USA Dance Newsletter July 2013

USA Dance - Tidewater Chapter

July 2013

Newsletter A Letter from the President

by Raymond Smith

We are almost through the first half of the year and it has been a very good year. Attendance and new memberships are up again this year – kudos to the Membership and Social Dance Committees. We have listened to the Chapter membership and supporters through the various surveys and have made some changes, including trying some new music providers, new instructors and making some changes to the playlists.

Raymond Smith, President

Ron & Regina Dinoso, Editors

The next six months will be a challenge and we are encouraged by the new members who have stepped up to the plate and volunteered to assist in some exciting new upcoming events. These include some new Chapter-sponsored new member dance instruction to bolster our on-going “New Dancer Reimbursement Program”, planning for our 1st National Ballroom Dance Week (NBDW) event in a very long time, support to the opening ceremony for the updated Pembroke Mall and big changes in our annual New Year’s Weekend event. We are also planning on having our first dance at DancesportVA in August (our August and September dances will be at that venue) to be a potluck dinner event since that venue has a separate room that will work well for this type of event.

in this issue A Letter from the President

1

2013 National Conference

2

Flash Mob for National Ballroom Dance Week

3

2013 Election Process

4

Intro. to Ballroom Dancing Classes in Chesapeake

5

Let’s DANCE!

5

River City Competition

6

Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship Program

6

Member Center

7

Current Board Members

7

We have also had members participate in several dance competitions this year. Joe and Shelly Brogan participated in the Mid-Atlantic Nationals and placed 2nd in the Senior II Championship Smooth and 3rd in the Senior I Championship Smooth. In addition, Ron Dinoso took two of his youth students, Jordan Carpenter and Laura Delprat-Maton, to participate in the River City Competition in Richmond and they also came away with First Place awards in all their dances.

Laura was also invited by the Richmond Chapter to

perform a Tango routine at the USA Dance National Conference in March in Richmond. She was the youngest performer at the event and she was well received by the participants.

See separate articles on all of these programs and events in other sections in this issue of our Chapter Newsletter.

Our use of automation to speed up the check in process for our monthly dances has had some glitches and we thank you all for your patience and cooperation. National went to a new membership system and database in March and there are still some challenges National has yet to resolve regarding the Chapter social dancer database. These challenges have had some trickle-down effect on the Chapters but they are being resolved in good order and we should be able to get back on track soon on our procedure.

This is also an election year and we are looking for some new faces and ideas on the Board. If you feel that you would be interested, see the separate article on the election process. There are numerous opportunities to put your talents to work in the Chapter management and committee support, so please consider how you might contribute to the Chapter and its programs and goals.

Have a great and safe summer and I’ll see you at our monthly dances. 

2013 National Conference

by Regina Dinoso

The 2013 National Conference in Richmond was an experience from March 7-10, 2013. Ron and I arrived early on Friday morning to join Annette and Ray Smith who were there for the entire event from Thursday through Sunday. As a new member of the board, it was my first time attending conference and I was excited and a little unsure of what to expect. We were warmly greeted by everyone and quickly jumped into workshops. I was packed with information from 7 different workshops and I will be following up with the board with my notes. It’s hard to explain how motivating it was to learn about Recruiting & Retaining membership with Marta Pascale and it was an honor and inspiration to hear from Angela Prince & Ben Mosely on Websites, Marketing and Social Media. I learned some great perspectives from Jim Cecca about working with teams and volunteers and it was interesting how many ideas linked from one workshop to another. I also spent an hour in Bill Rose’s workshop on the new membership management system and was privileged to get some personal time to pick his brain and go through some of the features after the class. One unexpected workshop I dropped into was for music, learning about regulations on music and resources for Chapters, DJ’s, studios, and instructors. Maria St. John was a fountain of information on this and by the end of her workshop I felt like we only had a taste of her knowledge and learned only a small portion from her experience.

Friday night was my favorite of course because it was an honor and delight to have one of our students, Laura Delprat-Maton, perform her Tango with Ron for part of the entertainment throughout the evening!

Her mother, Catherine Maton and I were so proud to watch her quick movements around the floor and demonstrate the character of the dance impressively for a 16 year old. I have to say, I’ve grown very fond of Laura and her mother since we met and will miss them dearly when they move to France in July. Later in the night, the Chapter of the Year was announced and while we didn’t make 1st place, I’m proud to say we were runner up with an honorable mention. I met several people throughout the weekend that attended our New Year’s weekend events in prior years and all of them enjoyed our events and were quick to share a few positive words about their experience.

