Shag Rag May 2009 Vol. XV, No. 5 Dedicated to the Preservation of the Carolina Shag and Beach Music PRESIDENT S MESSAGE by Marcia Conway What a great time the NVSC shaggers had that attended SOS Spring Safari and our NVSC party at Fat Harold s. Special thanks to David and Ruth Rapson, Gary and Sharon Salpini, Mary and Larry Camp and Mary Burleigh for their help at the party. Valerie Swiger took many pictures that will soon be on the web site or Hello Shagger. The NVSC shaggers that attended the party at Fat Marcia Harold s on Friday were entertained by a special dance exhibition by Earl and Beverly Robinson. Earl Robinson was just selected for The Shaggers s Hall of Fame. Another surprise was an energetic dance exhibition by Jeff Hargett and Nikki Kontoulas who will be the pro instructors at the annual Capital Shag Classic in July. If you were unable to make spring SOS, plan to attend the SOS Fall Migration from September 11-20. Ask first timers Paul and Sue Young about their SOS experience. Our next special event is the annual picnic on Saturday, June 20 at the home of Laura and Bobby Payne from 1PM 5PM. The club will furnish hamburgers, hot dogs, rolls, condiments, water and sodas. It is BYOB. Each NVSC member will be ask to bring a salad, vegetable or dessert. Check the flyer in this newsletter for more information. The picnic will be held on this day only, rain or shine. Get ready for the Blast from the Past, our annual Capital Shag Classic to be held at the Dulles Hilton July 24-26. It takes many NVSC volunteers for this event to be successful!!!! If you would like to volunteer please see Donna Romito and Sue Young, the co-chairs of the event. See Valerie Swiger to purchase your $75 ticket. If you plan to attend, make your hotel reservations soon as the special room price of $93 per night only lasts until June 30. Plan to attend the general membership meeting on Wednesday, May 6 immediately following the dance lessons. There will be a special collection in lieu of the 50/50 for the Ellen Taylor Foundation for Junior Shaggers. The Ellen Taylor Foundation for Junior Shaggers is a nonprofit charitable foundation dedicated to the education and financial assistance in the preservation and promotion of the Shag. Let s support this worthy foundation to preserve the Carolina Shag. VOLUNTEER, VOLUNTEER NVSC SHAGGERS!!!!!!!!!!! Upcoming Events. Sunday, May 3rd, Charlie and Jackie Workshop Review and Dance (p. 4) Wednesday, May 6 at 8:15 pm, general membership meeting June 20, NVSC annual club Picnic (p. 8) July 24-26, 14th Annual Capital Shag Classic. Details and Registration Form inside (p. 9) Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org
President Marcia Conway 703 361 8159 nclady11@comcast.net Vice President Fran Mong 703 368 2792 fmong@abhylaw.com Secretary Sandra Traylor 703 597 9555 sandra.traylor@dcma.mil Treasurer John Romito 703 971 1618 jrdancer0501@yahoo.com Director at large Pamela Alfano 703 379 7992 PAlfano@ReedSmith.com Director at large Mary Burleigh 703 724 9171 mcburleigh_2000@yahoo.com Director at large Kathy Miller 703 683 5990 Khemp501@aol.com Director at large Barry Newman 703 941 0445 barryn1940@aim.com Director at large Nancy Roop 540 878 5161 nsar33@comcast.net May Birthdays John Romito 5/1 Greg Birmingham 5/4 Charlotte Ashby 5/5 Hilda Clemann 5/7 Paul Dunham 5/7 Dick Prosser 5/7 Jeff Kincheloe 5/9 Heidi Mackey 5/10 Dan Droze 5/12 Rob Baen 5/15 Byron Snyder 5/15 Christine Werner 5/15 Linda Coffeen 5/16 Bob Lutz 5/19 Joan McKinney 5/20 Tim Farris 5/20 Donna Davis 5/23 Ann Shimel 5/24 Betty Elliott 5/26 Jean Teele-Jennings 5/27 Robert Matthews 5/29 Joey Fanini 5/30 Jill Garity 5/31 NORTHERN VIRGINIA SHAG CLUB 2009 Board NVSC COMMITTEES/CHAIRS FOR 2009 * Audit Dave Bushey Birthday