Rhode Island Ballroom and Swing News

Teen ballroom classes are few and far between. Althougn ballroom and other social dance forms have become very popular with college students all over the county, middle and high school students (at least outside of metropolitan areas) have been slow to see the benefits. The Narragansett Towers tried for several years to keep a teen class going, but has since thrown in the towel.

However attitudes change and more teens are starting to take ballroom in Rhode Island. Rhode Island Dancesport in East Greenwich has an active program running and now Nelia Lawton will offer a teen class in Barrington. Classes start this Thursday, April 24 at 7pm. This first class is free and thereafter classes will be only $5.00 per person. [Barrington Teen Dance Night Details]

APRIL 23
NEW ENGLAND DANCE BLOWOUT THIS WEEKEND IN SMITHFIELD

2007 & 2008 UCWDC Master Showcase and Classic Worlds Champions, Sam and Denise Miller will be just two of the featured teachers at the the April 26 & 27 New England Dance Blowout. Workshops cover salsa, two step, east coast and west coast swing, hustle, waltz and lots more. [New England Dance Workshop Blowout Details]

APRIL 14
NEW WEBSITE FOR SWINGIN 88'S

The Swingin' 88's Dance Group website has been down for over a month due to server problems. But is now back online at a new site - http://www.swingin88s.com (now 88s instead of 88)

MARCH 1
RI BALLROOM DANCE COMMUNITY MOURNS PASSING OF SKIP JONES

Dance Promoter, Skip Jones, died on Friday after a long battle with throat cancer. He was 83. "Skip was a pillar of the dance community and an incredible promoter and lover of live music and dance in New England. Skip founded the Friends of Ballroom Dancing, and gave selflessly to the community in so many ways." - Sara Barker, East Bay Ballroom. [Local dance enthusiast 'Skip' Jones dies at 83 James Gillis Newport Daily News 2/29/08]

FEBRUARY 25
STRONGEST GROUP EVER ON DANCING WITH THE STARS

Season Six of Dancing With The Stars starts on ABC Monday March 17, 2008 with its strongest lineup yet of actors, athletes and celebrities.

Oscar winner Marlee Matlin along with the very well known Steve Guttenberg lead the actoring contingent. Marlee, who is deaf, won her best actress oscar in 1986 for Children of a Lesser God. and is a tireless advocate for the deaf. Steve Guttenberg, best known for his movie work, has partner Anna Trebunskaya, who although a beautiful dancer has not shown herself particularily adept as a teacher or partner for beginners.

Teacher Kym Johnson has once again been assigned a dark horse - this time it's chubby illusionist Penn Jillette, but he has a hugh background in movement, and should be a strong contender if he can resist playing the buffoon and Kym can refrain from tricks and over-dancing.

Tennis star, Monica Seles, just retired from the pro circuit and Olympic medalist Kristi Yamaguchi, long usurped in technique but rarely in creative and beautiful skating, should both do well but Kristi should be in the top five. Cheryl Burke is partnered with relatively unknown Chilean actor Cristian de la Fuente, but can almost never be counted out. Karina Smirnoff has R&B singer Mario and has a good shot this year.

The ringer is Marissa Winokur, who has done a whole lotta theatrical dance plus won the Tony in the stage verion of Hairspray and she nabbed Tony Dovolani as partner. The women contestants have not had much luck at winning although the tide may be turning now that the male teachers have become celebrities in their own right.

Tune in to catch some of the most entertaining dance on television. [More about DWTS on Wikipedia]

FEBRUARY 12
BROWN'S DANCING WITH THE PROFS

Brown University's Ballroom Dance Club shangaied professors to be part of a Dancing With The Stars-style competition which was held last Friday. Read the whole fun story at Cha-cha after class by Bryan Rourke ProJo 2/12/08

JANUARY 4
NEW DANCE OPENS THIS SUNDAY

The New Year starts off with a bang for the ballroom and country dance communities with a new venue opening this Sunday. Always on Sundays Ballroom is the brainchild of multi-talented elementary school principal, dancer , teacher, performer and the brand new President of RI's Chapter of USA Dance, Linda Succi. Located in Cranston's Oaklawn Grange, the dance will be held on occasional Sundays and often along with workshops. Ms Succi already has plans in the works for workshops with big name professional teachers. The grand opening is January 6 and will include workshops in country line and swing dancing from 3 to 5pm, The dance will run from 5 to 8pm with DJ's Bill Lambert and Swing Daddy. Raffle tickets will be available for sale. Winners get 2 tickets to the Dancing With The Stars Tour. [Always on Sundays Ballroom Grand Opening details]

NOVEMBER 29
WHY THE YOUNG DON'T DANCE

This from an article about the slow demise of polka in the rural west - "It's our generation's fault...When we were growing up, our parents would take us to the dances. We'd fall asleep on the side of the stage, or in the booths. But then when our generation grew up, we got baby sitters." It does seem as though now social dancing is for adults unencumbered of child for an evening. The Hispanic culture has a tradition of bringing even the babies to dances with the result that by the time their children hit puberty, they are passable to good dancers. Maybe it's time for all dancing parents to start bringing the young ones so they can learn early rather than too late. Spread the wealth! [A rural dance tradition in twilight by Ben Ratliff Herald Tribune 11/29/07]

OCTOBER 15
TAUNTON'S ROSELAND BALLROOM IS BACK IN BUSINESS!!

Roseland Ballroom is back in the dance business with dances every Sunday afternoon. A new feature is the Chinese restaurant downstairs so a sudden yearning for an egg roll or two can be easily accomodated. [Roseland Ballroom Details]

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