DANCE event reports

UCWDC WORLDS REPORT XVII
BY CAROL CRAVEN

Well, the first impression of the Coronado Report in Disney is certainly impressive. Inspired by the explorers who searched for the fabled Seven Cities of Gold, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Orlando celebrates the character and traditions of the American Southwest and northern Mexico. Here, palm-shaded courtyards and Spanish-style haciendas create the perfect climate for business and pleasure. Guests can soak up the sun at a five-story Mayan pyramid that towers over an elaborate themed pool area, or indulge in the flavors of Mexico, the Caribbean and South America at Maya Grill. Conveniently located in Disney's Animal Kingdom Resort area, Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is a stone's throw from all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, golf and nightlife. Here's a little video you can watch if you would like to see the hotel for yourself: http://adisneymeetings.disney.go.com/media/dwm/en_US/media/tools/pgt/PGT.html

The hotel is a series of buildings around a large lake (large enough for boats) and if you happened to be on the other side of the lake, you needed one. LOL. It was a lovely setting and even had beaches with hammocks and lovely walks back and forth to the rooms. I happened to be in a building that had been remodeled so we had a wonderful room with lots of space for everything and there were free refrigerators in every room. This place is huge. I think there was a football seminar going on in one wing of the convention center, a cheerleading thing in another wing and there was probably at least another wing to this building. You will be able to see from the pictures how big the hallway was. There were also just regular families there visiting Disney so it wasn't like your typical weekend line dance event but Worlds is never like a typical weekend line dance event because it's WORLDS!! You could drive your car back and forth to the convention center if you had a car and there were these little tram things that would take you if you were lucky enough to have one around when you needed it.

Registration was quick and everything was in packets so that was a nice start to the weekend.  Some people got there early in the week and most of the line dancers got there on Thursday early in the day and were hoping to be able to get into the vendor area and/or the open dance area but the passes started for the evening festivities so I did hear some complaints about that.  Of course, we always have the dance events start in the evening on Thursday so I really don't know if this will change.   You can order the step sheet book and/or the CDs on the Worlds Site.  www.ucwdc.org.  I thought the volunteers did a great job and people worked in shifts helping with every facet of the event.  This is a tremendous undertaking and I never can quite figure out how they get everything together from scheduling all the competition heats and the judges for all of that and then throwing in a huge show on Saturday night and setting up an entire auditorium for people to watch the competition and then doing the schedules and hiring the instructors for both the line and couples lessons and arranging for the vendors and doing the registration and decorations and organizing the awards and getting all the sound systems and music in the right place at the right time and trying to keep everyone happy and it goes on and on.   It's a HUGE undertaking and really there aren't that many people who put the whole thing together.  It would give me a headache thinking about doing it.  I just have to say I had a good time and I am grateful that we were able to experience this in our own back yard.  I hope everyone enjoyed the BEAUTIFUL weather in Florida.  We certainly enjoyed having you.  I met so many people I had never been able to meet before and to say hi to friends I had met before.  Thanks for coming up and saying hi and introducing yourselves.  That's always my favorite part of the weekend, to be able to put a face with an e-mail. 

There were wonderful vendors there with everything from clothes, belts, diamonte, hats, shoes, jewelry and even a place to get a foot massage. I took pictures of the vendors' tables and will add the websites of the ones I had that were there so you can contact them if you're interested in buying anything from them. There were a number of places to eat and, as at any big resort/hotel, the prices were a little steep and I always expect that, but I enjoyed going to the food court where you could choose from a variety of vendors for Mexican food, Chinese food, ice cream, burgers, chicken and all kinds of choices. There was also an upscale restaurant you could enjoy and you could order light food at the outside bar next to the lake and there was like a little deli inside where you could order pizza and sandwiches and finger foods and desserts and ice cream. They had shuttles running back and forth to the Disney Parks. This is probably the busiest weekend of the year for Disney so I would suggest the next time Worlds is in Orlando (which won't be for a few years) that you plan to stay after to do the parks or go early. They sold these refillable cups for like $12 and you could have free refills of coffee or sodas all weekend. I think they always do that at the parks, too, and it's really worth it to buy one of them if you're going to spend the day at Disney.