Cakes Capital Shag Classic 09 Robbie Mann/Donna Romito Donna Romito and Sue Young * Charity Fundraising Nancy Cox/Kathy Miller * Dance Joan McKinney, joanmck3@aol.com Hello Shaggers Historian Nancy Roop, nsar33@comcast.net Sandra Traylor * Membership Mary Burleigh, mcburleigh_2000@yahoo.com * Music Fran Mong Newsletter Maryann Lesnick, mlesnick@mlesnick.com * Nominating & Elections (appoint in late September) Photographer John Romito * Public Relations Barry Newman, barryn1940@aim.com Shag a Thon 2009 Jo Ann Hitzemann/Pamela Alfano * Social/Hospitality Chris Gaines, Chris Werner, Ruth Rapson, Sandra Traylor, Sam Wray, and Vernon Bruffey Sunshine Web Site * Denotes Standing Committee Maryann Lesnick, mlesnick@mlesnick.com Marcia Conway Welcome to our New Members in April: Gerry Woodle, Louise Ingram Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 2
APRIL LESSONS Come learn the Shag! Free lessons begin at 7:30; Open dancing from 8:15 11:00 Beginner May 6 Kick Basic & Side Pass May 13 Crossover Basic & Triple Basic * May 20 Basic, Start, and Female Turn May 27 Half Turn & Male Turn Novice May 6 Hesitation Basic, Pivot & Hug Pivot May 13 Tuck from Pivot & Tuck from a Half Turn * May 20 Double Kick Basic & Applejack May 27 Behind Sailor Shuffle & Pivot Intermediate May 6 Male Half Turn and Boogie Walk May 13 Joanie and Funky Applejack May 20 Side-to-Side Basic and Handshake Wrap Pivot May 27 Leg-up Basic and Lean NVSC dances the Shag every Wednesday night at Rene s Supper Club, 3251 Old Lee Highway Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-385-0077 Line Dance Lesson May 6 Andi Crews Line Dance Lesson, beginning at approx 8:45 pm * Beginning of new cycle April DJ s May 6 Craig Jennings May 13 Eddie O Reilly May 20 Dennis Gehley May 27 Eddie O Reilly Other Places to Dance Tuesdays Battlefield Boogie Club, 7:30 10:00, Brocks Riverside Grill, 503 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA, 540-370-1820. 2 Dance Floors. Food and Beverages. Fridays Tucker s Restaurant, 9205 Marlboro Pike, Upper Marlboro, MD. DJ: Tommy D, 6:30 10:30. Saturdays Rene s from 6:00 8:00; Sponsored by Janis Grimes. 4th Saturdays Colvin Run Dance Hall, 8:30-1:00 (Swing and Hustle). DC Hand Dance Club Check the Website: www.dchanddanceclub.com/schedule.htm. Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 3
News and Announcements Sunday, May 3rd, Charlie & Jackie Workshop Review/Dance SUNDAY SHAGGING: MAY 3rd, FAST EDDIE'S in Centreville. From 3 PM to 5 PM, REVIEW WORKSHOP of the Charlie & Jackie steps, then some dancing & socializing... FREE ADMISSION to the review workshop for anyone who took ANY of Charlie & Jackie's classes in February at Ft. Myer. $10 ADMISSION to the review workshop if you couldn't come in February... Now's your chance to catch up!!! Can't come to the 3 PM to 5 PM Workshop? Then come later & party. NO COVER CHARGE for the post-workshop socializing and dance. Fast Eddie's is in a shopping center at the intersections of Highways 28 and 29, just off I-66. From I-66, take exit for Highway 28 South. Go less than a mile, turn right on Highway 29. At first light, turn right into shopping center. 2009 NVSC Events At-a-Glance Super Bowl Party Feb 1 Summer ACSC Workshop Jul 10-12 Charlie & Jackie Junior SOS Jul 16-19 Feb 14 Workshop & Dance Capital Shag Classic Jul 24-26 Winter ACSC Workshop Feb 20-22 NVSC Picnic Jun/Aug Mardi Gras Party Feb 25 Fall Migration (SOS) Sep 11-20 Shag-A-Thon Mar 21 NVSC Party at Fall SOS Sep 15 Easter Bonnet/Hat Contest and Egg Dancing Contest April 8 Fall Sunday Social Oct? Spring Safari (SOS) Apr 17-26 Band/ Dance Party Oct 31? NVSC Party at Spring SOS Apr 24 NVSC Holiday Party Dec 5 Shagging at Fast Eddie s May 3 With Sympathy... Our condolences go out to the family of