For a finale on Saturday night just before winding down for the night, we were given recognition again, for 1st place for the Chapter wreath competition. Our wreath was filled with beach items put

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together from a medley of ideas from the ladies on the Tidewater Chapter board. It was fun shopping with Annette for some of the items and I enjoyed creating the final touches even if I did get sick from the moss. A picture doesn’t capture all the details, but you can see some of it if you look closely and maybe the wreath will show up at a future event on the registration table.

I thank USA Dance and the Richmond Chapter for hosting a wonderful weekend of training, brainstorming and of course, dancing! 

Flash Mob for National Ballroom Dance Week

by Regina Dinoso

National Ballroom Dance Week will be upon us before you know it on Sept. 20-Sept. 28, 2013. We polled our members about doing something special during this week and bounced around ideas from your feedback.

We are excited to announce the results from that and have created a partnership with Pembroke Mall for a special event on Sept. 21st, 2013 from 11am - 3pm for performances that will start with a Flash Mob Routine that everyone can participate in, and then followed by local studio performances.

share with others that would like to participate. If you plan to participate, be a Dance Team Leader with your own group or offer classes, please email your name, email address and phone number to membership@twcusadance.org and let us know how you plan to participate and on which date(s).

Members of USA Dance and volunteers have been working hard to put together a routine for a Flash Mob. On Saturday, June 15, 2013 all USA Dance members were invited to participate in a class to learn the fun routine and asked to attend another class/ rehearsal on Saturday, June 22, 2013 followed by a video recording. The routine consisting of three songs — Cha Cha, Swing/Jive and Hustle that is easy enough for beginners to participate with practice.

There will be classes scheduled at various locations to learn, you can find information on our Dance Team Leader classes on our www.twcusadance.org.

There will be classes offered from studios/instructors to learn/practice routines at a cost in July, August and possibly in September. We will post any of the classes offered by USA Dance members/ instructors if you email us the details.

Participants are welcome to learn routine from video that will be posted on our website and on Facebook; however, we encourage all to connect with a group leader for at least one practice and/or stage in mall with that group in designated areas.

There are two separate opportunities to join us for the Flash Mob being coordinated and participants have the option to participate in either one or both. The first event at Pembroke Mall will be on August 4th, 2013 for their Grand Re-Opening event at some point prior to their free concert in the afternoon. The second event will be on September 21st, 2013 where our dancers will surprise shoppers at some point in the afternoon. If you would like to participate in the event, please contact membership@twcusadance.org for more details.

Exact times of the performance will be given to participants only. However, we encourage all to shop at the mall on these days in the afternoon to see the fun festivities.

We have several Dance Team Leaders that will be staged around the mall to lead the participants for the routine wearing a combination of red, white and blue with a red flower either pinned on them or in their hair. We encourage you to look for them the afternoon of event dates and stage around them to watch or participate. Please do not make it known why you are waiting/shopping in the mall to others around you. This is a surprise for all shoppers to enjoy.

We will post the demo video in July on our website at www.twcusadance.com and on our Facebook page for you to learn/practice the routine at home and

After the routine, volunteers will help the chapter pass out flyers about USA Dance to promote ballroom dancing in Hampton Roads to shoppers.

Thank you to Allie Pietrowski, Gina Harvey, Tammy Potter, Damir Abudullaev, Ronald Dinoso and Regina Dinoso for working together on music, creating the routine and/or participating with the classes for demo video. We would like to thank A Time To Dance Studio & Rants Ballroom Studio for donating the space to create, practice and host free lessons for USA Dance members to participate in demo video.

We would like to thank Sarah Beth Stone for her time and talent to record, edit and create the demo video. We would also like to thank Susie Wentworth and all the staff at Pembroke Mall for working with our Chapter to host the events and for their support to help promote ballroom dancing in Hampton Roads.

And a special thanks to everyone else dedicating their time and talents to be in the video, give classes, learn the routine or to promote these events. This Flash Mob could not be a Grand Success without all of your help! ď ś Read this article online: http://twcusdance.org/

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 | July 2013 Newsletter |

3

2013 Election Process

by Ray Smith

This is an election year for both the Chapter and National. The process is different for the National election and Chapter elections. You can see a copy of the National By-Laws at this link: http://twcusadance.org/election.html#top_page.

National Election National elections are held in accordance with Article X, National By-Laws, dated January 1, 2013.