Now for the dance part. There was competition going on all day and night and you could dance and shop and watch the competition at your leisure. I didn't watch as much competition as I wanted to because I was dancing all day and night. There were demos of the dances for the next day and a full schedule of both free and paid workshops. I would suggest at Worlds that you buy the all-inclusive pass if you're just going for the line dance portion of the event because it includes both the free and paid ($9 a lesson) workshops. There is also a pass for the entire week that includes all the couples lessons. There were some good dances taught in both the free and the paid workshops and all of them are listed below with the videos. I'm not going to pick and choose dances because enough people have written in about their favorites and I missed the demo on Friday so I didn't see enough of the ones taught on Saturday to be fair. I will let you look at the videos below with the music (we got most of them) and decide for yourselves. The air conditioning was EXCELLENT and you know that's a biggie for me. LOL. The DJs all worked very hard to keep everyone happy and I was glad to see such a good mix of old and new dances played. I enjoy doing some of my old favorites and I thought the DJs did an excellent job of playing all the requests. The only complaint I had about the open dance room was the floor was one of those that was uneven and sticky so you had to be careful where you danced. I think there were probably a lot of messed-up shoes by the end of the weekend but it certainly didn't slow anyone down. If anyone complained about not being able to dance enough, well, they weren't at the same event I was!! There was a great list of instructors teaching at this event and everyone did their best to make the classes fun and informative.

Well, that's my take on the line dance portion of Worlds since I didn't come until Thursday. I had a really good time and it was great to be a part of this important dance event. Thanks to everyone who makes it happen every year and I know they are already planning for Worlds for next year, which will be back in Nashville at the beautiful Opryland Hotel. The competition results should be posted on the UCWDC site soon, if it's not there already. Congratulations to all the winners and congratulations to those of you who trained and competed and didn't win. There's always next year!!

BE SURE AND LOOK AT THE PICTURES!!

HERE ARE THE DANCES TAUGHT OVER THE WEEKEND.  Thanks, Stacy and Dallas, for gathering them up!!

TUESDAY:
Peter Metelnick
TUMBLING RUSH
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Mona Puente
MAKE MY DAY
(Francien Sittrop)

Alison Biggs
GO WITH THE FLOW
(Alison Biggs & Peter Metelnick)

John Robinson
GET ON THE FLOOR
(John Robinson)

Kate Sala
MADIBA MAMBO
(Kate Sala)

Guyton Mundy
ONLY GETS BETTER
(Guyton Mundy)

 

Judy McDonald
ELEVEN-01
(McDonald, Brady, Arroyo, Frohn, McLeod)
no video

Craig Bennett
WHAT HURTS THE MOST
(Craig Bennett & Shaz Walton)
VIDEO to Rascal Flatts song

VIDEO to Leona Lewis song

Bill McGee
RUMORS
(Bill McGee)
no video


Nigel Amon
BEGGIN
(Joey Warren)

Zac Detweiller
IN MY ARMS
(Zac Detweiller)

Jill Babinec
SNEAKER NIGHT
(Glen Pospieszny & Jill Babinec)
no video

Jo & John Kinser
HELL IF I
(Jo & John Kinser)

Guyton Mundy
CADILLAC RIDE
(Guyton Mundy)

John Robinson
POWER OF LOVE
(Tina Argyle)

WEDNESDAY:
Big Dave
WORK IT
(M.T. Groove)
no video

JITTERBUG STROLL
(Francois & Thomas)

John Robinson
FOUR ON THE FLOOR
(Thomas & Zimanski)
no video

Michel Platje
LOVED BY YOU
(D-Unit M&M)

Donna Caudill
JUST THE BASICS (Technique)

Dancin' Dean
I SPY
(Paul McAdam)

Daan Geelen
FREEDOM
(Daan Geelen & Matilda Onvlee)

Bracken Ellis-Potter
EASE ON DOWN
(Rachael McEnaney, JP &
Bracken Ellis-Potter)

Kate Sala
SALSAMIA
(Kate Sala)

Rachael McEnaney
GONNA CATCH YOU
(Rachael McEnaney)

Shaz Walton
WON'T BE LONG
(Shaz Walton)

Judy McDonald
FUNKIN' OVER 40 (Technique)

Peter Metelnick
CHANGE MY TUNE
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Guyton Mundy
NOTICE THE DANGER
(Guyton Mundy & Jordan Lloyd)

Michel Platje
ALABAMA
(Michel Platje & Zwiers)

Daan Geelen
I BELIEVE
(Daan Geelen & Nijhuis)
no video

Alison Biggs
JUST DANCE
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Jill Babinec
UNCHAIN MY HEART
(Raymond Sarlemijn)

