dances and teaches. MIDNIGHT SWING by ROB GLOVER. I love the jive and finally Rob has brought an honest to goodness one to linedance and with his high energy, humor and technique tips, learning the dance from him is right up there in high heaven. When I thanked him for bringing the jive, he said he's also thinking of choreographing a Paso Doble. He's one of those rare dancers/choreographers that you can count on your fingers whose range is like Mariah Carey's octave range. They can dance and choreograph waltz to hip hop and everything in between. AMY SPENCER'S two dances: HIGH OFF UR VIBE and LIKE A NIGHTMARE. Both dances are oozing with cool, lots of attitude, wicked moves and body rolls. This is my first teach from Amy and she not only teaches you the steps and the techniques but the frame of mind that you should be engaging when executing those steps then urge you to "feel it!" Some people are very good at masking their feelings though. I see dancers on the floor with faces that say "I'd rather be driving". LET IT BE by RACHAEL McENANEY. I've faked this dance on the floor and not having had a chance to watch it on youtube, took her workshop. She instructs you to imagine holding a $100 on your extended right hand, look at it and follow it as you make a one and a half turn then imagine a gucchi (I'm not sure if that's spelled right since I don't own one) bag on the floor and dance around it. During and after the teach she kindly wishes you "good luck". A very nice thing to say since life can be fraught with uncertainties and unforeseen obstacles, and dancing a dance you just learned is no exception. What if your pants come loose, drop to your feet, trip you up and heaven forbid your smiley face underpants have tears in it's eyes? Can't believe that Rachael turns 30 in August. She's looking younger and better than ever. Advance Happy Birthday Rachael! NIELS POULSEN's I BELONG TO YOU - a beautiful captivating dance. It's the music, he says, and it's superbly entertwined with the dance. Two wonderful dances from WILL CRAIG: BIG BANG and ALL WEEKEND. I wanted to take AMY CHRISTIAN-SOHN's ARE YOU READY?, a dance continuing the line of Feel So Good and Jai Ho except that this one took it to the next level - more elaborate and intricate - unfortunately it was taught at lunchtime. Before this list gets too long, let me mention quickly the other great dances that I took and faked: Mmm DADA!!! by GUYTON MUNDY ; IT'S ALRIGHT by PIM VAN GROOTEL; ROY VERDONK's DJ FALLING IN LOVE AGAIN; COMFORT INN by ZAC DETWEILLER; AMY CHRISTIAN SOHN's ALWAYS; PRIVATE DANCER by SCOTT BLEVINS; HYPNOTIZED taught by JOHN ROBINSON; SO SAID JO by BRACKEN ELLIS POTTER. But the coolest most exciting dance of all was one not on the schedule. It grabbed me the moment I saw it on the dance floor. I had to jump right in. It's a soul linedance called SOUL FOOD (what else?) by Lorenzo "Golo" Evans done to a song by Fantasia "Collard Greens and Cornbread". It's a dance that lends itself to faking, if you can stomp your feet, bend your knees, point to the sky. move forward, backward, turn around on the same spot and do it with attitude, you can fake this. No directional challenges and if you miss a step or turn the wrong way you'll still find your place back. You don't need to go through the learning stages to get "high", like a car that goes from zero to sixty in seconds, by the 3rd time you point your finger to the sky, you're there.

