May, 2013 Chapter Newsletter

Category: News

Published on Thursday, 09 May 2013 14:23

Written by John Johnson, President

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The Fort Wayne Dancesport April dance was very nice, with 91 dancers enjoying the dance world at its best. Dave Cowdrey of Renaissance Dance Studio did a wonderful job of teaching polka steps, keeping it simultaneously interesting, mildly challenging and most of all, fun. Our thanks to Dave for sharing his talent and experience. We always look forward to his lessons.

USA Dance District Three awards were presented during a brief intermission. Audrey Hindle received the 2012 Chapter of the Year Award for our Fort Wayne Dancesport chapter. Dan Keck received his award for Volunteer of the Year. Fort Wayne is so fortunate to have benefited from the talents and dedication of these two extremely talented dancers.  

L-R) Chapter Director Kyle Breedlove, Chapter President John Johnson, Former President Audrey Hindle with her award, and Chapter Directors Angie Keck, Sherry Straley, Dan Keck and Russell Hernandez.

Read more: May, 2013 Chapter Newsletter

Fort Wayne Dancesport Honored at District Meeting

Category: News

Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 08:36

Written by John Johnson, President

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The USA Dance District 3 meeting on March 16, in Cincinnati was truly special. Fort Wayne Dancesport sort of stole the show, winning both awards presented.

Our very own Dan Keck was awarded the Volunteer of the Year for his work with Special Olympics. The award was presented to Dan, with his wife, Angie, present, by District 3 Area Coordinator, Bobbi Jo Gamache and USA Dance National Social Dance VP, Jean Mills Krupa.

Then the 2012 District Chapter of the Year was awarded to Fort Wayne Dancesport #2046, (Audrey Hindle, president). Accepting the award for Audrey was 2013 president, John Johnson.

Following the meeting at the Millennium Hotel, the group dined at the elegant Boi Na Braza Brazilian steakhouse (what a wonderful meal) and then finished the evening at the Cincinnati Music Hall Ballroom. Billed as one of top three largest ballrooms in the USA, it was a most memorable evening. Hopefully, next year, we will have an entourage of members experiencing this marvelous event.

March Dance Goes Green

Category: News

Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 08:30

Written by John Johnson, President

Hits: 157

"Wearin' of the Green" was the order of the St. Patrick's evening at Walb Memorial Ballroom as we danced to our heart's delight to the music of Phil Motley. Marcie Haataja gave an enjoyable lesson on the hustle, from basic moves to the fantastic "explosion." Marcie guided us with easy-to-follow instruction and did we ever have fun. How wonderful it is to have an abundance of fine dance instructors to enhance the ballroom dance experience. Turnout for the dance was light, just 52 members and guests, but the atmosphere was wonderful, the music delightful and there was plenty of dancing room for everyone.

Volunteer Partners Still Needed for Special Olympics

Category: Special Olympics

Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 08:28

Written by John Johnson, President

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There continues to be an urgent need for dance partners for the Special Olympics athletes who plan to complete in our Special Olympics ballroom dance competition in July. The program calls these volunteers "unified dancers." They are normally-abled volunteers who train, practice and compete as partners of Special Olympics athletes. There is no charge to be a unified dancer, even though unified dancers receive the same 12 weeks of group instruction that the Special Olympics athletes receive. You can participate even if you have never danced before. For more information, contact Dan Keck, our board member who chairs the Special Olympics competition, at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 260-440-7004.

This year the competition will be July 27 at the Grand Wayne Center in downtown Fort Wayne. Our chapter will host an open dance following the competition. Watch this newsletter and our chapter website for more information as it becomes available.

Chapter Sets Goals

Category: News

Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 08:27

Written by John Johnson, President

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Increasing membership is a necessary priority for our chapter. USA Dance began as an organization of competitive dancers but its goals from inception included encouraging social dancing. Here in Fort Wayne as well as nationally, social dancing participation is on the decline. If we are to continue to exist as a social ballroom dancing organization, we must reverse that trend. We have determined that there are three main tactics to increase social dancing membership.
 