Guyton Mundy
DREAMS
(Craig Bennett & Guyton Mundy)

Rob Glover
SAMBA (Technique)

Bracken Ellis-Potter
I HELD YOUR HAND
(Niels B Poulsen)

Sondra Crank
CALABRIA
(Bryan McWherter)
no video

THURSDAY:
Rachael McEnaney
LOST IN YOU
(Rachael McEnaney)

Lindy Bowers
I DANCE
(Susan Puruleski)

Peter Metelnick
PACIFICO
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Gerard Murphy
PURE LOVE
(Gerard Murphy)
no video

Marilyn McNeal
BOSSY
(Michele Perron)

Judy McDonald
SWEET SWEET WINE
(Judy McDonald)

Max Perry
WEDDING SAMBA
(Max Perry)
no video

Nigel Amon
STEPPING STONE
(Joey Warren & Debbie McLaughlin)
no video

Janis Graves
LET IT GO
(Bryan McWherter)

Guyton Mundy
BALL OUT
(Will Craig)

THURSDAY CON'T:
Kate Sala
PARTY POPPER
(Kate Sala)

Rachael McEnaney
MUEVE LA COLITA
(Rachael McEnaney)

Kathy Hunyadi
ETERNALLY YOURS
(Kathy Hunyadi & John Robinson)
no video

John Robinson
DROP THE BEAT
(John Robinson)

Joanne Brady
TEDDY BEAR SQUEEZE
(Dan Albro)

Scott Blevins
BRUCIE
(Scott Blevins)

Rona Kaye
MISS U 2
(Niels B Poulsen)

Kathy Brown
REVENGE
(Kathy Brown)

Bracken Ellis-Potter
BUBBLE SWEET
(Bracken Ellis-Potter)
no video

Gerard Murphy
TAKE ME AWAY
(Gerard Murphy)

Arline Winerman
CHEATIN' LOVE
(Niels B Poulsen)

Guyton Mundy
ONLY GETS BETTER
(Guyton Mundy)

Maurice Rowe
JUMP ON THIS
(Maurice Rowe)

Sandy Albano
SHAKE IT FOR ME
(Jordan Lloyd)

FRIDAY:
Kathy Hunyadi
LET ME TAKE YOU THERE
(Kathy Hunyadi)
no video

Mona Puente
CHA CHA WITH ME
(Niels B Poulsen)


Dancin' Dean
MISSION TO PLEASE
(Dan McInerney)


Max Perry
WHAT A SURPRISE
(Max Perry)


Jo & John Kinser
STUPID SHSH..
(Jo & John Kinser & Mark Furnell)


Sondra Crank
ROCKET TO THE MOON
(Kinson & Thompson)
no video


Clive Stevens
CUBAN MOTION SPEED
& POWER (Technique)


Scott Blevins
CREEPIN'
(Scott Blevins)


John Robinson
WE SHOULD BE DANCING
(John Robinson)
no video


Barry Durand
AMERICAN BOY
(Barry Durand)


Junior Willis
INVISIBLE
(Junior Willis & Buckner)
no video


Peter Metelnick
LIKE A DREAM
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)


Rona Kaye
I HELD YOUR HAND
(Niels B Poulsen)


Joanne Brady
TANGO CHA
(Jo Thompson Szymanski & Szekely)


Max Perry
RIGHT NOW
(Max Perry & Kathy Hunyadi)


Rob Glover
HOW TO LOOK GOOD
ON THE DANCE FLOOR (Technique)


Kathy Hunyadi
RUN THE SHOW
(Sobrielo Philip Gene)


Emily Drinkall
SPOTLIGHT
(Emily Drinkall)
no video


Scott Blevins
KEEP IT REAL
(Scott Blevins)


Craig Bennett
WHAT'S THE DEAL
(Craig Bennett, Dee Musk, & Shaz Walton)


Guyton Mundy
NOTICE THE DANGER
(Guyton Mundy & Jordan Lloyd)


Bracken Ellis-Potter
SERIOUS
(Bracken Ellis-Potter)
no video


Rob Glover
BALERA SHUFFLE
(Rob Glover & Nigro)
no video


Rachael McEnaney
PURPLE RAIN
(Rachael McEnaney)


Zac Detweiller
SWING-N-CHA
(Zac Detweiller & Patrick Fleming)
no video


Donna Caudill
TURNS & SPINS (Technique)


Joanne Brady
TURN DOWN THE LIGHTS
(Paul & Karla Dornstedt)