Dinner and Showtime. This is the apex of the event and the only one of its kind that I know. Showdown entertainers perform to compete for cash prizes. The purse is prodigious by linedance standards - $1,500 for the 1st place winner and all the contestants get a cash prize. But first, the pre-show dinner which gives the diners first dibs on the choice seats at the ballroom. So the order in which the tables are released to get in there is hotly anticipated. There was no drawing from the hat, questions to answers or games to play but rather it was up to The JAMIE MARSHALL's fancy who was the emcee of the event. First she held two little girls in her arms and asked them for a number. Oh oh, these girls can only give numbers on their one hand and we were #6! Then it was somebody who had a birthday the day before. This wasn't going well since we didn't have children or birthday celebrants in our table..but wait she did say she can be bought...So I stood up and offered 20 bucks. It worked. Our table was called. No, she did not asked for the money, good thing too because I didn't have any. I wondered about that singular "the" before her name and I figured that there must be other Jamie Marshalls out there but only one who is a linedance superstar winner, a choreographer, teacher, event director and fanciful table mover that can't be bought hence the "the". I think I got it. And now (drumroll) the show starts. The first performers were introduced as a group from Africa. Out come the Dutch Triumvirate: ROY VERDONK, DANIEL TREPAT AND PIM VAN GROOTEL in hawaiian skirts and did a comedy skit to the Caribbean song Day-oh. It was followed by a hip hop number, then a ballroom dance by ROB GLOVER and a ravishingly beautiful partner, then a large group of men and women linedancers dressed in matching blue outfit followed by another couple who did a witty ballroom routine and finally RACHAEL and GUYTON as brother and sister who visit Wally Wonka and his chocolate factory that turned them into half man and half woman so both danced in a one leg pant and half a skirt. They win. Although it wasn't as hilarious are the African group, nor did they dance with compleat finesse and smoothness as Rob and his partner did, or danced the hip hop part with as much variety as the hip hop contestant, their routine taken as a whole trumps the competition so they got my vote. Coming to the show with very high expectations, it didn't quite hit that gasp-inducing, spellbinding wow factor that for instance I got when I first saw Barry and Dari Anne Amato's Ken and Barbie routine. Still Rachael and Guyton are two of most talented versatile performers in the linedance world that seeing them dance together is way up there in high heaven.

Choreography competition. Congratulations to SF bay area dancer JULIA WETZEL who won 2nd place for INNOCENT. Her first choreography! This girl doesn't bother with baby steps. No beginner dances to start with, she went right into intermediate and a gorgeous one at that. I thought it would take first place just as I thought LYN MARTINO's dance with one gloved hand would take first place in it's category. But then what do I know, I'm just a dancer who fakes a lot.

Dancers. Seeing and dancing with friends and acquaintances you only see at line dance events is a high "high" for me. Getting a hug from Carol is as heartwarming as comfort food. Making new friends is a big bonus. Sharing a meal with friends from back home is extra special. It was wonderful to have dinner before the show with Wendy and her friends from New York, with Ginger and her friends from New Hampshire and especially with Johanna Wise, an all around thoroughly beautiful person and host of the linedance radio show broadcast from Stanford which is right now on hiatus. Too bad that because of a table arrangement snafu, Lisa MacGuire who was supposed to sit at our table had to find another one.

The city. Boston is a dazzling city to visit. Having visited it only once before I took the day before and after the event to tour the city. The taxi driver said that it is sometimes likened to San Francisco. Well, they both have breathtaking waterfronts, Boston doesn't have the hills and San Francisco doesn't have the seasons but I think they are most alike because they have the same soul and the same social conscience. Speaking of seasons, in the 5 days that I was there, the temperature changed from winter to spring. The trees are still bare, brown and beautiful. In their skeletal form, they form an exquisite living lace of twigs and branches and they're everywhere. Stunning!

A big thank you and congratulations to JASON and JEN CAMERON on their 10th Showdown anniversary. Incredible event directors but I think the most low key and self-effacing. You'd think that Jason would at least say 10 words to mark their 10th anniversary but all he did was saunter across the dance floor before the show started and disappeared into the crowd and Jen made an appearance holding a box to assist Jamie. No 10 words either. But then action speaks louder than words. And the event came loud and clear.

Judy Romanenkov
judybmr@sbcglobal.net
www.jbmrpaintings.com

FROM: RHODA WONG IN MA, cpcuau at hotmail.com

We had a great time and wished we would have taken more workshops, stayed for more open dancing, given more energy and sleep. It is an exciting time when the Showdown comes to Boston. It’s spring and fun dancing with friends from near and afar, learning from the amazing choreographers, and seeing the Showdown.


Here are some impressions.

