So You Think You Can Dance? A Cinderella story about dancing your fears away Nancy Perry Graham, Editor, AARP The Magazine

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1 Vol. 13, No. 3 September 2012 UPCOMING DANCES MARK YOUR CALENDAR! October 12 PBDC 15 th Anniversary Dinner/Dance (black tie optional) RESERVATION DEADLINE OCTOBER 8th! (see box below) November 9 December 7 Christmas Dinner/Dance Reservations Required Dance lesson starts at 7:30; brief review of previous month s lesson starts at 7:15; open dancing from 8:30 to 10:45. Bring your favorite finger foods to share, and/or a door prize (value not to exceed $10-12), and enjoy an evening of fun and fellowship. And don t forget to invite a friend our monthly dances are a great introduction to ballroom dancing! Inside This Issue Decorating... 2 Editor s Notes... 4 From the President... 2 From Our Instructors... 5 Media Library... 2 Membership... 3 Photos... 7 So You Think You Can Dance? A Cinderella story about dancing your fears away Nancy Perry Graham, Editor, AARP The Magazine Have you ever imagined yourself on Dancing with the Stars? I have! (It's a top TV show with our readers.) So when I got the chance to learn a dance from Corky Ballas, the charming champion who was Florence Henderson's partner this season, I (nervously) said YES! Here was the hitch: I had just three hours to learn and rehearse the dance, and then just 20 minutes to perform the whole thing with Corky on video for all the online world to see. That didn't leave much time for screwing up or falling down (though I did both). Despite the stress, it was a magical experience, from picking the music I unwittingly chose a "jive" song, the hardest type to dance to to buying a ballroom dress. Who knew you could get a sexy black number for $37? I met Corky at a DWTS rehearsal hall in LA on a Saturday night, and in just two hours he choreographed and showed me the steps to our dance. See So You Think on Page 3 15 TH Anniversary Dinner Dance A special dance celebrating the 15 th anniversary of our club will be held on October 12. This will be a black tie optional evening with dinner included. Doors open at 6:30, with dinner at 7; dancing to follow. No dance lesson will be held that night. Reservation deadline is October 8. Please Chrissy Depew at cldepew@yahoo.com to make your reservation.

2 FROM THE PRESIDENT Friends & fellow dancers, "What Dancing Means To Me" During high school and through college I so enjoyed dancing. And then for about 30 years, I did not dance at all. When I found myself "single again" a few years back, I discovered that the majority of my newly-made friends enjoyed dancing. They got me interested in dancing, once again! I quickly found dancing even more fun that it was when I was a young man. Dancing essentially allowed me to look forward & made me quickly realize that yes..."life does go on". I have never looked back and I'm out dancing every weekend. I have told my son & daughter-in-love many times, I'm out making memories on those weekends, as perhaps one day my body will not be up to dancing. The TV program "Dancing With byline The Stars" has made us Americans aware of the fun and joys to be found in dancing, regardless of what [Name] dance we might be doing. When taking a dance class, I typically do my best to execute the dance steps just as my instructor has taught them. However, as time goes on, I have noticed that at some point, I begin to insert my personality into my dancing. At a given dance venue, there are many careers/jobs represented there, but 100% of us at a dance have dancing in common! And if I were to put a bumper sticker on my car, it would surely say "I'd Rather Be Dancing!" Bill Bramlett President, PBDC Decorating Help Wanted! We can always use help decorating the Leatherman Center for our monthly dance. If you have a flair for decorating, this is your chance to get involved! It does not require you to spend any money for we have an inventory of decorations available. If you d like to help with decorating, please call Jane Snipes at x 103 or janesnipes@northstarcorp.com. Media Library For some time now, we have been working on upgrading the instructional videos in our ballroom dance library. So far we have completed DVDs in: Waltz, Cha Cha, Tango, Rumba, Foxtrot, East Coast Swing, Bolero and Samba. These DVDs are available for loan to members of the PBDC. If interested, please see Janice Flowers who is responsible for maintaining the library. We ask that DVDs be signed out for only one month at a time to allow other members access. - Vence & Pauline 2