 

Barry Durand
SINGLE LADIES
(Barry Durand)

SATURDAY:
Craig Bennett
KEEP IT BURNIN'
(Craig Bennett & John Robinson)

Sandy albano
GIMMIE A CHANCE
(Maggie Gallagher)

Joanne Brady
PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR HEART
(Jo Thompson Szymanski)

Gerard Murphy
PARTY DOWN...UNDER
(Gerard Murphy)
no video

Shaz Walton
INSOMNIA
(Shaz Walton)

SATURDAY CON'T:
Barry & Dari Anne Amato
JOHNNY'S SONG
(Doug & Jackie Miranda)

Guyton Mundy
DREAMS
(Craig Bennett & Guyton Mundy)

Lilian Lo
LATINO
(Arvidson & Kawamoto)
no video

Big Dave
EVERYTHING ABOUT U
(Paul McAdam)

Max Perry
WEDDING SAMBA (Max Perry)
no video

Junior Willis
SUGAR LIPS
(Junior Willis & John Robinson)

Rachael McEnaney
JR DROP
(Rachael McEnaney & Jessica Langstaff)

John Robinson
'O' [ALL NITE LUV]
(John Robinson)
no video

Scott Blevins
FEEL
(Scott Blevins)

Brian Barakauskas
UNDERSTANDING MUSIC TO MAKE
YOU A BETTER DANCER (Technique)

Junior Willis
DANCE ALL NITE
(Junior Willis)

Kate Sala
RED LIGHT
(Kate Sala & Daan Geelen)

Maurice Rowe
WOMANIZER
(Maurice Rowe)

Barry Durand
CHICKEN FRIED
(Barry Durnad)
no video

Max Perry
RIGHT NOW
(Max Perry & Kathy Hunyadi)

Barry & Dari Anne Amato
HOT FLASH
(Barry & Dari Anne Amato)
no video

Kate Sala
ANYTHING GOES
(Kate Sala & Newey)

Peter Metelnick
FROM THIS MOMENT
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Scott Blevins
BRUCIE
(Scott Blevins)

Clive Stevens
WALTZ LIGHT & SHADE (Technique)

Rachael McEnaney
EASE ON DOWN
(Rachael McEnaney, JP & Bracken Ellis-Potter)

Alison Biggs
BABY BELIEVE
(Peter Metelnick & Alison Biggs)

Kathy Brown
SLOW TEMPTATION
(Kathy Brown)

SUNDAY
Barry & Dari Anne Amato
GAZEBO WALTZ
(Barry & Dari Anne Amato w/ Doug & Jackie Miranda)
no video

Janis Graves
CHICKEN FRIED
(Tony & Lana Wilson)

Lindy Bowers
TIME THAT IT WOULD TAKE
(Lindy Bowers & Janis Graves)

Junior Willis
BACK TO ME
(Junior Willis)
no video

Michel Platje
SPEED
(D-Unit M&M)

Kathy Hunyadi
FORGIVE ME
(Kathy Hunyadi)

Brian Barakauskas
LATIN (Technique)

Emily Drinkall
ESCAPE
(Emily Drinkall)
no video

Jill Babinec
LOVE'S ON THE INSIDE
(Jill Babinec & Scott Schrank)

Big Dave
BABY I'M DONE
(Dee Musk)

Daan Geelen
TEARDROPS
(Daan Geelen)
no video

Bill McGee
CELEBRATE
(Bill McGee)
no video

Judy McDonald
NO TIME
(Judy McDonald)
no video

Scott Blevins
WHY DID YOU LIE TO ME
(Jo Thompson Szymanski)

Peter Metelnick
HOT SPOT
(Team International)

Arline Winerman
SHINE ON
(Francien Sittrop)

John Robinson
FOUR ON THE FLOOR
(Thomson & Ziminski)
no video

Max Perry
WHAT A SURPRISE
(Max Perry)

Marilyn McNeal
I WONDER WHY
(Niels B Poulsen)

Guyton Mundy
CADILLAC RIDE
(Guyton Mundy)

Gerard Murphy
QUICKSAND
(Gerard Murphy)
no video

Rachael McEnaney
VIVA LA VIDA
(Rachael McEnaney)

ADDED - NOT ON SKED
Kathy Brown
PEPITO DEL BO
(Christa Klaasenbos)
no video

Rachael McEnaney
MISS CALIFORNIA
(Rachael McEnaney)

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