First, we must take the fine nucleus of directors (our chapter board members) that now organize our dances and increase to a reasonable degree, the involvement or our remaining 140 plus chapter members. Ideally, no one will be asked to volunteer for more than one extra hour per month.
 
Second, we must organize a youth board of directors comprised of our younger dancers, which will meet regularly, similar to our chapter board of directors. We will ask them to begin with the task of teaching dance etiquette, making suggestions for improvement to our dances and eventually, conduct chapter dances just for youth.
 
Third, during National Ballroom Dance Week in September, Fort Wayne Dancesport has in the past conducted ballroom dance demonstrations at one of the city's main shopping facilities. This year, we would like to revive that tradition and let the Fort Wayne community enjoy ballroom dancing as it is done by "regular people" (our social dancers). Sounds like fun, doesn't it?

Dance Cruise Anyone?

Category: News

Published on Monday, 01 April 2013 08:26

Written by John Johnson, President

Hits: 177

USA Dance has organized through Royal Caribbean International a USA Dance National Dance Cruise, September 29 through October 6. Destination is Bermuda! Wow! Seven days of relaxing and dancing. For booking information, call Royal Caribbean International at 800-391-2680 or visit www.dancecruiseUSADANCE.com.

Date Set for Special Olympics Competition

Category: Special Olympics

Published on Sunday, 03 March 2013 22:04

Written by John Johnson, President

Hits: 196

Volunteer "Unified Dancers" Needed

Fort Wayne Dancesport is getting ready to launch the 2013 Special Olympics ballroom dance competition. Dan Keck is once again providing leadership as competition chairman. Several dance studios are gearing up to host the twelve-week dance lessons that lead up to the competition. This year the competition will be on July 27. An open dance will follow the competition.

There is an urgent need for about a dozen dance partners for the Special Olympics athletes. The program calls these normally-abled partners "unified dancers." They volunteer to practice with the Special Olympics athletes in group lessons led by qualified dance instructors. Together, the couples learn the basics of various dances and there is no charge to any participants. You don't even have to be an experienced dancer. As a matter of fact, you can participate even if you have never danced before. Free lessons for twelve weeks, wow! If you're interested please contact Dan Keck at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or 260-440-7004.

The Fort Wayne Dancesport board of directors would like to offer a truly special thanks to all those who have competed in the Special Olympics competition in years past and a heartfelt welcome to those who are making things happen for the coming year.

Get Your 15 Minutes of Fame!

Category: News

Published on Sunday, 03 March 2013 22:50

Written by John Johnson, President

Hits: 253

The chapter board needs your help! At 6 p.m., before every chapter dance, board members congregate to decorate the ballroom for our members and their guests. We'd be very grateful if some chapter members would show up to help us get the job done quickly. In addition, we'd like to conduct 15-minute gatherings each month, to discuss how we are doing, what improvements we might make and just general comments. You are certainly welcome!

A Reminder about Dance Etiquette

Category: News

Published on Sunday, 03 March 2013 23:08

Written by John Johnson, President

Hits: 242

Just a quick note about the tradition of ballroom dancing: Most people know that on smooth dances (the ones that go around the floor in the counter-clockwise pattern), slower dancers should stay more to the center and leave the outside lanes open for faster dancers. Well, did you know that if you're a faster dancer who wants to do a fancy move that might interfere with traffic flow, you, too should move toward the center?

Gentlemen, if you ask a lady to dance and she honors you, when the dance is over, it is your obligation to walk her back to her table and thank her. Ladies, if a man is escorting you back to your table and you receive another offer to dance from another gentleman, smile and thank your previous partner before taking leave. Every gentleman who is at a table with several ladies should feel obliged to ask each lady at his table to dance at least once over the course of the evening.

Ladies, it is perfectly acceptable to ask a gentleman to dance. Many men are a bit shy in this area. When the dance is over, however, the gentleman should escort you back to your table.

Ballroom dancing is all about courtesy and respect. That's a good thing, don't you agree?