3 Club Leadership Officers & Board Members President: Bill Bramlett Vice-President: Vanessa Huggins Treasurer: Janice Flowers Secretary: Chrissy Depew Parliamentarian: Pauline Jelovchan Jane Snipes Dorr Depew So You Think You Can Dance (continued from front) He was a patient and funny teacher, despite having spent the previous six hours practicing with Florence. My main flaw as a partner, he joked, was my tendency to "strangle" him "to death." To prepare for the next morning, he told me to watch a video we'd shot as we practiced. I danced around my hotel room until 1 a.m., my eyes glued to that video. I was feeling pretty confident by Sunday morning until I swapped my sneakers for 3-inch heels. Then the pressure of having to perform the whole dance in just two takes made me panic. The clock was ticking; Corky had to get back to Florence. Showtime, cameras rolling! I'm dancing, I'm rushing, I'm losing count, I'm tripping, I'm...on the floor. Humiliation! Okay, I got that over with. Take two: Corky looks me in the eye, takes my hand, and with a bounce we're off, kicking, twirling, dancing, dipping. I did it! The video crew applauds. Corky hugs me. I feel elated. I've just done something I was afraid to do. Thank you, Corky, for my Cinderella moment. Standing Committees Dance Theme & Decorations: Jane Snipes Music and Band: Vence & Pauline Jelovchan Pauline: Pbjelovchan@yahoo.com Vence: Vjelovchan@aol.com DJ - Eddie Collins Dance Instructors: Vence and Pauline Jelovchan VISIT OUR WEBSITE! For the very latest info about PBDC activities, including lots more photos and plenty of information, visit the club Web site: Newsletter: Dorr Depew Video Librarian: Janice Flowers Webmaster: Bruce Blumberg bruceb@uscsumter.edu Club Membership The PBDC tries to make it as easy as possible to experience ballroom dance in the Pee Dee. The PBDC is the only ballroom dance club within 60 miles. We as members must constantly recruit new dancers in hopes that they will join our club. In the past 6 months, many members have moved away, missed attending due to medical issues, etc. Pass the word and let s boost attendance this season. Please renew your membership promptly when due. Our club depends on your dues to help pay for the hall, DJ and special treats throughout the season. If you have not renewed your membership, we urge you to fill out and send the form on page 6 with your check to the address shown. 3

4 2012/13 Dance Schedule Dances are normally held on the second Friday of each month, except as noted * October-December October 12 PBDC 15 th Anniversary Dinner/Dance (Reservation deadline October 8; black tie optional) November 9 December 7* Dinner/Dance Reservations Required 2013 January-May January 11 February 8 March 8 April 12 May 10 Summer Dances June-August June 14 July 12 August 9 Admission to summer dances is free for members; casual dress. September-December September 13 October 11 November 8 December 6 Editor s Notes Hello, everyone Fall is here! I hope you are enjoying the cooler weather. The days are getting shorter and there is a definite touch of fall in the air! We have several exciting events coming up, starting October 12, when the Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club will celebrate its 15 th anniversary. Reservations are required by October 8 for this black-tie optional dinner/dance hope to see you there! (See details elsewhere in this newsletter and on the club website.) We ll have our regular dance in November, and then our Christmas dance in December (also black-tie optional) lots of opportunities to get out and have fun! The purpose of the is to provide members with news, features and information about ballroom dance in the Pee Dee. In this edition, you ll find a variety of articles about dancing, along with photos from our most recent dances. Your comments, suggestions and articles of interest for the newsletter are welcome and encouraged. Try your hand at writing a brief article about your dance experience. It s not hard just tell it in your own words! You can me at dorrdepew@yahoo.com, send items via regular mail to 400 Church St., Cheraw, SC 29520, or call me at The newsletter is published four times a year. We encourage all club members to contribute news and information for the newsletter. We ll publish another issue in December, so please submit items as soon as possible. Thanks! Dorr Depew Newsletter Editor Dance Lesson from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. (review of previous month s lesson at 7:15). Open Dancing from 8:30 til 10:45 pm. Admission - $5 for members of the PBDC and $10 for nonmembers. Dinner/Dance - $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Dance Location: The Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club meets at The Leatherman Center, Freedom Blvd., Florence, SC. 4