Larry Reaves, whose Mother passed away in April. Some Sad Dance News Our dance -- and all swing dance -- is indebted to the great Savoy Ballroom dancers of the Harlem Renaissance era. So it is very sad to learn that the incomparable Frankie Manning has died at age 94. Frankie was one of the Savoy dancers who invented the Lindy Hop, from which shag evolved. In fact, he created the "air steps" -- what we today call aerials. Following the Gap commercial a few years ago, the Lindy came roaring back with the kids, and Frankie -- even in his 80s and 90s -- was again huge on the dance circuit in both the US and Europe. He came to Swing Fling in our area. He taught a workshop at Charlie & Jackie's Grand Nationals. Dancers who couldn't Lindy -- and who had no real intention of making it their dance- - came just to say that they'd been in a Frankie Manning class. Friends had planned a 95th birthday party for Frankie in May, and hundreds of dancers had already made reservations. Frankie s obituary is online at WashingtonPost.com. Youtube also has several videos of Frankie air-steppin' in a clip from the 1941 movie Hellzapoppin. He also was featured in the Ken Burns' PBS series on Jazz (thanks to Joan McKinney for this info) Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 4
Battlefield Boogie Club New Dance Location 503 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401 540-370-1820 Dance with us Tuesdays, 7:30 10:00 DIRECTIONS TO THE NEW LOCATION From The Washington, DC Area: Take I-95 SOUTH towards RICHMOND. Merge onto US-17 BR S/WARRENTON RD via exit number 133A toward US-17 BUSINESS/FALMOUTH. Turn RIGHT onto US-17 BR/US-1/CAMBRIDGE ST. Continue to follow US-17 BR/US-1. Turn LEFT onto PRINCESS ANNE ST/US-17 BR S/US-1 BR S. Continue to follow PRINCESS ANNE ST/US-17 BR S. Turn LEFT onto LAFAYETTE BLVD/US-1 BR N. Continue to follow LAFAYETTE BLVD. End at 503 Sophia St., Fredericksburg VA. Keep Your Membership Information Current If you move, change phone numbers or email address please notify Mary Burleigh, our membership chairperson. You can email Mary at mcburleigh_2000@yahoo.com. Not Receiving Hello Shaggers Emails? Mary The NVSC sends out a weekly Hello Shaggers email with news and information about the Club and Club activities. To receive it, send Nancy Roop (nsar33@comcast.net) your email address! Nancy Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 5
SHAG ETIQUETTE Reprinted from the Beckley Area Shag Club s newsletter, originally from the O.D. Shag Club's website ASKING A PARTNER It is equally permissible for a woman to ask a man as it is for a man to ask a woman to dance. Take your partner s hand onto the dance floor and at the end of the dance thank your partner. IF YOU DON T WANT TO DANCE, say, No, thank you. But don t dance with someone else, if you just turned down a request to dance. PLEASE, if someone says No thanks, do not be persistent, take them at their word. IT IS NOT POLITE to correct your partner on the dance floor. Remember, this is a social club (have fun). IT IS NOT POLITE to offer instruction to someone in a social dance setting (or in a dance class, if you are not the instructor). Let s face it; you may be the one doing the step wrong. Unless they ask for help, or are hurting you, don t teach. If your partner requests help, kindly take them off to the side away from the other social dancers. DANCERS BUMP INTO THE NICEST PEOPLE, and it isn t even a contact sport. Be aware of the dancers around you! If you bump into someone, kick someone or step on someone s foot, or if they bump into you, apologize whether it was your fault or theirs. Show concern that no serious injury has occurred. It s a fairly accepted practice that when a collision occurs, apologize, EVEN if it wasn t your