Last election, ballots were available in the American Dancers magazine. The procedures for this

Chapter Election

11

For Chapters, the election process is different. See the National By Laws, Article XII F. The Chapters elect a set of Board Members from a slate of candidates. The slate is determined by an Election Committee of 2-3 Chapter members in good standing that are not, themselves, candidates for the Board and may not support any nominee. They will solicit current/former Board members for possible candidates. A Chapter member in good standing can ask that his/her name be added to the slate. Any Chapter member can nominate another Chapter member in good standing but must obtain a statement from that individual that, if elected, he/she agrees to perform the duties and responsibilities of a Board Member if elected. The Chapter may have a minimum of seven (7) and a maximum of nine (9) Board Members.

The Chapter will be sending out a notice, by mail, at the beginning of September with instructions on the election and will include a copy of a nomination form and a copy of the acceptance, if elected, statement. Any candidate can, and is encourage to, submit a statement of credentials, experience, and/ or vision if elected as part of the nomination. The Chapter will make these statements available to the membership along with a ballot. Ballots will be mailed to the membership in October with instructions on how to remit a completed ballot.

Elections will be held in the month of November.

There will be three ways of voting: by paper ballot, by email or by an on line ballot. Instructions for each of these options will be posted on our Chapter website shortly. We will also send out the instructions by email and by regular mail for those without internet access.

If there more candidates than positions to fill, then the election committee will hold a separate meeting to tally the votes. All candidates and any member in good standing will be able to attend the counting of

4 | July 2013 | USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008

year’s election are published in the current issue of American Dancers and on the National Website: http://www.usadance.org.

the votes. If there are not enough candidates to fill the Board vacancies, the Election Committee will still count the votes but will affirm that slate is accepted by unanimous vote of the Chapter membership.

The elected Board Members will meet in December with the members of the outgoing Board to pass on any administrative information, papers, etc. The incoming Board will then select the Officer positions – President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer, from within the Board membership. The remaining Board members will be considered “At Large” members and will be assigned to the various Committees by the incoming President. The official announcement of the new Officers and Board Members will be made at the Chapter’s New Year’s Eve Dance. 

2013 Election Links: National: http://usadance.org/news/news-andpress/notice-of-upcoming-usa-dance-election-to-beheld-in-2013/ Chapter: http://twcusadance.org/election. html#top_page

L e t ’ s

D A N C E !

Let’s DANCE!

Intro. to Ballroom Dancing Classes in Chesapeake

by Regina Dinoso

Tidewater Chapter has recently partnered with the City of Chesapeake, Parks and Recreation Center to offer introduction classes to ballroom. The classes are being offered in Chesapeake since the majority of ballroom studios are located in Virginia Beach. Our mission is to offer classes at Bronze/Beginner level to help encourage people to learn ballroom and attend socials and other ballroom events.

Each month instructors will offer a 4-week series on a style of dance. Classes are offered on Mondays from 6pm – 7pm for $30 if you are a Chesapeake resident and $35 if you are not a resident. You must register for the classes either online at www.

CityofChesapeake.net/Guide or you can register in person at any Community Center in Chesapeake.

The classes will be held at the Great Bridge Community Center at 212 Holt Drive, Chesapeake, VA 23322.

with them. If they have any questions they can contact Regina at (757) 636-0264 or email membership@twcusadance.org. 

There are codes associated with each 4-Week series that you need to use for registering. The classes for the next three months are as follows. »»

July 8 – July 28 Mambo: Program #3468-51

»»

Aug 5 – Aug 26 West Coast Swing: Program #3468-52

»»

Sept. 9 – Sept 30 Waltz: Program #3468-53

If you know anyone that would be interested in beginner’s classes, please share this information

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 | July 2013 Newsletter |

5

River City Competition

by Scholarship Committee

Earlier this year, Tidewater Chapter awarded Jordan Carpenter and Laura Delprat-Maton for scholarships to compete at the River City Ballroom Competition in March 2013. We are pleased to announce that both girls won 1st place in their heats, competing with their instructor Ronald Dinoso.

Laura & Ron on the floor

Jordan showing off her dress

Laura was entered in Pre-Bronze Proficiency for Cha Cha, EC Swing and Rumba. She graduated from Maury High School, and plans to go to college in France, called Politic Science to study Finance and Economics. She is 17 and loves dancing and making her friends happy. She started ballroom about 2 years ago, with Regina Dinoso in a Kid’s Ballroom class at Mambo Room. She really liked it and when Regina asked her to join her adult classes at the Blocker YMCA, she agreed. At last year’s New Year’s Gala you may have seen her perform a Tango with Ron or assist with the decorations committee. Later in the weekend she was asked to perform the same routine at the USA Dance National Conference in Richmond and enjoyed the event. She states she loves dancing and to keep on dancing forever!