HOTEL – Boston Marriott Quincy, Quincy, MA is a nicely appointed hotel with comfortable guest rooms. The new hotel is well situated just south of Boston with public transportation to and from Boston and near the Logan Airport shuttle. The hotel staff is very friendly and helpful. Restaurants and shopping are nearby via hotel shuttle. My limited dining experience at the hotel was the Saturday evening showdown dinner which was sadly mediocre.


Ballroom and conference room hard wood dance floors were just wonderful – smooth, even, plenty of room and no obstructions like columns. The conference rooms were large, ample to handle the many classes and on the same level.


OPEN DANCING – interspersed during the day in a small ballroom with big party in the main ballroom in the evening to late night or whenever the last dancer left. DJ Wildman Louie offered up many great selections old and new and workshop teaches. Thursday night opened with a large crowd to start off the weekend and felt like a big party and homecoming for dancers from nearby and afar. Greatly appreciated seeing a projection screen of Louie’s upcoming 15 or so dances so dancers could plan ahead.


DANCE WORKSHOP DEMOS – well timed showing a couple of walls and offered the evening prior to classes. Saw lots of variety in dance choices. Having the step booklet was a great help in choosing new workshops and remembering the workshops taken.


INSTRUCTORS – great line-up, personable, talented and dancer friendly. Some new faces and dance styles to match.


WORKSHOPS – ran smoothly and on time. These are some of the classes I attended. I missed taking a surprise teach by Joey Warren SOUL FOOD (which we have since learned) – and enjoyed seeing it in open dance. Although a technique class was not scheduled per se, seems many instructors brought technique (jive kicks, night club floor coverage, musicality, spins, mood and attitude etc.) into their teaching of the dances. The experience is a little taste of ‘Dancing With the Stars’.


I liked most of what I took especially PRIVATE DANCER. And other friends who took TWIST WITH THE FAT BOYS, HIGH OFF UR VIBE, ONLY GIRL, HYNOTIZED, FALL APART, HOLD MY HAND, PLAYA, DJ FALLING IN LOVE were really happy with their choices. So, there are going to many dances to swap and learn after.


Thursday:
MY MOTIVATION (64ct/2w I) – taught by Guyton Mundy. Taught during the Thursday night free dance. This is an upbeat samba Latin number with Brian B hips and quick backward turning moves. We have been learning this prior to the Showdown.

Friday:


BORN THIS WAY (32ct/4w I) taught by Craig Bennett (Gaga tune), nice dance and music, quick lively steps remind a little of TURN ME LOOSE.


PERFECT (32ct/4w I), taught by Guyton Mundy (pop, nice song) no arms, tight head spinning turning steps, already knew this.


MIDNIGHT SWING (64ct/2w I/A), taught by Rob Glover, sat out resting my legs and watched the lesson including ‘how to dance jive instruction’. Rob’s dance is really well liked by the class. Will plan on taking this next time.


TALKIN TO THE MOON (32w/4w I) taught by Scott Blevins, liked this one. With Joey Warren helping at the back the class, we enjoyed this one. The beautiful music helps with the sequence. Expect a lot of interest back in our local classes too.


ON THE FLOOR (64ct/4w I) taught by Roy Verdonk, like the music which reminded me of

ROCK THIS PARTY, upbeat music with many restarts always happening on the original front wall, also sat out resting but got up to join the dancing.


STILL GOT THE BLUES (96ct/2w I) taught by Niels Poulsen. Nice dance, nice music. Niels taught the lesson rather in a hurry so I didn’t really get it till I noticed that some folks around me knew the dance already so I followed them and then enjoyed the dance.

Saturday:


LET IT BE (32ct/2w A) – taught by Rachael McEnenay. Nice music and dance. Another nice night club 2 from Rachael complete with holding cash in your outstretched hand to direct your turning feet and a Gucci bag on the floor to dance around in a half arc.


