October, 6, 2003

Hello all, it’s been a very busy time for DanceWell the past few months.  We are very happy to announce that DanceWell Ballroom has recently joined the DanzSupport Network, an organization dedicated to the Independent Studio and Freelance Instructor, committed to providing materials, products, and services.

  In the past few months we at DanceWell (me, Linda mostly) have been undergoing extensive re-organization and program revamping.  There are now 2 new class formats we’re proud of:  1) our Beginner Drop-in Sampler, a weekly one-and-one-half-hour class and practice for Beginners;   2) our new Combo Classes which include 2-3 similar dances during the same class.  We think these will become very popular classes, judging by the feedback so far.

 DanceWell Ballroom will also be training teachers and instructing students in the DVIDA Syllabus.  Supported by more than two years of research and development, the DVIDA Syllabus is the most up-to-date currently available. The industry’s leading experts, such as Ron Montez, Jim & Jenell Maranto, Victor Veyrasset & Heather Smith, Corky & Shirley Ballas, Brian & Susan Puttock, Hilda Lanza, Wayne Eng, and Diane Jarmolow continuously review and revise the syllabus to ensure that whether you are competing or social dancing, the figures and techniques are always current.

 With more than 15 DanzSupport members, from California to New Jersey teaching the DVIDA Group Class format, DanceWell Ballroom students will be able to continue their lessons, without trying to “play catch-up”, while vacationing, traveling on business, or even after relocating.

 And, with DanceWell’s membership in the DanzSupport Network comes the privilege of offering DanceWell Ballroom students the opportunity to participate in Student Medal Examinations.  There is no greater way to truly learn and understand dancing than to prepare for a formal certification examination.  Several times a year, a nationally recognized dance expert will come to the studio to watch you dance, grade your routines and give you written feedback.   You can invite your friends and family to watch you dance, to give you moral support, and to cheer you on. Once you have your Certificate from DVIDA, you can tell the whole world: I did it!

 We are very excited to be able to offer all this and more to our students and staff, and invite you to join us as we continue on our amazing journey; ”Teaching The World To Dance”.

April 14, 2003

It's been a while since I took time to write about what's been happening!  So much happens so fast in our times it just speeds by in a whirl! 

So here's a kaleidoscope of happenings at DANCEWELL! 

Presently, we have a Performance group of Foxtrot making appearances around town!  Ernest and Tenora Grigsby, Roy Aveling and Heidi Hanzlik, Stephen Halvorson and Susan Adams ...Sandy Sallee...myself.  Sandy and I are known as "props".  I hope you had a chance to see the performance, it has received great reviews! 

We also have another group preparing to perform a Tango.  Hot and spicy and coming along fast.  We should begin the performances in late May and early June.  As well for the Viennese/Minuet number we're working on!

And for the fourth year in a row (maybe it's the fifth), we're choreographing a show for the Honor Grads of Century Hi to perform as they leave their high school years and join college.  This year is a fun show playing off Austin Powers movies.  The partnering section of the show will include West Coast Swing, Mambo, and Cha Cha.  What fun we have doing this special show each year! 

Classes have been great with more new faces all the time.  Our BEGINNERS SOCIALS on Wednesday have been a great time to practice and socialize, and Saturday parties have never been larger!  We're bursting at the seams sometimes and may consider a larger venue for those Saturday night parties.   

Last month, in March, we had a special surprise for everyone!  I invited a friend, (Steve Millen, a well-known entertainer in the area) to sing for us and celebrate St. Patrick's Day with us.  He sang all kinds of Irish pieces, we danced Viennese Waltzes, Waltzes, Swing, Two Step, Rumbas, Foxtrot -- all with Irish tunes! 

The month before, February, I also surprised people, Stephen mostly, because I had a birthday surprise for him!  Samsonite and Delite-yuh joined us for party fun, a Conga line and a "Chicken Dance".  Believe me, Stephen WAS surprised!  Oh yes, I know... what about grace, elegance and style?  That doesn't mean fun and laughter aren't invited and most definitely included! 

We were invited to instruct this year at the Portland Chamber Orchestra Viennese Ball.  That turned out to be so much fun!  In the beginning was elegance and style in the form of a Grand March.  Then there was dancing to varied tempos of Waltzes.  And the last of the evening was enlivened with a Gallop!  And Yes, gallop describes what the dance is all about.  The room was full to the brim of galloping dancers, and everyone enjoyed themselves immensely! 

We're please to say Myron Robinson is back!  And Joyce Larson is back!  Welcome back to both of you, we're glad you're feeling better and glad dancing is back on the agenda! 

Have a great month!

Linda

February 17, 2003

Back to communications!  Lots of recent news!  We’ve added the Pizza and Practice Party on Wednesday nights!  8:30-10:00p every Wednesday find  people, practice, pulsating music aplenty, punch, PIZZA and a plethora of party pandemonium.  A positively palpable panacea for the usual paltry Wednesday night passivity!  That’s right, PRACTICE and have PIZZA!   (or healthy foods like fruits and veggies too!). 

A price change as of MARCH 1st 2003 --      Our Workshop prices will change to $12/hour.  Or prepay your workshop for $10.

We had a fun Valentines dance party at the studio just this past Saturday, February 15th!  There was extra décor and desserts for Valentines.  We had lots of great music and great socializing friends.  AND I also had the fun of surprising EVERYBODY!  A few, including Stephen, knew there would be a surprise at the party.  Some knew it would be a couple.  No one but me knew what it was really for!  I just LOVE that kind of thing!  It was a combination game -- an “extra-something-for-the-dance”, and a celebration of everybody’s February birthdays; .but mostly it was a surprise for my husband Stephen’s birthday!  He just turned “29” again and I thought it would be fun to pull a joke.   I had to make a difficult choice – a stripper from a birthday cake or hokey fun! 

I invited Samsonite and Delite-ya to the party, who came dressed in flame suits since I told everybody to dress hot!  They sang songs, they played their accordions, gave gifts to the birthday folks, had the whole 70-some people dancing in the Tequila-Conga Line.  And then for the main event --  we did the Chicken Dance.  You see, the Chicken dance at Mt. Angel ’s Oktoberfest was the first dance Stephen and I ever did together!  It was appropriate somehow.  Even though DanceWell is a name known for grace, elegance, and style there’s an important quality in being able to “dump dignity” once in a while and be free to be silly.  I hope everyone had fun, I know we did, myself especially!

Another great event for us was the Valentines Dance at the Embassy Suites Downtown Hotel on Valentines Day the fourteenth!  Talk about elegance; the hors' d'oeuvres were fantastic, desserts too, the Lets Dance Band played wonderfully, and there was a large crowd in support of a worthy program. I taught a simple lesson at the dance.  Resolutions Northwest is a group dedicated to non-violent conflict resolution, with programs in schools which need extra support now.  Thank you to those who attended.  And we had the option of staying in the Hotel at a special rate, which Steve and I did.  It was great!