Jordan was entered in Newcomer Proficiency for Waltz, Foxtrot and Tango. She is 20 and currently a student at ODU and considering International Studies. Her hobbies when she isn’t ballroom dancing are surfing, hiking, camping and writing stories. She started learning ballroom at the Great Bridge YMCA with Paula Potter about 3 years ago and continued

the class with Ron and Regina about 2 years ago. Her parents suggested she try the class and she thought it would be fun. You may have seen her in the last two years helping at the New Year’s Gala checking in people and helping on the decorations committee.

Currently, she is helping to serve on the social committee for Tidewater Chapter.

Ron has been involved in the ballroom community for several years. He started teaching at Magic Moments where he met his wife, Regina. They currently teach together at various locations around Hampton Roads and both assist the Tidewater Chapter where Ron is the Public Relations Chair and Regina as the Membership Chair.

Both Jordan and Laura sent beautiful cards thanking the chapter for their scholarships. We hope they continue their dance experience in future years and wish them luck in the future. 

Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship Program

by Raymond Smith

Wanda Smith has assured a bright future for the young people in our community. With her passion for service, our kids will have a strong foundation in the arts, benefiting them well into their adult lives by giving them confidence in themselves.

In honor of Wanda Smith, one of the founding members of the Tidewater Chapter, Chapter Officer and the perennial Chairperson of our annual New Year’s Weekend event, we initiated in 2012 the Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship program.

The program was started in response to Chapter members who wished to honor Wanda’s commitment to the Chapter and ballroom dancing. Initial donations were supplemented by the Chapter and the 1st Annual Wanda Smith Youth Memorial Scholarship was presented to the USA Dance, Inc. National Vice President for Social Dance, Jean Krupa. The Chapter will be making a yearly donation to the Scholarship Fund, which will be presented each year at the New Year’s Eve Dance. The scholarship will be earmarked for use by the National Ambassador’s Program in support of youth participating in the Program (see

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article in the nnn issue of our Chapter newsletter or go to www.twcusadance.org for more information).

Chapter members and supporters may contribute to the fund in any amount and the donation is tax deductible. Make checks payable to USA Dance, Inc. and note on the check that it is for the Memorial Scholarship. 

Member Center

by Regina Dinoso

We are pleased to WELCOME our FOURTEENnew members!

Without our membership, we would not have a chapter. It is because of our member’s continued support that we are able to host monthly socials, award scholarships for competition, and offer our new dancer and youth shoe reimbursment programs. WE THANK YOU! Check out our growing list of new members, our renewals and birthdays! 

New Members: Month

New Members

May

◊ Leslie Jenkins ◊ Rich Jenkins ◊ Brian Thomas

June

◊ Abigail Diaz ◊ Richard Green ◊ Bonnie Hackett ◊ Tim Hackett ◊ Leslie Jenkins ◊ Rich Jenkins ◊ Bruce Krueger ◊ Susan Livingston ◊ Kathryn Morton ◊ Allie Pietrowski ◊ Linda Quick ◊ Stehen Quick

Current Board Members President: Raymond Smith Vice-President: Gretchen Allan Secretary: Anne Langsley

Birthdays: Month

Members

July

◊ Sharon M. Clarke ◊ Laura Delprat-Maton ◊ Lee Fields ◊ Dalynn K Fond ◊ Angelina Haddock ◊ Mark Hudson ◊ Eric R Isaksen ◊ Ben C. Limcaoco ◊ Ligaya T. Octavo ◊ Michael Sawyer ◊ Ge Youn Youn Thompson ◊ Vera K. Vander-Haeghe ◊ Howard N. Weinberg ◊ Pung C. White

August

Treasurer: Lynn Bartorillo

Renewals:

◊ Park W. Allen ◊ Henry Castillo ◊ John H. Duncan ◊ Vickey Heckert ◊ Janene Prossex ◊ Joanne Reinhold ◊ Walter Schultz ◊ Annette M Smith ◊ Linda Stevenson

Social Dance: Annette Smith

Month

Members

June

◊ Marie Crain (Renewed) ◊ Linda Edge ◊ Gina Hanvey ◊ Kathleen A. Hawkins ◊ Mary M. Heinricat ◊ Linda Komornik ◊ Susan K. Livingston ◊ Ben Platt ◊ Janene Prossex ◊ Michael Sawyer

July

◊ Jackie H. Chen ◊ Jeanne C. Walters

August

◊ Lynn Bartorillo ◊ Anna Chamberlayne ◊ Ronald Dinoso ◊ Ann M. Hoffman ◊ Mark Hudson ◊ Peter Slepsky ◊ David W Ware ◊ Sherron L Ware ◊ Betty C. Wells

Membership: Regina Dinoso Public Relations: Ronald Dinoso Board Member: Keith Langsley

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 | July 2013 Newsletter |

7

USA Dance Membership Application P l e a s e

P R I N T

C l e a r l y

This form may be used by two people at the same address.