DANCING IN CIRCLES (372ct/2w I) – taught by Rachael McEnenay. A very fast waltz, already learned this but got a few pointers on key steps to improve getting around the circle


CHA CHA WHEN (32ct/2w I) - taught by Scott Blevins (I). Already learned this. Scott smoothed out the awkward parts for me as in the first 8ct torquing upper body does not mean dipping the knee (which bother a lot of knee sufferers). Also, Scott taught the final 8 ct without the huge spin that was confusing some dancers. Dancing this with less effort after taking the lesson.


THE LOVE YOU SAVE (32ct/4w I), taught by Rob Glover. Rob taught about a different rythym (similar to HO YAU YING) and also striking the back of the ball of the foot when dancing this. Music and style is Michael Jackson and a lot of fun.


QUIT TEASIN’ ME (32ct/4w B/I), taught by Rob Glover. For country music lovers - a risqué Toby Keith tune, there is another version I’m told. Anyway this is a cha with diagonals and turns, shimmies and shakes.


POISON (32ct/4w I) taught by Craig Bennett (nice tune from Nicole), nice dance and music, quick lively steps has you thinking.


Sunday:
MESSY LITTLE RAINDROPS (32ct/4w I) taught by Craig Bennett, nice dance and music.


GOOD GIRLS (64ct/2w I) taught by Craig Bennett, nice dance and music. New dance with some strait forward steps till the end.


PRIVATE DANCER (64ct/4w I) taught by Scott Blevins, great dance and music! Had been looking forward to taking this class since last fall when it was introduced. Scott suggested on the big turn in Part B turning on bended knee lowering the center of gravity. Haven’t tried it yet successfully but will work on it.


SO SAID JOE (32ct/4w I) - taught by Bracken Ellis Potter. Bracken taught the first 8ct by singing the rythym which was so much easier to understand than any other way to describe it. When the music came on it became quite recognizable.


THE SHOWDOWN – nice entertainment for an evening. My favorites were by Roy, Pim and Daniel in crazy African costumes singing Dee Ooh, Rob Glover and partner west coast dancing and Rachel and Guyton in a Willy Wonka themed show. Looking forward to next year’s event. Thank you Jen and Jason for a great time and for continuing to have the Showdown in MA.

FROM: Lestyn Gilmore

This was without a doubt the best workout and most fun I have had in years. The Workshops started at 9:00 a.m. and for 9 straight hours times 4 rooms you could learn new, exciting, challenging, and well choreographed line dances. And fabulous teachers (well the ones that I took were). Wow I was so impressed. These organizers were well organized. They knew who to hire and get the most "bang for your buck". The participants at least 400 if I had to guess were from all over the world. I met people from Ohio, Alabama, Connecticut, Toronto and countless other places. I didn't know one person. I didn't know one teacher, I had heard and probably taught some of their dances along the way, but I wouldn't know them if I fell over them.


My husband dropped me off at 9:15 a.m. on Friday and picked me up at 10:00 pm. I got in one class Roy Verdonk was teaching, I got in for part "B", hadn't seen "A" yet, but through repetion I got it. "Twist with the Fat Boys" by Chubby Checker, OMGosh what a great dance. I knew where I wanted to go from room to room, on their website they had a printout so you could figure out who's classes you wanted to take. I just guessed. I probably took 7 of 9 offered. By the time I got to the 4:00 guy, Roy again my mind was mush. And of course you know as well as I do when you're the most tired, what do they teach you something over the top. Yup that's the kind of dance it was and to make matters worse it was a 4 wall 64 count with 4 tags (fortunately the tags were all on the same wall) that was the saving grace.


And you know what!!!! Not one of the dances were country. Everything was either hip hop, jazz, swing, cha cha no country.


But believe me when I tell you I will be at the Quincy Marriott 2012 for the entire weekend and staying at the Marriott too. I don't want to miss out on one single thing.


It was well worth the price of admission. And this was my first year, it was their 10th anniversary. Where have I been for 10 years? They also have one in July in Orlando (I can't go) and one in November in Tampa (I can't go).


But I'll be in Boston for next March 31, April 1-2, 2012 (I have to double check the dates) and you should join me. You WON'T be DISAPPOINTED.


Sincerely, Lestyn Gilmore One "happy camper"