fault. DANCERS USE SELECTIVE FLOOR PLACEMENT Find your Spot and keep your Slot! The first person on the floor usually has the right to set the slot of the dance. DANCE SMALL! If you require ½ of the floor in order to do your thing, you need to change your thing! Nobody likes to be bumped around the floor. Sorry, but unless you re on a stage, you re not the only one on the floor. PLEASE step off the dance floor if you re not dancing. If you are drinking a beverage of any kind or smoking, keep off the dance floor because of damage to the floor. LEADERS if dancing with a less experienced partner, keep the steps simple at first and build to the level that your partner can handle. Leading should be defined as the art of making your partner comfortable. Work as a team, don t showboat. LEADERS protect your partner, since you are directing her movements, you need to be sure to protect her safety. LEADERS if you must count and give verbal leads, keep it low enough that just you and your partner can hear. It can confuse those around you and besides, just because you can count doesn t mean you are on the beat. Our thanks to Janis Grimes for resurrecting these helpful tips! Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 6
What s Happening In The Shag/Dance World May 9, Menokin Music Festival w/ The Embers, Warsaw, VA (www.menokinbluegrass.com) May 9-10, Al Cain Hall of Fame Foundation SOS Golf Classic, Southern Pines, NC May 16-17, 28th Annual Blue Crab Festival w/ Sea Cruz, Fantastic Shakers, Coastline Band, and others. Little River, SC (www.bluecrabfestival.org) May 21-25, Grand Nationals, Atlanta, GA (www.usagrandnationals.com) Jun 3, Shaggin on the Boulevard, Charleston Moose Lodge, Charleston, WV Jun 13, Competitive Shaggers Association (CSA) Competition, Richmond, VA (rsccsa.homestead.com) Jun 18-21, Sand Gnat Shag-A-Ganza, Jekyll Island, GA (www.goldenislesshagclub.com) Jun 27-28, Hall of Fame Foundation/SOS Tommy Watkins Golf Tourney, N. Myrtle Beach, SC Jul 10-12, ACSC/SOS 2009 Summer Workshop, First Coast Shag Club, Jacksonville, FL (www.firstcoastshag.com) Jul 14-19, Junior SOS, North Myrtle Beach (www.juniorshaggers.com) Jul 24-26, NVSC Shag Classic, Dulles Hilton (www.nvshag.org) Jul 24-25, Boogie and Bogie In the Pines, National Golf Club, Southern Pines, NC (www.sandhillsshagclub.com) Jul 31-Aug 1, Swing Fling, Dulles Hilton 1 and 2, 3 and 4, 5 6... Aug 21-23, Capital Dancesport Championship, Mark Center Hilton, Alexandria (www.capitaldancesport.net) Aug 21-23, Hern s Hanger Party, Beckley, WV (www.beckleyshagclub.com) Aug, Boogie on the James, Richmond Shag Club, Sheraton, Richmond, VA Aug 22-23, Hall of Fame Foundation/SOS Golf, N. Myrtle Beach, SC Aug 22-24, International Lindy Hop Championships, Sheraton Crystal City, Arlington Sep 11-20, Fall Migration SOS, North Myrtle Beach (www.shagdance.com) Sep 19, CSA Golf Tournament, Calabash, NC Oct 9-10, Shaggers Hall of Fame Induction, NMB, SC Nov 6-8, Fall Cyclone, Twisters Shag Club (GoShagging.com) Nov 11-15, Carolina Beach Music Awards, NMB, SC Nov 11-15, Cincinnati Bop Club Fall Convention (Paul Hennessey, 513-697-6351) dcdancenet.com www.shagdance.com www.949thesurf.com More Web Sites to Visit for Dance and Beach Music: GoShagging.com www.competitiveshaggers.org www.beachshag.com www.shagtour.com www.juniorshaggers.com www.southernsoul.com Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 7
Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 8
Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 9