Name 1.

Date of Birth

2.

Street Address

Apt. #

Male [ ]

Female [ ]

Male [ ]

Female [ ]

City

State

Zip Code

Seasonal Address: Do you have a seasonal address? If so, enter below. Dates applicable: From: __________________ To _______________________ Street Address: Apt.# City State Zip Code

Home Phone

Work Phone

Cell Phone

Email Address

1.

2.

Is this a renewal application?

____ Yes

____ No

If Yes, Member # ______________________, # _____________________

USA Dance Tidewater Chapter #6008 Name of USA Dance Chapter I wish to be assigned to: _________________________________________________________________________________

Name of College or Youth Club you are affiliated with (if applicable):

MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY

____________________________________________________________________

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Recreational: Social Ballroom Dancer

$35

$

Dances for enjoyment and works to improve but does not compete. May include retired DS Athlete.

Recreational: Social Adult Dancer

$25

$

Enjoys and appreciates the physical, mental, and social benefits of social dancing.

Recreational: Social Youth Dancer

$10

$

A social dancer under the age of 19. Often a family member or friend of adult member.

Recreational: Social Dance Teacher

$50

$

An individual who is engaged in the teaching of social dance.

DanceSport: Adult Athlete*

$70

$

A competitive dancer who is age 19 or above.

DanceSport: Student Athlete*

$25

$

A competitive dancer who is age of 19 or above but below age 35 and is enrolled in school full time.

DanceSport: Minor Athlete*

$20

$

A competitive dancer who is below the age of 19.

DanceSport: Professional Athlete*

$75

$

A competitive dancer who declares him or herself as a professional or dances as a professional in competition.

DanceSport Official*

$80

$

DanceSport:Special Olympics Athlete DanceSport: Unified Sports ÂŽ Partner

$10 $25

$ $

An individual who serves in an official capacity in the field of DanceSport and/or ballroom dance, i.e. judge, emcee, music director, invigilator, independent comp organizer, chairperson of judges, WDSF adjudicator etc Qualifies for participating in Special Olympics competitions only.

Dance Partner of Special Olympics Athlete –for participating in Special Olympics only.

DanceSport Supporter*

$40

$

Other Misc. Fees

$ $

$ $

This space for upgrades, and other miscellaneous fees.

$

$

Donations are used to help fund our many efforts to increase the quality and quantity of ballroom in the US on a social and competitive level including youth outreach, raising public awareness of the physical, mental and social benefits of dance, development of chapters, increased social dance options, support for our athletes and dancesport events. Thank you for helping us achieve these goals. USA Dance is a 501c3 non-profit corporation. Any donations in excess of value received are tax deductible.

Note: Social Youth members do not receive the American Dancer magazine.

Total Membership Fees Total Contributions & Donations

TOTAL AMOUNT DUE

$

This category of membership is designed for those who are not active competing athletes but who want to show support for the DanceSport initiatives of USA Dance. This would include former athletes, parents or other family members of athletes, and general supporters who would like their voice counted on DanceSport matters.

You may enroll on-line at www.usadance.org Or, you may mail your application and payment. Make check payable to USA Dance and send to: USA Dance Membership Director - PO Box 126 - Southampton PA 18966-0126 Central Office 1-800-447-9047 * Memberships for Adult, Student, Minor and Professional Athletes, DanceSport Professionals and DanceSport Supporters are on a calendar year basis rather than on an anniversary year basis.

Public Library: Donate American Dancers Magazine to your Public Library, only $9 for one year. Library Name: _________________________________ Library Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ We are a volunteer organization. Can we count on you? __ [ ] Yes

What is your area of expertise?

10-27-10 rev 1-26-11, 4-20-12, 9/29/12, 11/16/12

If yes, where? __ [ ] Chapter __

How are you willing to help USA Dance?

[ ] Regional __ [ ] National