5 From Our Instructors - By Vence & Pauline Jelovchan To Our Fellow Ballroom Dancers and Friends, Leading and Following: Each lesson, we constantly remind the men of their responsibility to LEAD their lady. This is a daunting task for the man, especially if he is a beginner for not only does he have to remember the step(s), he must also LEAD his lady to ensure she knows what to do. Learning to LEAD is an acquired taste for like fine wine, it is not served before it s time. Ladies, we ask your patience as your partner learns this very difficult aspect of ballroom dancing. The man is constantly thinking about the step he wants to do (struggling to in fact remember!), trying to keep the correct posture, keeping his right elbow up, doing his heel leads (if smooth dance), holding his head up so he s not looking at his feet, etc. Then, he has the added responsibility of LEADING his lady so she can execute the step. Ladies, on the flip side, once you have received the lead, it is your responsibility to also know the step and to execute it a fraction of a second behind the man s lead. A common trait of the lady is to want to lead or as some call it, the back up Lead! Please resist doing this for unless the man is allowed to practice his LEAD, he will not improve. Your patience and understanding will be much appreciated by your partner. Dance Lessons & Classes: We have now begun Basic Ballroom (BR I) classes at Poynor once again and are pleased with the interest & turnout for these classes. These classes last 6 weeks with a new dance being taught each week. Some of our beginner students have even attended their 1 st PBDC dance in Sept. We hope others will follow and elect to join our wonderful club. At the conclusion of BR I, we are confident we will then conduct Ballroom II. BR II consists of: 1) brief review of the basic steps taught in BR I, 2) improving the man s lead 3) maneuvering around the dance floor and 4) a few new bonus steps, time permitting. Further details can be provided by contacting Vence or Pauline and/or checking the Poynor website as the time draws closer. : For those interested in private lessons, we offer these as well. These can be tailored for your individual needs in complexity and the speed in which you want to progress. Dance Camp Vermont: In August, we attended Ballroom Dance Camp in Vermont once again. This was our 4 th year participating and this year was our most rewarding and fun. Participants are placed in classes (Levels 1 through 5) which fit their dance experience & capability with lessons beginning Sunday afternoon. After Sunday, lessons begin daily at 9:30 a.m. and are conducted throughout the day, concluding at 9 p.m. with open dancing then following. Also during this week, participants can elect to participate in a final evening group repertoire which you could say is the final exam for the week. Our class this year did a very challenging Rumba to the song "Trouble" by "Over the Rhine" from "Trumpet Child". Each day s instruction is very focused & intense as you rotate classrooms to have lessons in all the major dances. By Thursday, you are physically & mentally exhausted, but the repertoire that evening makes it all worthwhile. While the primary purpose of the dance camp is to learn new steps and improve in your overall dance expertise, a side benefit is the relationships that you form with other participants, especially 5

6 those who have attended year to year. It is refreshing to spend a week with people who have a common passion for ballroom dancing and that truly appreciate the friendships that are grown. We re already looking forward to next year s camp! In closing, we ll leave you with a quote: A man who dances has his choice of romances. Author Unknown Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club Membership Application Name(s): Address: Phone: Home Work Cell Annual membership dues are $20 per person. Mail to: Palmetto Ballroom Dance Club, 410 Eastburn Ct., Darlington, SC Shoe Info For those of you interested in purchasing dance shoes, the following vendors & web sites may be of interest: The Shoe Center: N. Myrtle Beach, 710 Hwy 17 S, Suite I, N. MB. Ph: They have shag shoes and ballroom shoes. You can order online. Judy s House of Oldies, 300 Main St., N.Myrtle Beach. Ph: Online: Judyshouseofoldies.com The Turning Pointe: 5143 Forest Drive, Columbia, SC 29206, Telephone: DANCE or , pointet@bellsouth.net Online: If you Google ballroom dance shoes, lots of sites will show up. Suggested sites are: Carmen s Dance Shoes: Discount Dance Supply: Ph: Note: If you use our Teacher Discount # TP48261, you will receive 10% off and free shipping if over $100 order. Glide Shoes: 551 Jesse Street, San Fernando, CA Ph: , Fax: , Website: We personally have been to Shoe Center and Judy s. We have also bought from Carmen s online (California). She will have specials each month-20 or 30% off. Please note that some dance shoe companies list sizes in European sizes, not the standard American. This is not a problem for standard comparison charts are usually listed. Please make sure you clarify this when ordering. 6

7 September 2012 Thru the Viewfinder Photos From Recent Dances Check the Club Website for more! 7

Dancing In St. Petersburg PBDC members enjoy classic Florida ballrooms

Dancing In St. Petersburg PBDC members enjoy classic Florida ballrooms Vol. 18, No. 1 Summer 2017 UPCOMING DANCES MARK YOUR CALENDAR! June 9 July 14 August 11* (To be confirmed - stay tuned!) September 8 October 13 20TH ANNIVERSARY DANCE November 10 December 1 HOLIDAY DANCE