Please support our advertisers! Advertise your Business in the Shag Rag! Business Card size ads: $25 for 6 months, $50 for a year. Additional Ad sizes available: 1/4 page, 1/2 page, and full page. Contact the Shag Rag Editor, Maryann Lesnick, for more information. Janis Grimes Carolina Shag Private and Group lessons Home -703-536-7362 Work -202-208-3878 janigrimes@cox.net mlesnick@mlesnick.com 703-369-5869 Board meetings are held each month and are open to any and all members who wish to attend. Unless put on the agenda, attendance is for observation, not participation. Since board meetings, at this time, are at board members homes, please alert the secretary, one week in advance, if you are interested in attending in case we need a larger facility. Copies of Board meeting minutes are available to members upon request from the secretary and posted on the nvshag.org website. "The Internal Revenue Service notified NVSC on April 19, 1999, that we have been accepted as a non-profit social club exempted from paying Federal income taxes. Anyone interested in reviewing NVSC's application and supporting documents provided to IRS, the IRS exemption letter, or the club's annual Form 990 to the IRS, please contact the club Treasurer." Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 10
2009 Shag-A-Thon CONGRATULATIONS to all the Shag-a-Thon dancers! Collectively, we have raised over $10,000 for Hospice! There are still a few additional checks to come in, so a final total will be published as soon as we receive all the donations. Please plan to be at the May 6 General Membership Meeting. Members will be recognized for their special efforts in fund raising and a representative from Hospice will join us to receive our check. A special thanks to all our Corporate sponsors. Let's show how much we appreciate their support by patronizing their businesses. Thank you, Pamela and Jo-Ann CORPORATE SPONSORS FOR THE 2009 SHAG-A-THON A Solution, Inc., 1749 Old Meadow Rd, 5 th Floor, McLean, VA 22102, 730-905-4772 (Mae Nakomoto, President) Dudley Martin Chevrolet 8000 Sudley Rd., Manassas, VA 22110, 703-368-2111 Jr. Framing & Photography 6020 Wescott Hills Way, Kingstowne, VA 22315, 703-971-8065 (John Romito) Payne Financial Services 8629 Sudley Rd, Suite 202, Manassas, VA 20110, 703-368-7272 (Bobby Payne President) Reed Smith LLP 1301 K St.,NW, 1100 East Tower, Washing ton, DC 20005, 202-414-9200 Rene s Night Club 3251 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax, VA 22030, 703-385-0077 Schoolcraft Insurance Agency, Inc., 8629 Sudley Rd, Suite 202, Manassas, VA 20110, 703-368-7272 (Joy Schoolcraft, President) Vincent & Vincent of Liberty Village, Inc., 1706 N. Main St., Dumfries, VA 22026, 703-221-2121 World Gym, 7500 Limestone Dr., Gainesville, VA 20155, 703-753-1818 Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 11
Northern Virginia Shag Club PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103 www.nvshag.org HELLO SHAGGER EMAILS You can t get them if we don t have your correct email. Send email corrections to Nancy Roop at nsar33@comcast.net BORROWING SHAG VIDEOS... is EASY at NVSC!!! Whether you have taken all of the shag classes offered at NVSC or are just looking for new steps or tips on technique... our club has a constantly growing library of shag instructional videos. These videos contain more steps and tips than you can shake a stick at and they're FREE to club members! All you have to do is put down a FULLY refundable $25 deposit. See Jane James on Wednesday nights to borrow a video!!! NVSC LOGO MERCHANDISE.. Logo Merchandise can be purchased on Wednesday nights at Rene s. Shirts Many styles $18 - $34 CD Cases $15 Coffee Mugs $ 5 Baseball Caps $15 Golf Towels $15 Twinkling Glasses $10 Cook Books $15 Shagging in the Carolinas Book $20 Many shirts are by special order. If you are interested in purchasing any of the above items, please contact Kathy Miller or Nancy Cox. Northern Virginia Shag Club, PO Box 5522, McLean, VA 22103, www.nvshag.org 12